IT Study Advice

[Orion21]

I am looking into doing some training in IT to help further my knowledge and possibly aid me in work etc as well as looking good on a CV.

Can anyone advise a good starting point regarding courses to look at for a relative beginner (I use computers a lot but no programming or specific skills in networking, troubleshooting or any other areas), however I like to think that I have a decent ability with computers and can figure out the basics if needed.

In researching I came across things such as CompTIA and Microsoft Certification, are these worth considering? Or are there other qualifications / training methods that would be better?

I want some study method that results in a qualification / certificate of some sort though.

 

[Orion21]

Sounds like CompTIA A+ might be worth looking into as I want an all round approach that would be useful if I were to go for entry level or so IT jobs.

After that or perhaps instead of if there is a course leading to a qualfication or the like I would also be interested in attempting to learn programming. This would be with the aim that in the longer run it may allow me to create things such as websites, apps / programs to automate and speed up work (if I can think of where it is needed and how to do it ). Where would I start for this?

I should say I have no intention of working in IT, I just thought I would do an IT qualification out of interest to improve my skills and it may allow me to help out more .

 

[Orion21]

Is there any good qualification that would give me an all round taster to help me to identify an area I like?

I'm unlikely to move into IT, but would like to be more IT aware and to study it out of interest. That's not to say I won't and I feel it would help make me more mobile jobswise (and for job security) if I can do both a general business / office role and provide some form of IT support.

Depending how that goes I may choose to progress further or not. I'll admit I don't know a lot about the various areas of IT.