IT Qualifications
- Thread starter Harvey616
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^^^
this tbh.. - definitely take Maths and Physics possibly do computing/IT or whatever but its not really necessary - maths is the most important subject at this level.
Then go to uni - if you're specifically into hardware then perhaps computer science, electronic engineering or systems engineering.
Otherwise a solid maths, computer science or physics degree then masters degree involving say applied maths or computational physics or mathematics etc... would probably give you a good grounding for many things - including say understanding the physics engines games development companies use. Also rather useful in finance...
(btw I work in finance though I'm aware that quantitative types who are handy with C++ are also useful in fields such as games development or even special effects work on movies - unless you're an artist/designer then from a technical pov I'm working on the assumption that good applied maths and c++ are probably your best bet for something that doesn't pay peanuts in the games industry (i.e. not being some customer service/support or QA monkey))
No - skip the Zenos, go straight to uni. If you need further skills after graduation, then look at an applicable course.
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Agreed. If you are looking to go into support getting a degree is pointless and a waste of time when you could be getting Industry qualifications like VMware,Citrix,MS to name a few. Support companies will want people who can hit the ground running. Its only big companies that want people with degrees but normally this is still second to experience.
I have Comptia A+ N+ and Server+ to be honest these will only help you get a level 1 job without experience. Get an MCTIP in server 2008 and if possible MCSE in 2003. Over the next few years companies will be looking to migrate from 2003 to 2008 if you have a good grounding in these areas your be able to get jobs easy.
If you’re looking to go into any other part of computing world that a degree with help like design or programming then I think a degree is very helpful but not in support.
Sorry that’s rubbish I'm third line that doesn’t have a degree and only know one person who has a degree out of the 8 other engineers at my level. Funny thing there is a lot of the level 1s that have degrees but no experience so have started at the bottom and are working their way up. I’ve seen this a few times before as well in different companies. Getting a degree doesn’t mean your owed a job and can walking into high level position with no experience. Not saying that doesn’t happen as I have seen someone start at my old job at 3rd line straight from Uni and he left within 4days.
FWIW I don't have a degree (yet, I start uni in 3 weeks) and I used to do 3rd Line Support. It has just been my experience that most of the people I have worked with that have done 3rd Line support are degree educated. The exception probably being the server guys.
I have looked over my post again and it seems that nowhere at all did I mention getting a degree means you are owed a job...
The OP is relatively young and asking what sort of qualifications he needs for a job in IT. With only a couple of vauge ideas of what he wants. The best advice really would be a CompSci degree or something similar as it would give him the most options and possibly give him a better idea of what is available job wise while doing it. Sending him down a more narrow route of CCNA or CompTIA or MSCITP is possibly the wrong advice at this point in his life.
This, or go to college for a btec, stay away from zenos theres a reason you get paid that much lol
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I have no qualifications and I've worked for 2 world leaders in their field doing sys admin work over the past 5 years, go figure!
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We are going to have to agree to disagree then really. I think that if you held a 3rd line job and your going back to Uni your sort of crazy unless you hope not to go back to 3rdline job after Uni. I'm guessing your in support but correct me if I’m wrong.
BTW the being owed a job comment was directed at you personally but all the people that jump onto these topics as if going to uni is a must which clearly it isn’t as I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere given the attitudes of some here. I wanted to go to Uni and was about to but didn’t because I got a job that already had people with degrees starting at the same level as me. Which seemed crazy to me at the time.
But after years of working in support I have seen first hand that Degree's aren’t all what everyone makes then out to be. And as I have clearly said a number of times now it’s not that they are useless just given the wide nature of support and all the things you have to deal most of which aren’t covered in a computer science degree it doesn’t make sense to take a degree that won’t benefit you in your role. I should say unless your Appling for a company that requires a degree which is very rare that they require a degree if you have over 5 years experience doing the job they are advertising.
Then again if what it costs you to go back to uni say 15k for 3 year course (estatimated cost btw) and the fact that your 30-40K down a year if you’re not working at all. That’s like 100k down that’s kind of scary when you think of the money you’re losing out on. Plus will the degree get you more money in the long run or will it be the same? I have looked into it and personally this isnt a valid option to me.
Like I said it depends on what he wants to do. My personal view is a degree is worthless is support. Unless its programming or some sort of application design support then fair enough.
