Career Decisions (IT Professionals please read!)

wordy · 14 Dec 2010 at 13:51

Job Title/Description: Voice Network Specialist.

Typical day-to-day work: sys admin, fault finding, health checks, backups project work

Highest qualification (GCSE/Diploma etc): 5 GCSE grade C’s, ITIL foundation in IT service management, other bits and bobs

Job satisifaction (do you enjoy your day-to-day work):The job itself is good, the management and product we support leave a lot to be desired.

Job security(do you feel you are at risk of having your job outsourced to india?): Unknown at the moment, I work for a local authority so we’re at risk of redundancy next year(that should cheer OcUK up no end).

Salary(optional): Could always do with a bit more.

Basher · 14 Dec 2010 at 13:54

Blackhawk47 said:
This is the job advert of what I am doing now, you can say what you like about me but they on 9 other people to do the same job and most are recent grads.

I don't quite understand what you're saying here and how it backs up your point?

dowie · 14 Dec 2010 at 13:59

Rich1988 said:
I make over 20k with a 5k car allowance and mileage pay and i have less than 3 years in the industry with NO quals other than A levels

(which were not even I.T related)

so you dont need a degree

... if you want to earn a below average wage and don't have too much ambition....

Rich1988 · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:03

I dont know that many 22 year olds that earn 23k then again most of my friends are unemployed. why does the fact I dont have a degree mean I dont have ambition out of interest?

(for reference I started 3 years ago next march and started on 14k) Im not fussed about making Massive money at the moment anyway I dont have a morgatage or kids

Blackhawk47 · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:12

Basher said:
I don't quite understand what you're saying here and how it backs up your point?

Jesus, I'm 19, I'm in the same job as the grads have to settle for at the moment. Ergo they are 21+.

When your young experience counts for more than having a degree when going for a entry level jobs.

We are in the middle a recession with people getting made redundant left right and centre and yet you still think getting a degree will let you walk into a £30k job. :rolleyes:

Trifid · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:14

Also factor in the cost of paying back the degree in your monthly earnings...

If I had my time again I would do exactly what I did, go straight from 6th form to work. I did a 6 week project as temporary staff at the school I went to. 1 year as a temporary staff member and was then offered a permanent job on a higher wage just over a year ago.

Basher · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:21

Blackhawk47 said:
When your young experience counts for more than having a degree when going for a entry level jobs.

Absolutely, which is why I never went for entry level jobs. You will always have to prove your ability to apply your learning, but this doesn't mean someone with a degree is automatically incapable of doing this.

Personally, there is absolutely no way I would be earning what I am today without a degree. I would almost certainly have taken maybe 3 or 4 years to work up to the salary that I ultimately started out on as a graduate.

Blackhawk47 · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:29

Basher said:
Absolutely, which is why I never went for entry level jobs. You will always have to prove your ability to apply your learning, but this doesn't mean someone with a degree is automatically incapable of doing this.

Personally, there is absolutely no way I would be earning what I am today without a degree. I would almost certainly have taken maybe 3 or 4 years to work up to the salary that I ultimately started out on as a graduate.

And how much money do you think you have spent while at Uni?

Student loan or the bank of mum and dad?

Basher · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:31

Blackhawk47 said:
And how much money do you think you have spent while at Uni?

Student loan or the bank of mum and dad?

Student loan to the tune of £11k.

Blackhawk47 · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:37

Basher said:
Student loan to the tune of £11k.

How long was the course then?

I'm planning to go to Vegas at 21 for a holiday...I'd rather have money to spend when I'm younger, I take it you were living at home the entire time?

Basher · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:38

Blackhawk47 said:
How long was the course then?

I'm planning to go to Vegas at 21 for a holiday...I'd rather have money to spend when I'm younger, I take it you were living at home the entire time?

4 years and I lived at Uni for 3 and on a placement (away from home) for one.

Blackhawk47 · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:49

Basher said:
4 years and I lived at Uni for 3 and on a placement (away from home) for one.

That's my point you might have a degree but your forking out 11k for it. I'm 19, passed my driving test, have a car, have 5k in an ISA, and just invested £1000 in shares on the stock exchange.

I'm hardly going to be in the exact same situation on terms of finance when I'm 26.

Basher · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:56

Blackhawk47 said:
That's my point you might have a degree but your forking out 11k for it. I'm 19, passed my driving test, have a car, have 5k in an ISA, and just invested £1000 in shares on the stock exchange.

I'm hardly going to be in the exact same situation on terms of finance when I'm 26.

True, but the £11k investment has paid off, massively. I'm 25, passed my driving test, have a degree, have a mortgage, have a car, have £20k in an ISA and earn £65k+

Blackhawk47 · 14 Dec 2010 at 15:01

Basher said:
True, but the £11k investment has paid off, massively. I'm 25, passed my driving test, have a degree, have a mortgage, have a car, have £20k in an ISA and earn £65k+

Of course you do.

I am guessing your a graduate brain surgeon?

Morba · 14 Dec 2010 at 15:04

Blackhawk47 said:
That's my point you might have a degree but your forking out 11k for it. I'm 19, passed my driving test, have a car, have 5k in an ISA, and just invested £1000 in shares on the stock exchange.

I'm hardly going to be in the exact same situation on terms of finance when I'm 26.

I don't get what you are trying to argue/defend now.

Look back at the post where you said:

Back to Search Results
DATA ANALYST

Type:Full Time
Remuneration:
Duration:Temporary

the bold bit being the main part

Basher · 14 Dec 2010 at 15:04

Blackhawk47 said:
Of course you do.

I am guessing your a graduate brain surgeon?

Yes, I do. I work in IT. My degree got me a decent job and I've done well since then.

If you don't want to believe me that's your issue.

Blackhawk47 · 14 Dec 2010 at 15:09

Morba said:
I don't get what you are trying to argue/defend now.

Look back at the post where you said:

the bold bit being the main part

Give me a break, I only started 2 weeks ago.

Go suck a lemon.

Basher · 14 Dec 2010 at 15:11

Blackhawk47 said:
Give me a break, I only started 2 weeks ago.

Go suck a lemon.

Can you clarify what your argument is now?

kkelly · 14 Dec 2010 at 15:13

Basher, out of intrest what uni did you go to if you dont mind me asking ? And did you do post grad ?

Basher · 14 Dec 2010 at 15:16

kkelly said:
Basher, out of intrest what uni did you go to if you dont mind me asking ? And did you do post grad ?

Sheffield Hallam.

After I graduated I went into a grad scheme for a mid-size IT Managed Service Provider. I was promoted after 9 months and then 6 months ago was head hunted (which is where the big salary increase came) by a partner.

I now have a role that covers EMEA and is a bit of a bridge between tech and sales.