Thinking of a career in IT what sort of qulifications do I need.

geowal19

geowal19

geowal19

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I know that it is so wide but I would like to get into more enterprise server solutions as in fitting them and setting them up if that job exists. Just finished/finishing GCSEs and I think I will be getting around a C/B for applied IT and around As for english, maths and science. The problem is that I have already got into colledge for electrical/electronic engineering, my concern is that this course will not let me get into that but as my mind changes like the wind with this sort of stuff I'm not going to change it. I know it's early stages yet but does anyone think that this will hold me back? Thanks
 
I'd start with your A+/MCDST, maybe then Network+ or Security+ depending on what area you're interested. If you can get your first IT role as soon as possible, e.g. Service Desk/first line - that would be a good starter. When you've got a bit of experience, maybe look towards your MCSE (2008 name slips my mind now).
 
I started by doing a ND in Software Development Started working at a Computer Builder In 2nd line support and R&D. Now doing a HNC in Networking and HArdware and nearly finishing my Cisco CCNA. During doing this I have a job I really enjoy and have been given some real good breaks in my carear.

I find in IT its sometimes expereince rules over qualifications but they always help. Sign onto some evening courses and just get a feel to see if you will enjoy it. It isnt for everyone as its long hours and is quite stressful.
 
I'd do the degree and work on some certifications in any spare time you have.

Things like the CompTIA certifications should be easy enough to self study whilst doing your degree.

Also see if you can get any kind of part time experience in an IT job. As said see if you can find somewhere that you could do some support work for, either paid or voluntary.

An engineering degree will not hold you back at all for a role like this, it'll be good for it.
 
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Ev0 said:
An engineering degree will not hold you back at all for a role like this, it'll be good for it.
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If anything, getting an engineering degree should open up a lot more than just installing servers. Get a good degree and you'll probably not have much requirement for certifications etc.. just get on a grad program at some software/technology firm and work your way up tbh...
 
Ev0 said:
An engineering degree will not hold you back at all for a role like this, it'll be good for it.
Click to expand...

He's not doing a degree yet, he said he's finished GCSE's and moving onto an Engineering National diploma at college.

If I was you man I'd take some IT related A levels (IT, Computing) and a few others to widen your opportunity's and career choices.
 
To be honest i'd concentrate on getting a job in the industry first (however low down it will be). Sure qualifications are nice to have, but in my experience (no pun intended) employers really want experience, at least to backup your qualifications.

For me, I left school and did the A+. When it came to applying for jobs, I eventually got one (on a helpdesk) but not because of my A+ it was because of my interest in IT (showed them I build my own PCs etc etc). They hadn't even heard of the damned A+ lol (although i'm sure that's different now).

Then a few years later i decided to take 4 months between jobs to do a combined (full time) Cisco CCNA & CCNP course. I passed that with flying colours but it turned out to be a big waste of time because i'd apply for jobs, only to be told:

1) I'm not suited to the job, as it's not really "networky" enough (if i was applying for a general IT support role) and the employer thinks i'd get bored

2) I'm over qualified (if I was applying for a junior network admin role)

3) I'm under qualified (if I was applying for an average network support role).

So I couldn't win! I ended up going back into normal IT support and working up from there.

So yah, if I were you, see if you can get a menial helpdesk role there, then work your way up!

EDIT: Okay so I just re-read the OP's question and I guess this post was rather irrelevant! Disregard! :D
 
OCdude said:
To be honest i'd concentrate on getting a job in the industry first (however low down it will be). Sure qualifications are nice to have, but in my experience (no pun intended) employers really want experience, at least to backup your qualifications.

For me, I left school and did the A+. When it came to applying for jobs, I eventually got one (on a helpdesk) but not because of my A+ it was because of my interest in IT (showed them I build my own PCs etc etc). They hadn't even heard of the damned A+ lol (although i'm sure that's different now).

Then a few years later i decided to take 4 months between jobs to do a combined (full time) Cisco CCNA & CCNP course. I passed that with flying colours but it turned out to be a big waste of time because i'd apply for jobs, only to be told:

1) I'm not suited to the job, as it's not really "networky" enough (if i was applying for a general IT support role) and the employer thinks i'd get bored

2) I'm over qualified (if I was applying for a junior network admin role)

3) I'm under qualified (if I was applying for an average network support role).

So I couldn't win! I ended up going back into normal IT support and working up from there.

So yah, if I were you, see if you can get a menial helpdesk role there, then work your way up!

