FAO: those working in the IT industry.

[Oli_K]

hey, recently ive been having major concerns about my chosen path of plumbing and heating. Ive seen alot of adverts for IT courses etc, now what i was wondering is,

A) has anyone done one of these courses (learndirect etc)

B) what would you recommend as a good course to do (earning potential, availability of jobs)

Ive always been interested in computers and have basic knowledge and understanding of IT from just messing about on my own PC for many years.

Any information/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Robb]

i would stick with the plumbing and heating to be honest.

seems everyone nowadays is getting into IT.

[Steve]

hey, recently ive been having major concerns about my chosen path of plumbing and heating. Ive seen alot of adverts for IT courses etc, now what i was wondering is,

A) has anyone done one of these courses (learndirect etc)

B) what would you recommend as a good course to do (earning potential, availability of jobs)

Ive always been interested in computers and have basic knowledge and understanding of IT from just messing about on my own PC for many years.

Any information/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.


I dropped out of my solicitors job and not looked back.
I do an nvq level 3 in i.t professionals and a btec national.
Being doing it a year, currently on a support desk but i get to go out to customer sites.

Looking for a new job as an installs engineer but where i can finish my nvq.

How old are you, i was lucky i got to do it as an apprentice with me starting before my 19th, they told me i would have had to pay to do it other wise.

Now i know alot of high end shit, not awesome high end but no alot about configuring firewalls and rules and for what reason they are needed, hands on is the way with i.t, best trying to get an apprenticeship

[E1999G]

I started a plumbing apprentiship then it all fell through went back to college did 2 years of BTEC level 3 pasted it, now doing apprentiship in IT in a school, hoping to go work in a america in novemeber doing football coaching and IT. It all depends what sort of IT you want to do there is loads

[Hanuman]

old saying goes, the grasnt isnt greener on the other side

[Clouds_mate]

Depends if your actually any good at 'IT' Knowing a bit of excel and word. But been interested in IT isnt going to earn you hardly any money.

Also the adverts you mention. i'm sure they are simualr to 'basic wage in IT is 40k' Well it isnt.

[Oli_K]

i would stick with the plumbing and heating to be honest.

seems everyone nowadays is getting into IT.

I dont enjoy it anymore, pay is good, enjoy not being stuck in an office, but i dont wanna do it anymore.

I dropped out of my solicitors job and not looked back.
I do an nvq level 3 in i.t professionals and a btec national.
Being doing it a year, currently on a support desk but i get to go out to customer sites.

Looking for a new job as an installs engineer but where i can finish my nvq.

How old are you, i was lucky i got to do it as an apprentice with me starting before my 19th, they told me i would have had to pay to do it other wise.

Now i know alot of high end shit, not awesome high end but no alot about configuring firewalls and rules and for what reason they are needed, hands on is the way with i.t, best trying to get an apprenticeship

Im 19 pal, not too bothered if i have to pay for it. Where abouts do you go to study for that, or do you do this from home?

To get an apprenticeship do i go to a business to ask for this, or do i do this by approaching a college ?

I started a plumbing apprentiship then it all fell through went back to college did 2 years of BTEC level 3 pasted it, now doing apprentiship in IT in a school, hoping to go work in a america in novemeber doing football coaching and IT. It all depends what sort of IT you want to do there is loads

That sounds good mate. As for what type of IT i want to do, i dont really wanna be sat on a help desk taking calls, id like to maybe do something with building computers or hands on technical support as opposed to over the phone.

[Wilkys-sexy-saxo]

well mate im doing a computer course at highbury college near portsmouth, and in my class are people are 35 etc etc, who have quit the plumbing jobs to do ICT, the are liking it and find the course intresting but difficult, they keep saying how important it is to do it while you have the chance. so i would reckemend it :)

hey, recently ive been having major concerns about my chosen path of plumbing and heating. Ive seen alot of adverts for IT courses etc, now what i was wondering is,

A) has anyone done one of these courses (learndirect etc)

B) what would you recommend as a good course to do (earning potential, availability of jobs)

Ive always been interested in computers and have basic knowledge and understanding of IT from just messing about on my own PC for many years.