If the lad is looking to be a server monkey like me It makes sense that he studies Microsoft exams, CCNA, VMware Citrix. If he gets to grips on any of those areas he will be ahead of most.
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Unless they have changed the BTEC's I wouldnt do one. I did a GNVQ and BTEC which were both useless to me when it came to applying what i learnt on the courses to the job world.
That being said I had a wicked time at college and wouldnt change it
Story of my life. Dont bother getting a Computer Science degree, bog roll holds more value and you wont be 20k in debt at the end of it either. Get decent A levels and learn programming languages as you go. Create a portfolio of what you can do off your own back then apply for jobs. You will start with sh1tty pay and probably a sh1tty job but its a foot in the door at least, and you'll have a 3 year head start over your mates coz if they do Comp Sci at Uni they'l be doing the same as you.
To re-iterate DONT DO Computer Science at Uni, waste of time and I regret it.
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Glad someone agrees with my view point.
I couldn't of started my graduate job without a degree so I completely disagree. For the point of entry jobs like IT support a degree is probably a waste of time, although tbh it would favour against someone that didn't have one. But for the vast majority of roles I found for junior business/systems analysts and programming a degree was a requirement.
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The competition for theese graduate jobs is so damn feirce, if you dont come out of Uni with a first they won't look at you. So OK you can do Comp Sci, but if you get a 2:2 or lower then youv'e wasted 20k and three years of your life.
PS. Some graduate jobs ask for experience, how the **** are you going to have 2 years experience when youv'e only just graduated!? OK maybe for older learners but not the majority of the 21 year olds
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Graduate jobs are called that for a reason hence why they require a degree.
University wasn't all about the knowledge gained about Computing Science though, it was a lot of the transferable skill-sets such as research methodologies and communication - especially writing. In interviews I'd reference situations and examples I had learnt in my degree to support case scenarios or technical questions. The social aspects, i.e. getting hammered every night with 20+ mates is something I doubt I'd experience again either.
I had no experience in the IT sector at all before I started my job, my CV had only retail customer service roles on. If you can demonstrate a decent level of technical knowledge, competence and aptitude I think a lot of managers do like the notation of people with little/no actual working experience as it allows them to shape you how they want.
Duggan said:
Graduate jobs offer a point of entry for positions in which you would need a hell of a lot of experience to otherwise gain entry into, such as: consultancy (Business Analyst) and many programming positions.
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One in a billion trillion managers think like that
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Only companies that will do that are the ones that have the ability to train you up, large companies with massive IT departments and big training budgets.
And normally those are the jobs advertised as Graduates anyway. Companies like IBM and Microsoft are good at this. But its very rare i would say 95% of companies dont do this. Within the private sector it gets worse and in someways with the recession companies are looking more for skilled people that can already prove they have the ability to do the job.
Systems analyst and then infrastructure support. However I am getting a degree for a career change rather than to advance my IT career. If I was planning on staying in IT I would instead add to my MS certs or look at CCNA. But for what I want to do next I need a degree.
It isn't a must, but it gives you much more in the way of options. And at the age of the OP options are pretty important.
I could earn much more by staying in IT. Was actually starting down the path for SQL DBA. But at the end of the day it isn't about money for me. YMMV obviously.
From his OP he has no clear idea of what he actually wants to do so the degree would give him more options. As far as MSITP, CCNA and the like, I would guess if you have been in the business for as long as you say then you are probably just as aware of how useless those qualifications are if they are not backed up with any experience. The immediate thought is "Must Consult Someone Experienced"
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Fair play to you hope its in something good. In someways i wish I could change trades and do something more enjoyable.
I've got a GNVQ in IT (worth squat).
a ND (4 A-Levels) in IT Practioning at Distinction Level.
Have a Foundation Degree in Computing and Networking at Distinction level.
Currently about to start final year which gives me a Bsc Honours in Computing and Networking.
Can't wait and don't regret any of it. Except maybe not paying more attention in my programming lessons =P
a ND (4 A-Levels) in IT Practioning at Distinction Level.
Have a Foundation Degree in Computing and Networking at Distinction level.
Currently about to start final year which gives me a Bsc Honours in Computing and Networking.
Can't wait and don't regret any of it. Except maybe not paying more attention in my programming lessons =P