IT Professionals- In here!

I've been really lucky considering my lack of qualifications:
Left school with 1 A-level in IT.
Started working in retail while teaching my self web development (.NET) earning peanuts but lucky enough to be living at home for minimal rent.
Did the odd small freelance project for contacts I met through friends & family to build up experience then eventually managed to land a junior dev job earning 25k.
Built up 2 years experience then somehow recently managed to get myself a new Web Developer position in the city earning 30k + bens with excellent career prospects. I'm 26.
 
I went the experience route and am so glad I did. It went like this:



College (2000-2003): Studied AS Film, Media & Computing and a few short courses.

Part Time job (2004-2006): Worked at a nationwide photographic studio during studies.
I was paid exactly minimum wage at the time, £5.60 an hour or something like that.

Uni (2004): Foolishly decided to study photography as I grew an interest in it while at college and wanted to take it further instead of IT, realised a few months in that it was full of people just like the high brow type you see on TV shows who work in "media/arts" so dropped it and went back to IT as I didn't want to associate with such people.

Full time job (2006-2008): Worked at a leading MS hosted services provider, I had no 1st line IT experience at the time, only experience in building computers and the little support experience in making cash on the side fixing PCs for local residents (I went round posting flyers in the surrounding areas on weekends).
I worked my way up from 1st line to 2nd line (level 2) but it's worth noting that with this company, 1st/2nd line are beyond the skill level at other companies with the same job description even though the pay was (and still is from what I hear) poor.
I was paid £11k which rose to 13.4k after 2 years service.

Contracting (2008-2010): I was tired of the low pay, high demands and no rewards with the above employer so I (along with a whole bunch of others) left at the same time. I looked to start contracting as it would provide the possibility of permanent employment but even if it didn't I'd get good exposure to how different companies work with "IT" and spent 2 years contracting with many around the region.
I used an umbrella company (NASA Consulting) to manage all paperwork through this period, I found them brilliant and they only charged £10 a week for the privilege.
The roles I had included 2nd/3rd line support (NHS) to software & content development for police, fire and rescue services and briefly, an eMarketing company.
I was earning a minimum of £15 an hour during this period and was claiming 40p per mile and getting all meals/equipment claimed back as well on expenses.

If you can afford the possibility of not having work for a couple of months once a contract ends then I'd recommend trying this as it gives you good technical experience and insight into how different businesses work. You also gain valuable interview experience above all else as contracting position interviews turnaround fast I found. The only downside is that the roles can be demanding and because you're a contractor, in many instances you don't qualify for company perks if there are any. You're also seen differently by permanent staff because you're being paid more than them but doing similar jobs.

Full time (2010-2012): This is where I am today, as a sole SysAdmim I have my own Windows network and all the stuff that goes with it (BES etc) that I control. This is the position I wanted to be at when I got the first full time job starting in 1st line support and I've reached that limit hence the recent acceptance of a job offer.

Everything before 2010 I felt was quite demanding yet tedious work, it had to be done to get where I ended up and of course I'm not earning as much as I was when contracting but I do enjoy the freedon my current position offers, it's flexible and I don't have to worry about being stuck in traffic and being late or if I'm in a pinch and need time off it's simply a verbal confirmation and off I go no questions asked. I like this level of freedom, something I never had with Contracting to even before that.

Now, while the level of freedom is good here, the rewards aren't really brilliant.
I managed a project for the company that saved them approx £45,000 last year and the only reward I got for it was....nothing! Not even a small bonus and I've only recently been told that they'd look into a pay rise even though they don't want to lose me. Such is the way with HR/Finance management with almost all companies these days.
 
Very interesting thread, currently a 2nd year Comp Sci student so finding all the information very relevant.

Off to a Microsoft Assessment Centre tomorrow which will be for testing roles. What are peoples views on testing? I've always seen myself as developer but if I was offered a placement opportunity I would find it very hard to turn down.
 
Dude, I have copied and pasted this post I made in another thread from yesterday. Hopefully it will give you an insight on what you should do for yourself:

Prime example would be what I have been through. Here goes:

Left school at 16 after epically failing my GCSEs. My parents were clearly pleased with that. Anyway, I spent the next 2yrs resitting them (don't ask). Anyway by the 2nd resit, I got the same results as I did first time round.

3rd year in college I took on a BTEC National Diploma in Engineering. I will admit, I didn't learn much cos I spent more time playing football and what not. Anyway, despite that I somehow passed everything with Merit/Distinctions.

