It career switch site

Minibiker

Minibiker

Minibiker

Soldato
Joined
27 Mar 2016
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Bristolian living in Swindon
Hi all

I'm looking to get qualifications and certificates in Coding and have been learning a lot about Python over the last 5 or 6 months, the above site keeps popping up on social media and on my browser adds, has anyone used anything like this where you pay monthly for all the study materials and then they 'help you get your first job'

Are there any alternatives that would help me get the certificates to take the step towards the IT jobs?

Thank you
 
I wouldn't really say there's "certificates" in a programming language, so I'd be very weary of what exactly they're offering.

Depending on your age / financial position, a lot of software engineering companies are now doing apprenticeship schemes. We've just taken on a couple of apprentice's, they'll shadow a developer for a few years to learn / fine-tune their skills and assuming they're good it's a potential job offer at the end without a 50 grand debt from a degree.
 
Actually I seem to recall you were looking to learn a trade - electrician or plumbing only at the start of the year. And before that was HGV license? - didn't you already obtain a class license for a certain weight vehicle? What's happened with those career choices.

Software engineering pays well, but don't expect to jump into a 50k job, despite what those sites claim.

Based on the varied career aspirations you've had over the last couple of years I'd say you really need to have a think about what it is you want to do and what you enjoy doing.
 
montymint said:
The way I got into development was via the support desk. 0 SQL or Coding knowledge when I started and now a dev after 2.5 years.
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Ohh really, I have applied for a few support desk jobs, just waiting to hear back from them, hopefully get my foot in the door.

Semple said:
I wouldn't really say there's "certificates" in a programming language, so I'd be very weary of what exactly they're offering.

Depending on your age / financial position, a lot of software engineering companies are now doing apprenticeship schemes. We've just taken on a couple of apprentice's, they'll shadow a developer for a few years to learn / fine-tune their skills and assuming they're good it's a potential job offer at the end without a 50 grand debt from a degree.
Click to expand...
I think my age would go against me, I'm 32 and the last time I looked into an apprenticeship I needed my school grade papers which I don't have and I have no clue who marked my papers back in 2006, otherwise I could've had an apprenticeship a few weeks back

Semple said:
Actually I seem to recall you were looking to learn a trade - electrician or plumbing only at the start of the year. And before that was HGV license? - didn't you already obtain a class license for a certain weight vehicle? What's happened with those career choices.

Software engineering pays well, but don't expect to jump into a 50k job, despite what those sites claim.

Based on the varied career aspirations you've had over the last couple of years I'd say you really need to have a think about what it is you want to do and what you enjoy doing.
Click to expand...

Yeah you're right bud I do have my class 2 licence but have worked for a couple of firms now and the way the drivers get treated is shocking, first I was on the tippers and that was just foot down Friday everyday and transport manager was always on your back, then I done pallet work which started off great but went downhill, treated like your a robot etc shame really as the driving side of things is great, being on the road on your own.

I had careful consideration about getting a trade, although you can make great money from it I wasn't sure what I'd want to do... I've always had a thing for IT, I did post on here a few years back asking about getting knowledge and moving into the IT sector... Ive heard customer support and helpdesk is the way in mainly
 
Minibiker said:
Ohh really, I have applied for a few support desk jobs, just waiting to hear back from them, hopefully get my foot in the door.
Click to expand...

Yep, had a "first line" job for a few years at one firm , but that was not a technical role at all. Applied for a tier 2 position at my current firm in 2018, pushing customer service experience plus a willingness to learn and apply myself (at 34). I took a pay cut for the move on the agreement that if I passed probation I'd get risen to the tier 2 job, as I could prove that I was capable of doing SQL.

As I took on more work I started learning to read code for bug locating / fixing to help the dev team out on tickets, which evolved into a promotion to a Developer (on lower wage than others currently) so I can have hands on experience with writing code on my own, having it tested and improving it. Along with writing specs, working with the client / PM to shake things out etc. Again, at my review I'll expect a pay rise to match what would be offered fully - otherwise I'll have had a year of being a developer officially that I can use to leave if I want.

In terms of courses, before the Tier 2 role I did a SQL udemy bootcamp to familiarize myself and towards my dev move I did another few udemy courses on c#, blazor and MVC (as that's what the firm use).

I was lucky to find a place willing to pay me to learn on the job and give me a little less pressure. It is with a reduced salary, but I feel it works out best for all.
 
montymint said:
Yep, had a "first line" job for a few years at one firm , but that was not a technical role at all. Applied for a tier 2 position at my current firm in 2018, pushing customer service experience plus a willingness to learn and apply myself (at 34). I took a pay cut for the move on the agreement that if I passed probation I'd get risen to the tier 2 job, as I could prove that I was capable of doing SQL.

As I took on more work I started learning to read code for bug locating / fixing to help the dev team out on tickets, which evolved into a promotion to a Developer (on lower wage than others currently) so I can have hands on experience with writing code on my own, having it tested and improving it. Along with writing specs, working with the client / PM to shake things out etc. Again, at my review I'll expect a pay rise to match what would be offered fully - otherwise I'll have had a year of being a developer officially that I can use to leave if I want.

In terms of courses, before the Tier 2 role I did a SQL udemy bootcamp to familiarize myself and towards my dev move I did another few udemy courses on c#, blazor and MVC (as that's what the firm use).

I was lucky to find a place willing to pay me to learn on the job and give me a little less pressure. It is with a reduced salary, but I feel it works out best for all.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you've done very well bud, fair play to you... I've been learning a bit about Python and writing codes out etc, creating little bits with name input and order input etc.. I'm hoping to learn a hell of a lot more and hopefully get into a place where I can progress on from a low position, I'm not expecting to get into a job straight away and earn mega money.
 
Minibiker said:
Sounds like you've done very well bud, fair play to you... I've been learning a bit about Python and writing codes out etc, creating little bits with name input and order input etc.. I'm hoping to learn a hell of a lot more and hopefully get into a place where I can progress on from a low position, I'm not expecting to get into a job straight away and earn mega money.
Click to expand...

To be honest just understand logic is half the battle (as well as knowing what you want to achieve). Once you know that, you know what to google for, which most of the devs here will tell you that's how it works in reality :p
 
I think the bootcamps can be a bit expensive for what they are, they probably do have a place and if you've got no other qualifications and want to take a risk then they might well pay off for you. Check the reputation of the one you're considering.

In theory, though you ought to be able to learn everything they're going to teach you by yourself, if you've been doing this for 5 months and are serious about it then perhaps you should have already? If not then maybe paying £££s for some structure, tuition etc.. is going to be useful for you.

You don't really need certificates to get a programming job, often people will have a degree but not necessarily, you might well find people such as the poster above who have moved into it from other areas. It's easy enough for a company to establish if someone at least knows the basics.
 
This might be interesting for some, it's got a bit of attention recently, a blog post by a guy with no degree/no experience getting into tech (he went down the Bootcamp route)

lowlyswe.substack.com

My experience getting a tech job with no degree or relevant work experience

Sometimes you see a headline or a Youtube video “How I got into tech without a C.S.
lowlyswe.substack.com lowlyswe.substack.com

Sometimes you see a headline or a Youtube video “How I got into tech without a C.S. Degree” and it seems reasonable until you find out that they actually had a M.S. in Math from Stanford or similar. This is obviously a big advantage and does not at all resemble the average person considering making a switch into the industry.

They’re probably mid 20–30’s, they were a teacher or an accountant or in some trade. Maybe they had various service jobs and haven’t found anything that sticks. Often they will have no related technical experience. They might not have a college degree.

This is how I did it as a college dropout (psych major at a state school). Your mileage may vary.
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