Any information/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[srcnix]

It depends greatly on the sort of IT work you'll be in to.

There are many areas, support, networking engineer, systems administrator, web developer, web designer, graphics designer, CAD designer, to name a few.

For me, I lead the role of a web developer, programming is my game, Steve is my name ;)

[Oli_K]

Depends if your actually any good at 'IT' Knowing a bit of excel and word. But been interested in IT isnt going to earn you hardly any money.

Also the adverts you mention. i'm sure they are simualr to 'basic wage in IT is 40k' Well it isnt.

My interest in IT is a good starting point towards learning the fundamentals. I know i havent the experiance or knowledge to start earning money now, which is why im asking about courses.

From reading other threads ive picked up that you work in IT yourself?
What is it you do and how did you get to where you are now, if you dont mind me asking ? :y:

[stalkah66]

IT is ok, but I've been in support roles now for over 6 years and I'm only earning about 22k a year. Nothing like the 40k you see advertised.
If you are just gonna be a pc builder or a workshop engineer don't expect to get more then 15-17k a year unless you get lucky.

[E1999G]

Im doing a techinican course so do networking, fixing problems etc. I had two weeks at carphone warehouse head quatars for my work experince found it so good just to spend a couple of days with the different teams. Like i spent a day at the web team, network team, database team etc but after it i thought that i didnt really feel like just going into one sort of IT. Thats why the apprentiship is so good as i will learn lots of different things

[Hanuman]

wont belong before its.... can i do this job as im bored of sat at a compy doing IT and all the foreigners are now taking over IT jobs. lol

[E1999G]

From reading other threads ive picked up that you work in IT yourself?
What is it you do and how did you get to where you are now, if you dont mind me asking ? :y:

Did two years at college then at the end of it they said there is an apprentiship that u can do after i got into it. Went to the school that i did football coaching at and said can i do a IT apprentiship here they said yes and here i am now. Looking to go to the states to work in a school in november

[Oli_K]

well mate im doing a computer course at highbury college near portsmouth, and in my class are people are 35 etc etc, who have quit the plumbing jobs to do ICT, the are liking it and find the course intresting but difficult, they keep saying how important it is to do it while you have the chance. so i would reckemend it :)

Cheers mate, yeh i like to do it while im still young and have the motivation and interest.

It depends greatly on the sort of IT work you'll be in to.

There are many areas, support, networking engineer, systems administrator, web developer, web designer, graphics designer, CAD designer, to name a few.

For me, I lead the role of a web developer, programming is my game, Steve is my name ;)

Is there a general course most people start with, and then move onto a certain area of IT (developer/designer/programmer)

IT is ok, but I've been in support roles now for over 6 years and I'm only earning about 22k a year. Nothing like the 40k you see advertised.
If you are just gonna be a pc builder or a workshop engineer don't expect to get more then 15-17k a year unless you get lucky.

I didnt expect most people to be earning 40k anyway. I wouldnt mind coming in at entry level 15k a year etc, id like to get into the industry i am sure there are plenty of more area specific courses you can do when ive build the experiance to specialise in one area ?

[Clouds_mate]

Errm... From about 15 i started getting into 'PCs' I learned HTML and networking at home.

2003 - I went to college for 1 year.

2004 - I was then offered a job at Fujitsu as an IT Techie, First line support.

2006 - I went for an interview at another IT company (ICM). This was for an IT Analyst, jack of all trades, you name it i did it.

2007 - I left ICM to go and specialise in dedicated application support. I was doing SQL and PROGRESS coding/Programming - This wasnt for me. It was very boring and i missed the 'Techie' side of things. Coding wasnt for me.

2008 - I moved back to ICM for better money before doing the same job. I'm now going to study my MCSE's through this company for free.

I also set up my own company start of Jan. Havnt advertised yet but made around 350-400 in the first month. So thats a bonus too.