4th year in college and I do a BTEC National Certificate in Engineering. During this time, a lecturer saw my "potential" and advised me to enrol in an evening course he was teaching at another college. So I did. It was only 3mths long, but during those 3mths I enjoyed what I was learning (networking and such). I then had to take another course which was 6mths long, but the cost was the issue. When I told my parents, they didn't want to support me. Why? Cos I failed my GCSEs and didn't do any A-Levels. Clearly they saw my "potential".

In 2000, I enrolled to Uni (at my parents request mind, not my choice) doing what was listed as "computing". Turns out it was computer programming (BORE!). I lasted 6mths there. Well I 1mth really going to lectures and the 5mths thereafter in the computer rooms chatting to people online and playing online music videos (Launch.com anyone? ) During that time I had met someone and let's just say, I saw a way out of my life in London.

Cue 2001 and I move to Newcastle. Got off to one rough start. I had gotten odd jobs here and there but nothing that I was really wanting for myself. Anyway, I remember whilst applying for jobs (in London I had done a ton of retail work in the likes of Disney Store and Selfridges), I remember one of the consultants looking at the shambles that was my CV and she advised me that if I wanted to get into the field I was looking for, I had to start somewhere rather low and work my way up.

Let's just say, it was really GOOD advice. I got a job working in a nightclub which I did for 18mths. Enjoyed it a lot. After that, I managed to score a job in a call centre selling customers credit cards (it was good for a while), til I then realised "selling things" was not my forté.

By the end of 2003, I got a job working for BT Broadband and this is where it started to get good for me.

Fast forward to 2012 and I am now working in IT as a Helpdesk Support Technician. I have an A+ under my belt already and hope to get more certifications as time goes on. But put it this way, I have been working in the IT sector for over 6yrs now and I have never been happier than I am now.

So, no matter what people tell you, if you know what you want to do, do it! But also remember, life is not a race. I got my A+ way back in 2006. While I have learnt a hell of a lot since then and gained more experience and skills, I know that certifications are indeed needed and as time goes on I will get them.

Anyway, excuse the epic longness of this post, but just wanted to give you an idea how it worked for me. Another thing, apply to as many agencies as you can, and keep in touch with the people there. Even if you have scored a permanent job, cos really, you just never know.

To give you an even broader spectrum, my first "proper" IT job I got back in 2006 paid me £12K for being in 1st line support. The job I am in now pays a lot more than that. Ok so it's 2nd line I am doing now, but even 1st line support shouldn't be getting £12K, as far as I am concerned anyway. And I have been informed I am due a pay rise later this year. So, yeah eventually it will all work out
 
I graduated last July with a degree in Computer and Network Technology (BSc) from Northumbria and I still have yet to net myself a job in the IT sector :(

I have come close a couple of times but it's the experience bit that's killing me. I need to have experience to get me a job, but I can't get any experience in the first place! Other than several jobs in retail, I cannot get anything in the IT sector.
 
RoachycaL said:
I graduated last July with a degree in Computer and Network Technology (BSc) from Northumbria and I still have yet to net myself a job in the IT sector :(

I have come close a couple of times but it's the experience bit that's killing me. I need to have experience to get me a job, but I can't get any experience in the first place! Other than several jobs in retail, I cannot get anything in the IT sector.
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I dropped out of Uni whilst in my 1st year of a Network Computing degree, got into 1st line support, then moved into 2nd/3rd line in my current role. I''m being interviewed for a 3rd line role on Wednesday with a different company.
Not too bad going less than 3 years after dropping out of Uni, although I did have some very limited experience with IT before that, only 1st line though and had taken a CCNA in my spare time.
I have just started a degree with the Open Uni, so I'll have a computing degree in a few years time too.
I had stuck with Uni I suspect I wouldn't be in as good as a position as I am now.
 
moss said:
I dropped out of Uni whilst in my 1st year of a Network Computing degree, got into 1st line support, then moved into 2nd/3rd line in my current role. I''m being interviewed for a 3rd line role on Wednesday with a different company.
Not too bad going less than 3 years after dropping out of Uni, although I did have some very limited experience with IT before that, only 1st line though and had taken a CCNA in my spare time.
I have just started a degree with the Open Uni, so I'll have a computing degree in a few years time too.
I had stuck with Uni I suspect I wouldn't be in as good as a position as I am now.
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How did you land the job in first line support with no experience or qualifications though? I must be really damn unlucky!
 
RoachycaL said:
How did you land the job in first line support with no experience or qualifications though? I must be really damn unlucky!
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I did have some experience although it was from when I was 17 and then got out of IT for a bit a few years later, so that alone would have been unlikely to get me a job. I also had a CCNA but again no real world experience.
My mate told me about a position that needed filling at his place after the previous employees were let go for being useless, they were pretty desperate to fill the position quickly, so I had an interview on Friday and started on Monday.
I was quite lucky really and fortunately managed to progress fairly quickly, but there's no further to go in my current job, so I'm looking to move on.
 
