Need help with an IT course/path

Lysander

Lysander

Lysander

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I'm looking to get into the IT industry - and I know this is a cliché but then that's not surprising for a forum like this one. Exactly which path in the industry is up for dispute.

Now I have no idea where to start but I imagine getting advice from Computeach isn't the best route forward. Looking at other threads they just bully you with sales tactics.

Where's a good place to go to get advice on an IT path and a relevant course to go on [since qualifications will be necessary]? Only positive replies, please.
 
Main thing to know is, what area of IT interests you?

The term 'IT' covers such a vast range of careers that it's hard to say 'do x course' if nobody knows what you would like to do. :)

Personally, I'm in the position of doing a computing degree and am unsure as to which area I want to go into, but I'm thinking networks or maybe even programming, I need to put some more serious thought into which way I want to go before Oct next year. :)

InvG
 
Lysander said:
I'm looking to get into the IT industry - and I know this is a cliché but then that's not surprising for a forum like this one. Exactly which path in the industry is up for dispute.

Now I have no idea where to start but I imagine getting advice from Computeach isn't the best route forward. Looking at other threads they just bully you with sales tactics.

Where's a good place to go to get advice on an IT path and a relevant course to go on [since qualifications will be necessary]? Only positive replies, please.
Click to expand...

Define 'IT' - do you want to be an Analyst (what kind?), an Architect (again, what kind?), a Programmer, a Web Designer, a Project Manager, a cable monkey, a Service Desk monkey, etc etc etc
 
Ex-RoNiN said:
Define 'IT' - do you want to be an Analyst (what kind?), an Architect (again, what kind?), a Programmer, a Web Designer, a Project Manager, a cable monkey, a Service Desk monkey, etc etc etc
Click to expand...

Really something along the lines of Analyst [I'm not aware of the subdivisions] or Programmer both interest me. However, I have little experience in both and it would be good to know which courses to go on and where to turn to to hone the correct path.
 
Interesting. I'm looking to get OUT of the IT industry.
I want to become a nymph.
 
If qualifications are an issue you could try and do something like an NVQ in IT (again the area is up for dispute) but if you want to be an analyst / admin or progress further I'd sugges that you will, at some time, have to spend time on a helpdesk. It's so useful to get that experience.

I'd also suggest trying to get jobs as a helpdesk person or something like that.


M.
 
m4cc45 said:
It's so useful to get that experience.


M.
Click to expand...

And what a experience it is lol.... good replys though, be more single minded in the area of IT you want. I do helpdesk/phones/floorwalking/field repairs/networking/servers - aka 2nd+3rd line support. my brother does ingress and oracal databases, my mate does VMware installs, yet we all work in IT. If you see what i mean. Loads of areas, upto you to pick one :)

If programming, learn C... not C++ or C##, get C 1st. root of all others near enough.

ColiN
 
Lysander said:
Really something along the lines of Analyst [I'm not aware of the subdivisions] or Programmer both interest me. However, I have little experience in both and it would be good to know which courses to go on and where to turn to to hone the correct path.
Click to expand...

Systems Analyst or Business Analyst, or Analyst Programmer? Again, you need to tie it down properly.

Either way, a degree will be more useful than a 'course', as you are going to be applying a lot of theory. For Systems Analyst, probably an Architecture/Design related Computer Science degree, for B.A. probably an Information Systems-related degree, or possible a combined I.T./Business degree. Analyst Programmer, a hard-core programming course.
 
colinuk said:
If programming, learn C... not C++ or C##, get C 1st. root of all others near enough.
Click to expand...
Good advice to get a grounding in something lower level first.

I'd say trying to take a path directly into being a developer (and being any good at it) will be very hard and take a LONG time. There are much quicker and easier paths into the IT industry, then work towards being a developer from there. Although most people don't care if they're any good or not suppose, certainly not judging by the quality of work they produce :P
 
Lot's of careers paths in the IT industry, have a long hard think what you want to do.

Personally, I am hoping to do Computer Science at uni once I finish 6th form - as programming/computing interests me, and the degree is general enough to branch off into different areas of the industry, rather than specifically games programming or something.
 
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