[Oli_K]

Im doing a techinican course so do networking, fixing problems etc. I had two weeks at carphone warehouse head quatars for my work experince found it so good just to spend a couple of days with the different teams. Like i spent a day at the web team, network team, database team etc but after it i thought that i didnt really feel like just going into one sort of IT. Thats why the apprentiship is so good as i will learn lots of different things

That sounds good, i will deffinatly look into IT apprentiships, few friends of the family that might be able to help out with that. Good look with america hope it goes well for you, been most helpful :y:

wont belong before its.... can i do this job as im bored of sat at a compy doing IT and all the foreigners are now taking over IT jobs. lol

cheers for all the positive encouragement you have brought to this thread. :clapping:

[Oli_K]

Errm... From about 15 i started getting into 'PCs' I learned HTML and networking at home.

2003 - I went to college for 1 year.

2004 - I was then offered a job at Fujitsu as an IT Techie, First line support.

2006 - I went for an interview at another IT company (ICM). This was for an IT Analyst, jack of all trades, you name it i did it.

2007 - I left ICM to go and specialise in dedicated application support. I was doing SQL and PROGRESS coding/Programming - This wasnt for me. It was very boring and i missed the 'Techie' side of things. Coding wasnt for me.

2008 - I moved back to ICM for better money before doing the same job. I'm now going to study my MCSE's through this company for free.

I also set up my own company start of Jan. Havnt advertised yet but made around 350-400 in the first month. So thats a bonus too.

Quality. Thats provided me with a good insight into how you get into it :y:

I shall take myself away and look at some courses to get me started, theres loads of ones you can study from home etc. Failing that its back to college for a year or two.

Tbh, always wanted to go down the IT route but guess when i was younger just took what was handed on a plate.

Cheers mate :y:

[Clouds_mate]

Do a year at college or learn the basics of AD and basic networking. Im sure i can have a word with someone here and try get your on the first line or doing the call logging/over flow.

You will learn stuff from that. Then you can progress onwards and upwards.

[Oli_K]

Do a year at college or learn the basics of AD and basic networking. Im sure i can have a word with someone here and try get your on the first line or doing the call logging/over flow.

You will learn stuff from that. Then you can progress onwards and upwards.

Thank you ver mucho.

Will look into AD and networking courses now. :y:

[hellonpluto]

Do a year at college or learn the basics of AD and basic networking. Im sure i can have a word with someone here and try get your on the first line or doing the call logging/over flow.

You will learn stuff from that. Then you can progress onwards and upwards.

The man speaks wise words. 1st helpdesk shadowing in your first 6-12months will do you the world of good. If you're up for learning, being pro-active and don't give up on problems you'll go far.

I've been working in IT for 13 years and its great!

[saxodan]

learn while you earn, going to college for a few years or uni leaves you out of the game with no experience, hard to get a work good place, if you do stick with it..

[Oli_K]

learn while you earn, going to college for a few years or uni leaves you out of the game with no experience, hard to get a work good place, if you do stick with it..

i would love to my friend, just finding a company willing to take me on, im sure if i asked around and enquire i would find somewhere, im thinking my mum may know a few people that are able to help.

[AdamH]

i got sponsored onto a 2.5k it course with skillstrain.. cisco network engineering :O after being a mechanic for a few years and ive always been into computers / building them up etc etc..

anyways.. the course material is shit... all out dated and stuff you can learn on the back of a cereal packet.. so im not doing it anymore.. and havnt for a few months now.. but now their saying i have to or ill have to pay for it..

sucks.

17 essasys on basics like dos, basic networking, and security on networks... ive taught my self how to make websites from notepad with html and java coding since then...

pathetic courses.. do a search for the company you wana go for (teaching wise) and read how many bad reviews their are

[KamRacing]

going on what plumbers earn I would stick with that. Build a strong reputation and you will earn far more than most PAYE IT jobs. To earn big money in IT you need to do contracting work.

[furiomike]

i got into pc's when i was about 15 too, but it was always mainly hardware that intersted me rather than software stuff like html.

there was never anything to do at college during GCSE's and A-levels that was any good other than ICT.

ive now done a couple of courses at college (A+ and Network+) to try and get some of ths stuff i know down on paper as a qualification i suppose. its stuff i know already but its not exactly any use if you dont have a qualification to prove it of job experience to prove it.

unfortunately theres absolutely no jobs what so ever in IT near where i live. when one does come up its always well under paid and the competitions too fierce.

so i dunno what to do.