RoachycaL said:
I have come close a couple of times but it's the experience bit that's killing me. I need to have experience to get me a job, but I can't get any experience in the first place! Other than several jobs in retail, I cannot get anything in the IT sector.
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If experience is the problem, then think about how you can create tasks to demonstrate your skills, e.g. configuring some free software, installing linux etc etc. Then make a website detailing these tasks, even better create a video of you performing the task. This will demonstrate your ability and enthusiasm.

Rgds
 
Hmmm, these sort of threads always make me feel bad. I'm on a double edged sword because I can be complacent and not push/sell myself as much as I should, but my company also isn't really the best for developing internal staff.

I really ought to damned finish off my A+ as well so it's at least on my CV, whereas the closest I have right now is a cert saying I could pass it from a few years ago. In hindsight I made the mistake of taking an open learning course rather than doign what some of my friends did, and joining Zenos when they were doing a classroom course for A-level leavers. I did try to recontact them about a year ago, but they basically messed me around and I never got anywhere. Recently tried to get my foot in the door with an IT job with my company unfortunately they filled the role before I could get interviewed, although everyone in the department knows I want to move in, and some of the team leaders there would like me to get a shot.
Didn't decide to go to Uni as I wasn't 100% sure of what I wanted to do, had a REALLY bad experience with A-Levels although I have an A2 in History and really good GCSEs, and figured experience would be valuable these days, given all I heard from a few other people who do interviews etc these days.

I'm on just shy of 18k doing non-IT support so I'm not completely unliveable at my current earnings, but I'd certainly like to start getting relevant experience, which is one of the reasons I'd hung around doing my current job for so long as due to the level of systems they work with, I'd really have loved to get into the other department even if it was hard work. I was just a little too slow finalising my CV and covering letter :( haha

I would really like to be doing an IT job though by the end of the year, so I can feel the internal conflict of comfort/loyalty vs need/interest/not being bored beginning to kick in.

If anyone else is in the MK area, have you got any good recommendations of training schemes/apprenticeships/agencies to look at? For reference I'm 24.
 
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radderfire said:
If experience is the problem, then think about how you can create tasks to demonstrate your skills, e.g. configuring some free software, installing linux etc etc. Then make a website detailing these tasks, even better create a video of you performing the task. This will demonstrate your ability and enthusiasm.

Rgds
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This.

Also to add, I taught myself most of the stuff I know to gain that experience. If you can show evidence you have done some of the skills yourself, it can and will help. If it wasn't for me breaking a few PC's I built in the past and having several testing machines to test software on, I wouldn't be where I am now. It's all about trial and error ;)
 
SourChipmunk said:
1) Start out as contractor. Make huge money.

2) Peform exceptionally; get hired directly into company; take paycut but better benefits.

3) Get steady 3% payraises (barely enough to cover cost-of-living increase) for 10 years; still perform above and beyond expectations.

4) Wait for IT business to go downhill. Take 5% paycut but at least you still have a job.

5) Company is bought out by bigger company. Take 20% paycut in new "cost-saving" structure, but at least you still have a job.

6) Wait for company to downsize too much, now has job openings, slide into new position and hope for the best.
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LOL this is actually quite close to the truth :)
 
Delvis said:
It'll be a doddle, half of it is turning things off and on again anyway...And i'm not joking
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I'm very much expecting it to be turn it on and off again sorta stuff but I've shown them I'm willing to learn and take new stuff on. It's an independant school and from briefly chatting with them they're very well maintained. Was pleased to hear that they would assist with paying for me to take my A+ and onwards and upwards. Salary is decent enough (17.5k-19k) to get by and live in London (moving into my aunts initially for a few months)

At the end of the day the experience is worth its weight in gold. And with a free lunch every day, I can't complain.
 
What are people's opinions on being a jack of all trades, master of none type of IT professional or alternatively heavily specialising in one area?
 
Depends what you want to do in future really, and how deep you would specialise in something.

Pros and Cons for both but generally specialising in the right stuff should see you right most of the time :)
 
Shamrock said:
What are people's opinions on being a jack of all trades, master of none type of IT professional or alternatively heavily specialising in one area?
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If I was looking to become an IT Professional, I would work out where the high income opportunities where, and then, if I felt I had the capability, would specialise in one of these areas. If you try and do everything, IT can be too demanding for too little reward. Specialism means less stress and more reward.

Rgds
 
Started at NHS 7 years ago, not been "pally" enough with the managers, so even though i have more experience and qualifications than others, I have stayed at the same pay grade and not got any further as im not the mate of the bosses. Most corrupt IT dept ever.
 
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