Job With Computers

Approach your college about a GCSE re-take. A few guys on the course I did had to do this, and this allowed them to take the Advanced course.

pucko said:
thanks for the tip don wannabe :p
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Listen to him. Oh, and don't post in this thread again unless you can post on topic.
 
For "fixing computers" you really don't need anything more than a HNC Computing so if the original poster definitely wants to do consulting/programming then aim to go for a university degree.
 
[TW]Fox;10197492 said:
Of course they are, becuase this sort of age, its money, and money is awesome.

In 20 years time though will they say the same thing :)
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i left school with no qualifactions and little hope of getting a decent job. Now after working for penuts (i earned 6k a year for 48hr week in 2002/3) work have paid for my education.

I had no chance of going uni, now in 3rd year of 4 year degree. While CCNA / MCSE can be home studied i bet they cost a fair wack for work to send me for training.

So after 7 years of working i will have 7 years experiance, a degree, CCNA, MCSE and a fair load of savings. For me i think work was defintly the correct option.
 
Am in pretty much the same situation as Sone (though am probably older:p)

The point is the same - your still young, so don't let your math result prevent you from doing anything - as many other people have correctly said you don't necessarily need math to work in computers however potential employers would favour the candidate with the best qualifications.

Re sit your math and get yourself on a computer course at your local college - there's a whole world of jobs out there waiting for you :cool:
 
You need to focus on an area. Look at the job ads and see what kind of jobs are going and what skills are needed. Do you want programming, systems design/analysis / database admin / sysadmin / techsupport / web design/ networking / something more niche?

Or maybe you want to study an area like computer vision, AI, image processing, sound, video etc.

This shall guide you more as to what to do. I wish I had this foresight before I studied, but I studied with the idea of I'll find something in computers at the end, but unless you specialise, you'll be no more than a tech support guy that knows a little about a lot.

All in I wish I just got a job as I'd be 40K+ better off now.

As for working in depth with hardware and stuff, you can do electronics, and either field engineering, system design (PCB etc), testing etc.

For consultancy this won't happen until you know your stuff and can consult. It usually takes a good few years and a lot of experience. You need to have seen it done before you can consult.
 
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You can do courses at college that give you GCSES, and this can include maths. My mates did a short 1 year course in IT and maths was part of it.

Now that they have 3 extra GCSE's they have gone onto the next course up which I am on, which gives a BTEC N.D and 3 A Levels.
 
retake maths ? i took an 11 week short course and passed it second time without really doing any revision or anything, just resat the exam
 
celliott said:
You can do courses at college that give you GCSES, and this can include maths. My mates did a short 1 year course in IT and maths was part of it.

Now that they have 3 extra GCSE's they have gone onto the next course up which I am on, which gives a BTEC N.D and 3 A Levels.
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Sounds like key skills to me. Only colleges themselves deem them worthy.
 
I got a D in school, my college only let me come on to resits as long as i have a D, if not then you have to take an Adult Numeracy Level 2 test, its pretty easy but i would advise you revise for it.

I got a D again on my maths but got a phone call saying i only needed 4 more marks so i have been put into another resit this November, Started revision already as i really want this C.

but as stated earlier getting onto a job that applies to fixing computers is boring as most of the time its "chicken factory" type work, i would suggest you get into Networking its better pay and you can have some good laughs if you are a contractor and work at night ^_^.
 
Sinny said:
i would suggest you get into Networking its better pay and you can have some good laughs if you are a contractor and work at night ^_^.
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Exactly what I'm aiming for.

@ The OP just resit your maths. I am currently resitting mine I have most of my GCSE's bar the maths. Im resitting in november :). Aside this I am also doing 3 A levels in second year of college the Math's is really important to me so I really hope I can get this C.
 
As many have said before me sort the GCSE grades out, they're invaluable for starting out on any career ladder.

Aside from that if it was a few years back and i had a clue, i wudda left school at 16 and went straight into an electrician or plumbing apprentiship, the money you get in the long run is ridiculous!
 
it's also worth doing some Microsoft exams whilst at college, you have loads of free time and you will still be good at learning. It won't secure you a job. But it shows initiative and will give you qualifications above some other applicants.
 
because I got an E at gcse in collage where im attending at the moment, Im doing a key skills applied number course, at best it will bump my E to a C and then I can take a course in ICT next year
 
Can you not retake your maths GCSEs during your A-Levels? I knew some people who did it back then. You can still try and apply to Universities to study Computing. I only got a C in my GCSE Maths, and they let me in. But whether they let you in depends all on your other grades (GCSE and A-Levels), as well as your personal statement.
 
AcidHell2 said:
it's also worth doing some Microsoft exams whilst at college, you have loads of free time and you will still be good at learning. It won't secure you a job. But it shows initiative and will give you qualifications above some other applicants.
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Depends which, i did my MOS (Microsoft office specialist) exams and they were easy as long as you pay attention and dont get distracted, My local council snapped me up when i shown i was a specialist in Microsoft Access.
 
I'm on an induction course at a Young Offenders Institute and over the last 2 days, 3 things have gone wrong with the PC/AV equipment. All 3 times I've got up and fixed it and I just happen to be sitting next to the guy who is teaching computing. I asked him to remember my name for the near future.
 
Sinny;10198293 but as stated earlier getting onto a job that applies to fixing computers is boring as most of the time its "chicken factory" type work said:
Very true, from the OP, that is what i thought i wanted to do for a career, but is very hard to get into without experience. Took computer science at uni, but as i hadnt done any sort of programming in the past, found it ridiculously hard.

Then i looked into doin networking and got myself an MCSA and currently working towards the MCSE. Have just got a job as a network technician at a local school.

Will be very useful to gain the experience working in a network environment, which is one of the main things employers higher up the ladder are looking for.

So, stick at it and decide what you want to go in to, then as a side hobby you can do a bit of PC building/troubleshooting of your own back for friends/family.
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yeah i was also thinking of networking, I do have an ECDL level 1, but because my maths grade was E i dont think i can resit. But i will probably take a level computing or ICT next year.
 
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