Wanting a career in I.T.

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Mandman

18 posts

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#64545 17-Jul-2010 17:13

Hi all. Im looking for a change in career and want to get into the I.T field. Im wanting some advise on some qualifications or courses that would help me. My main problem is that I cant afford to study full time and am wanting to gain a qualification of some sort with in a year. I have been advised to look at doing some microsoft papers or CompTIA A+? The main areas I have an interest in are hardware support, desktop support and networking. Any advise would be greatfully appreciated.

Adam

[Moderator edit (MF): Moved to a more appropriate forum]

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#353252 19-Jul-2010 09:57

A+ is one of those qualifications thats nice to have but a lot of employers tend to lean more towards MS certs.

My own history with IT knowledge was :

Had Amiga....learnt all I could from that (self taught and via friends)
Bought PII 266 in 98, learnt Windows, DUN etc (self taught and via friends)
Got helpdesk job at IHUG, thrown in deep end with Windows networking (learnt fast)

After IHUG, ended up doing A+ with group of friends via AMES. After doing the course we thought "what a waste" as what we were being taught we already knew from our own self training etc - we could have saved a small fortune and just sat the exams on their own.

Im now the Service Desk Administrator for a medium-large sized training company, who covers any other exams etc I want to do, so have picked up MCDST (Windows XP Desktop Support) and studying for the Windows 7 Enterprise equivalent.

So if you feel confident in your own skills, then might be a cheaper option for you to just sit the A+ exams then shell out for the full course.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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Mandman

18 posts

Geek

#353516 19-Jul-2010 17:35

Thanks for your advise. I posted the same question on the trademe message boards and everyone there was telling me not to waste my time trying to get into I.T. and that I should have done it 5 years ago.

graemeh

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#353755 20-Jul-2010 09:02

Mandman: Thanks for your advise. I posted the same question on the trademe message boards and everyone there was telling me not to waste my time trying to get into I.T. and that I should have done it 5 years ago.

Well that should tell you something. If everyone on Trademe was telling you to get into IT then it would be time to get out :)

ruderger

53 posts

Master Geek

#356738 26-Jul-2010 20:09

I self studied for the A+ exam in 2008, used the A+ in a nutshell book, thought I already knew most of it from my interest in computers, was also working full time, test was good.
Currently studying 70-685 Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician, using Win7 at work (service desk) so that helps, but I'm finding the practice tests tricky, will get there though.
Start with A+ and see how you go.

Mandman

18 posts

Geek

#356751 26-Jul-2010 20:34

Hey thanks for that. That's the kind of info I was after. Are you currently working in the industry?

xpd

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#356782 26-Jul-2010 21:21

ruderger: I self studied for the A+ exam in 2008, used the A+ in a nutshell book, thought I already knew most of it from my interest in computers, was also working full time, test was good.
Currently studying 70-685 Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician, using Win7 at work (service desk) so that helps, but I'm finding the practice tests tricky, will get there though.
Start with A+ and see how you go.

Yeah Im doing 70-680 and 70-685 - lot more to it than the MCDST :)

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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nzpat

167 posts

Master Geek

#356786 26-Jul-2010 21:29

Sorry to hijack your thread, Im pretty much In a similar situation. Im doing a Bcom (accounting and information systems majors) conjoint with a Bsc (comp sci major) at akl uni, will these degrees alone be enough to get a well paying job in the it sector (not sure what I want to do) or will I need to do more focused study like Microsoft certs etc. Cheers

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slippers

193 posts

Master Geek

#356858 27-Jul-2010 00:55

You both need to find out what you are interested in before you make any decisions.

I would suggest that Windows, Desktop, Network support type careers are _BORING_ as hell, dime a dozen in terms of the amount of people who have those skills.....and ull end up being the bitch of every end user.

Not bad as a way to familiarise yourself with the industry I guess...

IMO set yourself some projects to accomplish on your own computer.. feel around the different technologies and make a decision then.

ruderger

53 posts

Master Geek

#356881 27-Jul-2010 07:06

Mandman: Hey thanks for that. That's the kind of info I was after. Are you currently working in the industry?

Yip, with an IT support company, was based at a client site for a year, first IT job (after working at a uni library, the front line/customer skills are really important), back in the company building now, working on a regional service desk.

patznz: Sorry to hijack your thread, Im pretty much In a similar situation. Im doing a Bcom (accounting and information systems majors) conjoint with a Bsc (comp sci major) at akl uni, will these degrees alone be enough to get a well paying job in the it sector (not sure what I want to do) or will I need to do more focused study like Microsoft certs etc. Cheers

I majored in comp sci, a few papers were helpful (networking, problem solving), but most of it (AI, Graphics, theory) was not helpful at all for IT support.
I wasn't offered a proper IT job until I got the A+, but a degree still shows a lot about the person, I just don't think you learn actual IT support skills, but it does depend what you actually want to be doing.
Your path might get you into Info Systems administration work, I don't know anything about that area.

