Is there any one single course I could do to get a starting/entry job in IT?

[keenan]

Alright, I need a career!

I say career and not career change as I've never really had a career! I've always done manual work and it's been great and a lot of fun, but I'm getting older and the aches and pains are getting too much..

I want to get into IT, because it's really and truly my only other interest that I could see as a means of making a living..

However, the prospect of knowing which steps to take first is overly daunting and I need some help and advice..

A push in the right direction to say it bluntly!

I am a quick learner and would prefer something I can do as speedily as my own ability allows so I can get into it as soon as humanly possible!

Any info or advise are very much appreciated!

 

[keenan]

Depends what you want to do - if you're looking at the very basic roles like working on a helpdesk etc.. then lots of people seem to go for CompTIA A+, doesn't need a course per see AFAIK you can just teach yourself (plenty of online resources and/or books out there) and just book the exam.


Alternatively, get a degree if you don't have one? Some degree apprenticeship schemes allow you to work and study at the same time.

Thanks dowie, it's a good informative answer. I suspect getting a degree is something to look at in the future after getting my foot in thr door, so to speak..

Do you build your own computers? Can you install Windows / Linux / Applications / Printers / Peripherals and diagnose and fix problems with them when they happen? Have you ever installed Windows Server, created a domain and joined workstations to it?

If yes to the above, welcome to Level 1 Windows Support.

If no, I've just given you a list of things to learn to get started.

Thanks Moley, it's a resounding yes to all of the above apart from Windows server.

I am reasonably good with networking on Windows itself, but I suspect the server part of it will be a bit more involved..

Is there a test I can take to get a qualification in Level 1 support? If yes, will it be benificial and enough to start applying for jobs straight away or will I need more behind me?

A+ is a good starting point, gives you lots of information and sets out the basics.

1st line for my place is a lot about aptitude and willingness to learn and most importantly great customer service.

Thanks Josh, I've been into PC's since the early 2000's and I've built, troubleshooted and fixed a lot of PC's along the way.

Would the A+ you're refering to be to same CompTIA A+ one @dowie mentioned above?

 

[keenan]

Yeah that's the one, having the cert is nice but having the knowledge is better imo. You can always get the cert once you've got some hands on experience in an enterprise.

Sure, but how to get in without having any sort of certificate..?

 

[keenan]

You don't necessarily need to be working in IT to start a part-time or online degree (and working on a helpdesk or doing some basic desktop support might not be all that relevant to what you're studying anyway) alternatively a degree apprenticeship kills two birds with one stone so to speak as you'd start both at the same time.

Also perhaps your local further education college offers foundation degrees or similar(these are equivalent to 2/3rds of a regular bachelor's degree) if you felt that might be more suitable.

Okay, hang on... am I correct in understanding that a degree apprenticeship is something I could start straight away without having any formal IT qualifications?

If so, where do I get more information on this please?

 

[keenan]

Do what I did - email local tech support firms in your area and let them know the situation/ ask for an entry level position. I hired 2 or 3 folk in a similar position to you. 1 flopped entirely, the other was a Jessops lifer that used his redundancy to come and work for free for a month. If you want it, don't get entirely consumed by "doing certs" - with or without them you need to get yourself out there. Local tech firms are great for this and their customers are mostly absolutely total techno-phobes so you're pretty low risk.

Thanks for the advise dLockers, when you say "tech support companies", do you mean search online for tech support jobs and then just contact them via email or ultimately apply for the job while being transparent about experience/qualifications?

 

[keenan]

I mean look for local tech support firms just like your local accountants or architects would when they need IT support. Don't worry about whether they are offering a job or not.

Land on their website, drop them a cold email explaining the situation. I think I blasted about 10 or 15 out, got 1 bite; worked there for a year at least. Set me up pretty well.

Aha, I get it..

Thank you for all the advise! I'll get on it!

 

[keenan]

Guys, thanks for all the advise..

To clarify, I just want a change of career and I'll start with even the most basic job in computers!

Whatever the job title or description, I just want something to get me started on a new career path which I can broaden and improve on as needed in the future.

However, for now I just want an express (quick as humanly possible) way to get even the most basic job..

I've bought both Mike Meyers' CompTIA A+ 220-1001 and 220-1002 video courses on Udemy, which was £15 each.

https://www.udemy.com/course/new-comptia-a-2019-certification-1001-the-total-course/
https://www.udemy.com/course/new-comptia-a-2019-certification-1002-the-total-course/

I'll work through Core 1 over the next few days and book the exam, if I pass I'll start with Core 2..

 

[keenan]

If you have a natural interest in IT you shouldn't really need much in the way of qualifications to get an entry-level job. I had a few friends who started in the field without quals, the main thing was being able to communicate clearly and a willingness to learn. It's all well and good having all the knowledge in the world but when you're directly dealing with customers as 1st line it's all about their experience as you'll be escalating anything really technical.

Sure, aptitude and willingness is great, but how do you apply for a job if the requirements clearly state a need for an A+ qualification at the very least?

 

[keenan]

As I said many posts prior, if you are in the situation where you have the attributes @Ayahuasca laid out, you don't necessarily want to be joining to fill specific roles they are advertising for. There are literally thousands of small "ma' and pop" type outfits doing IT support for local businesses who would happily take a cheap person who can talk tech but needs to learn for a slightly lower wage than a qualified 1st line person.

A+ is simple enough to get but being Customer facing is a lot harder to train.

I know this, because I was that person (I have the barrage of emails saved that I fired out decades ago) and I then became the person hiring. When Jessops and Maplin closed there was a huge influx of tech savvy folk looking to career change who had interest and Customer skills but zilch qualification or experience in the field. I had one chap working for free as a taster for 3 months (he funded with his redundancy pay) to see if he and I were a good fit and he liked the industry.

I really do appreciate your input as well as all the other posts in this thread.

Unfortunately I am based in Croydon and even though I've lived here for more than a decade I haven't come across any small business "computer" shops apart from the usual High Street mobile phone/jack of all trades shops..

Maybe I really just need to get out more..

 

[keenan]

I'm sorry but you are already failing every test. This isn't difficult:
https://www.360ict-itsupport.co.uk/croydon/
https://www.reddoor.net/
https://www.m2computing.co.uk/it-support-croydon/
https://www.ingenious.co.uk/

You don't need A+ to teach you how to use Google

Let's all hope I'm better at actual tests!

 

[keenan]

You have really missed the point in what a lot of folk are saying. Passing an A+ is not the golden ticket to landing a job. In fact I weed out certification folk early on as most of the answers are available online in brain dumps. Utterly pointless (unless they mean I hit my vendor discount quotas ).

I really fully understand the overall consensus of the answers given here..

It's more about the natural ability to provide a service to any company than the certification I can show after passing a test.

I think my problem is such a dramatic change of work environment as I've never ever done any "corporate" or "administrative" type of jobs.

I have however been into PC's for around 20 years now. I've created stand alone Winterboard themes on iOS and I've been featured in CustomPC magazine.

I've built many different PC's over the years and as far as troubleshooting goes I believe I know where the start looking in 99% of all scenarios.

However..

Finding a job to use any of this experience or knowledge is foreign to me.

 

[keenan]

Thanks Kaka and dowie..

The first exam date I could get was on September the 4th, so I'm spending all my spare time watching the Udemy courses and formulating an email ready to be sent out on Monday.

Thanks for all the help and advice from everyone in this thread, I appreciate every single comment!