[devilsadvocate]

I work as a 2nd line support engineer on a IT Helpdesk (Kent County Council). I started on 1st line on £15500 and now im on £22000. Im only 20 so is a fairly decent wage and have only been there 16 months. Publick sector companies tend to pay less as i could earn £25k+ if i wanted to work in London.

I started off with 4 A Levels (Average Grades). You need to start at the bottom in IT and work your way up. There is one person on 1st line and two doing my job that have undergrad degrees in computing. IMO experience in the IT industry for a decent company will outweight an undergrad degree.

Im note sure how IT would weigh up with plumming, however my flatmate is a qualified corgi registered plummer and he has to do 10 hours more work per week to earn the same money as i do.

[baker556]

ive applied for Kent university to do computer science which is a 3 year course and a year in industry but you have to have 3 Bs at a level and all the GCSEs but tis all good !.....year in industry i could be earning up to 20 to 48K !!! then at the end of the course you may even get the job and a raised wage packet ! go to uni !!

[devilsadvocate]

Unless you got a specialised degree such as networking or programming, it will still be hard getting into the IT industry unless you are prepared to start at the bottom. The people at my work with general computer degrees were all told they would earn £28k+ to start which may have been tru when 5 years ago when less people were in the IT industry. The year in indusry you are doing will go a long way to get your job but i wouldnt pin your hopes on earning 40k when you get your first IT job....

The big money in IT either comes from being a manager (not really leaning anything bout IT) or specalising in a certian field. The programmers where i work earn £35k+ whereas the people with general computer degrees are doing the same job as me....Not trying to put a downer on your course but ive seen what happens.

[djshongo]

I recently graduated from a uni here in ireland with an honours degree in Graphic Design.. and fuckd if i can get a job!
It's hopeless!

Unless you fancy moving away from here it's pointless, as was said earlier - everybody can do that basics verty good now. So competition is fierce..

I'm just gonna be a bum for a while :)

[Saxo-Will]

I did a 2 year BTEC ND in IT at college and am now working as a laptop technician and take technical calls at a laptop company.

Its pretty good and pay isnt bad, i'd hate to be sat in a chair all day tapping at a keyboard. Prefer taking things apart and problem solving.

Maybe try something local to get some experience and maybe go for a bigger company after...

Heard tht PC World is good pay for a techy, but they usually ask for experience :y:

[nufc_lad]

http://www.btplc.com/Careercentre/CareerStart-Apprentices/index.htm

[Tim_1]

After fucking up my A-levels i did a BTEC national diploma in I.T, passed with distinction, distinction, merit which is the equivilant of 3 A-levels grades AAB. I applied for universities including oxford and was excepted into all 4, but decied to study here in sunny Cornwall, doing a Degree in Computer Networking. Kinda regret it now as the big money is in the cities with contracts work and its awkward getting any work placemnt and experience.
Just finished my first semester of the degree which was kinda easy, Finishing up Cisco courses at the moment which is a great industry qualification to have and spending a week on windows server 2003 soon(MSCE, or summin).

If your going to get into I.T make sure you pick where you wanna go and work for it, i plan on going into network design via contractors or network secutiry and anylasis as theres alot of money there atm. If you want to go into web design learn some HTML (hyper text markup languge) and css(cascanding style sheets) but also learn SQL, MYSQL and php.

Most people i see studing I.T end up doing crap paid support jobs(No offence),
Being paid 16k a year as a network engineer - no thanks
Being paid 19k a year to answer phones - erm...
being paid 75k a year with company car configuring cisco routers and building netowrks for companies around the world- sounds a bit better to me

[smiith]

i got into pc's when i was about 15 too, but it was always mainly hardware that intersted me rather than software stuff like html.

there was never anything to do at college during GCSE's and A-levels that was any good other than ICT.

ive now done a couple of courses at college (A+ and Network+) to try and get some of ths stuff i know down on paper as a qualification i suppose. its stuff i know already but its not exactly any use if you dont have a qualification to prove it of job experience to prove it.

unfortunately theres absolutely no jobs what so ever in IT near where i live. when one does come up its always well under paid and the competitions too fierce.

so i dunno what to do.