EDIT: Okay so I just re-read the OP's question and I guess this post was rather irrelevant! Disregard! :D
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Couldnt agree more. All the expereince ive racked up means ive got further than anyone who has just left uni. Ive been employed by some pretty big companies and learnt more than I would in a classroom.

Because of my work with my CCNA i have been moved to a higher department to home my skills and i showed to have a passion for IT.
 
Rebel Master said:
He's not doing a degree yet, he said he's finished GCSE's and moving onto an Engineering National diploma at college.
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True, don't know why I assumed the Engineering bit was a uni course!

Changes things a little, would agree maybe some IT based further education would be better.
 
OCdude said:
To be honest i'd concentrate on getting a job in the industry first (however low down it will be). Sure qualifications are nice to have, but in my experience (no pun intended) employers really want experience, at least to backup your qualifications.

For me, I left school and did the A+. When it came to applying for jobs, I eventually got one (on a helpdesk) but not because of my A+ it was because of my interest in IT (showed them I build my own PCs etc etc). They hadn't even heard of the damned A+ lol (although i'm sure that's different now).

Then a few years later i decided to take 4 months between jobs to do a combined (full time) Cisco CCNA & CCNP course. I passed that with flying colours but it turned out to be a big waste of time because i'd apply for jobs, only to be told:

1) I'm not suited to the job, as it's not really "networky" enough (if i was applying for a general IT support role) and the employer thinks i'd get bored

2) I'm over qualified (if I was applying for a junior network admin role)

3) I'm under qualified (if I was applying for an average network support role).

So I couldn't win! I ended up going back into normal IT support and working up from there.

So yah, if I were you, see if you can get a menial helpdesk role there, then work your way up!

EDIT: Okay so I just re-read the OP's question and I guess this post was rather irrelevant! Disregard! :D
Click to expand...

hehe. I had a similar issue. I've done the CCNA and currently doing the CCNP. I had to de-emphasize the CCNP stuff on my CV or companies assumed I was just a networking guy. The irony of it is that you really need to know your networking if you're in a sys admin role. Ah well.

As for certifications, I would highly recommend the CCNA. Teaches you all the basics of networking and it's quite a tough cert to pass. The Open University has a CCNA course which is pretty decent.
 
sideh said:
The Open University has a CCNA course which is pretty decent.
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Just for clarification, it should be noted that doing the OU CCNA course doesn't actully give you the CCNA certification, but because the course is a cisco academy if you score sufficiently high enough you will get a 50% off voucher for when you do take the CCNA certification exam.
 
Get. Out.

Run as fast as you can towards another career. :D















OK. IT isn't that bad and seeing as you have ignored my advice above. What you need to do is get a job in the industry then work on qualifications. Turn up to an interview with a string of qualifications and no experience and I can all but guarantee that the interviewer is going to assume they are paper qualifications (I.e. Boot Camp/Exam Cram Jobbies)

Decent GCSEs will land you a first line support job (I've interviewed and offered the job to enough to know this is true) and then you can get some certifications and move upwards to Systems Administrator or whatever.

Even if you get a degree it doesn't mean you can avoid the crappy jobs. I did my time on the coal face to get some experience.

Saying that I'm enrolled at the OU in a new degree that has nothing to do with IT. I've had enough but it was mostly fun whilst it lasted.
 
I wouldnt bother, its watered down compared to ten years ago, too many kids straight out of college/school/uni and willing to work for peanuts, i've seen Administrator jobs going for as low as 14K

Also you have to study and take exams for years and I CBA with it, I have five years experiance but can I get a job that earns as much money as my engineering friends who have NVQ's, no, I cant, I have an NVQ3 in IT and its not worth anything, they all want Microsoft/Cisco/CompTIA etc etc etc the list is endless and very tedious, it doesnt help that I hate theory though barely any of it is applicable in the actual job and dont get me started on Transcenders!

I feel better now

If you like theory and exams go IT
 
Experience first if you can get it. I started as a junior network analyst, then moved up to network engineer and now I'm 25 and a network manager. The only I.t qualifications that I hav is an avce in I.t from college and an mcp which I just passed recently.
 
Sp00n said:
Experience first if you can get it. I started as a junior network analyst, then moved up to network engineer and now I'm 25 and a network manager. The only I.t qualifications that I hav is an avce in I.t from college and an mcp which I just passed recently.
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I would imagine thats all with the same company?

If so thats really good, I would love to get in with a company like that that develop their staff, the organisation I work for dont seem to care and i'm finding it hard to get a job elsewhere, there just doesnt seem to be many IT Networking jobs out there at the mo and the ones that do pop up theres a lot of competition
 
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