gota be willing to travel around here bud :)

get yourself out to boro, teesport and stockton area, i travel as far as york for work :)

[saxodan]

After fucking up my A-levels i did a BTEC national diploma in I.T, passed with distinction, distinction, merit which is the equivilant of 3 A-levels grades AAB. I applied for universities including oxford and was excepted into all 4, but decied to study here in sunny Cornwall, doing a Degree in Computer Networking. Kinda regret it now as the big money is in the cities with contracts work and its awkward getting any work placemnt and experience.
Just finished my first semester of the degree which was kinda easy, Finishing up Cisco courses at the moment which is a great industry qualification to have and spending a week on windows server 2003 soon(MSCE, or summin).

If your going to get into I.T make sure you pick where you wanna go and work for it, i plan on going into network design via contractors or network secutiry and anylasis as theres alot of money there atm. If you want to go into web design learn some HTML (hyper text markup languge) and css(cascanding style sheets) but also learn SQL, MYSQL and php.

Most people i see studing I.T end up doing crap paid support jobs(No offence),
Being paid 16k a year as a network engineer - no thanks
Being paid 19k a year to answer phones - erm...
being paid 75k a year with company car configuring cisco routers and building netowrks for companies around the world- sounds a bit better to me

all veyr well mate but have you had any experience, you may well have a ton of cisco quals and an mcse under your belt, but without work experience it means nothing in IT, you certainly wont be coming outa uni strait to a 75k job! (would be nice though)

[Ste]

IT takes too long to get into and your knowledge expires roughly every 4 - 6 years.

It will take about 3 - 5 Years to get qualified enough to earn similar to a Plumber. Although if you stuck at it you could earn alot more.

I started with an MCDST (Microsoft Desktop Support Technician) its the basics of XP, networking and general support. Then i did an N+ and now im doing a CCNA. With an MCDST you'll get a basic support job on around 10 - 15K a year. With an N+ upto 20k and a CCNA upto 28k. However the exams expire after a few years. SO you need to constantly be in traiing to climb up the ladder.

Its worth noting that to get into IT you always seem to need experience, so as qualified as you can be if you havn't had some good experience it will be hard to get a decent job.


Skills-train are pretty good, and xpertise training.

However IT is shit to work in, EVERYONE who rings you if your in support is angry, everyone wants a flat screen, everyone wants the best lookin PC's everyone needs everything doing in 10 seconds.

Stick with plumbing, better money in half the time and you dont have to sit and wait for shit to install.....

And if you listen to people like Tim_1 you'll end up wishing youd gone down a diff career path. Network engineers earn 35k, If you want to go where the money is be an Oracle Database Administrator. Dont read the figures of salary off the sites and think woo ill get that when im all qualified because you wont, go on a job search site search the qualification and then decide.... I sit opposite a CCNP with 30yrs+ experience who earns 30k.........

[Clouds_mate]

And if you listen to people like Tim_1 you'll end up wishing youd gone down a diff career path. Network engineers earn 35k, If you want to go where the money is be an Oracle Database Administrator. Dont read the figures of salary off the sites and think woo ill get that when im all qualified because you wont, go on a job search site search the qualification and then decide.... I sit opposite a CCNP with 30yrs+ experience who earns 30k.........

In a nutshell.

It isnt going to happen not for 75k.

[Scattle]

Hope to work in the IT Industry after finishing Computer Science, looks likeI need bit of experience then.

[Clouds_mate]

Its all about working in Dubai tbh.

They pay around 40-50k for well spoken English people with experience.

Tax free too.

[Scattle]

Dubai here I come tbh.

[Tim_1]

network administrarotrs earn 35k a year in cornwall which is a crap wage- seeing as most jobs in cornwall pay about 60 of what jobs in most major cities do. unfortuantly with I.T you need to move to where the money is, fortuantly tho a lot of jobs alow you to work from home now with the expansion of broadband. Go live in kent with super speed adsl.

And ive got 2 years experience building websites, 1 years C++/java programming and 1 years experience in network design, secuity and administration- working for the council which is kinda rubbish tho.

Tho i know plumbers who earn a lot, or become a plasterier(how the fuck do you spell that).