Mandman

18 posts

Geek

#357067 27-Jul-2010 12:39

slippers: You both need to find out what you are interested in before you make any decisions.

I would suggest that Windows, Desktop, Network support type careers are _BORING_ as hell, dime a dozen in terms of the amount of people who have those skills.....and ull end up being the bitch of every end user.

Not bad as a way to familiarise yourself with the industry I guess...

IMO set yourself some projects to accomplish on your own computer.. feel around the different technologies and make a decision then.

Thanks for that advise. I guess Im looking at the easiest entry pooint into the industry, get some experience and skills and then go from there.

I will take your advise and look at doing some projects on my own computer

Cheers

Adam

ScottStevensNZ

245 posts

Master Geek

#357093 27-Jul-2010 13:27

patznz: Sorry to hijack your thread, Im pretty much In a similar situation. Im doing a Bcom (accounting and information systems majors) conjoint with a Bsc (comp sci major) at akl uni, will these degrees alone be enough to get a well paying job in the it sector (not sure what I want to do) or will I need to do more focused study like Microsoft certs etc. Cheers

Hey

I got my BSc in info Systems and a Post Grad dip in 2000 - which is approximately 100 years ago in IT years. First couple of questions:
-In your CompSci degree, which languages are you familiar with (Java, .net, perl etc)?
-Which area are you the strongest?
-What is your longterm goal?

Last question is most important. Chances are, that you will start as a graduate developer - sucks I know but there you go. You may also be doing some testing and some maintenance stuff.
Things I'd recommend:

-Learn your way around UNIX - love it or hate it, its there and its going to be for a while
-Learn a scripting language: PERL is good
-SQL is your friend - you'll need it sooner or later - probably sooner
-Be open to new ideas - you're going to be challenged because there will be so many things that happen in business that go against what you've learnt in uni
-make friends with the secretarial staff really quick - they know where everything is (seriously, thats not tongue in cheak!)
-The money will not be great when you first start

I started off as an analyst programmer working in Java, VB and ASP (remember that?). Did quite a bit of web development for a while then somehow (still have no idea how) I ended up testing. Currently I'm a load and performance tester working out of wellington which is a highly specialized role which I never really had any inkling of getting into. Its going to take you a couple of years to start getting payback on your degrees I'd say but when you do, things start moving quite quickly.

S

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geekiegeek

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#357105 27-Jul-2010 13:49

Mandman: Hi all. Im looking for a change in career and want to get into the I.T field. Im wanting some advise on some qualifications or courses that would help me. My main problem is that I cant afford to study full time and am wanting to gain a qualification of some sort with in a year. I have been advised to look at doing some microsoft papers or CompTIA A+? The main areas I have an interest in are hardware support, desktop support and networking. Any advise would be greatfully appreciated.

Adam

[Moderator edit (MF): Moved to a more appropriate forum]

A+ is good but personally I would do a Microsoft cert instead. Then get yourself a job on a first level helpdesk so you are "in" the industry. From there keep studying and moving towards the type of role you want.

This is from persoanl experince. I did a 6 month certificate in computing about 11 years ago. Got a job on a first level helpdesk and started doing my MCSE. Moved up to second level helpdesk and completed my MCSE. I then moved to a role as a technical consultant and have just spent 5 years doing everything from hardware to Cisco routing and everything inbetween at a smaller IT company while also gaining CCNA and CCNP - am currently a senior technical consultant. Now I'm off to work for a larger IT company in hosting and cloud services (like next monday!).

I think the best thing is to get that first IT job ASAP so you are building real world experince, then as long as you work hard and study hard you can do anything you want.

Jaxson

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#357107 27-Jul-2010 13:52

There is a big push towards Degrees but University qualifications are not always orientated around employment, more 'higher learning'. It's almost sad to see graduates coming out armed with qualifications that are general rather than someone with the equivalent years of industry specific training.

Point has been raised above that you really need to work out what you want to do, rather than just a global work in IT. It might pay to talk to potential employers, find out what they value and perhaps even try for some unpaid/paid work experience to see if that field is actually close to what you think it is right now.

Not rubbishing any qualifications, just saying it's the wrong way around in my opinion to decide what you want to invest time and money into before you've worked out if you actually enjoy working in that field. That said you have to start somewhere and naturally we wish you all the best.

Jaxson

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#357109 27-Jul-2010 13:55

geekiegeek: and everything inbetween at a smaller IT company

Sometimes a smaller company is a great way to get experience over a wider area. A larger company will typically offer roles in one specific area, whereas a smaller company will get you to cover across a wider range of experiences.

geekiegeek: I think the best thing is to get that first IT job ASAP so you are building real world experince, then as long as you work hard and study hard you can do anything you want.

+1 Great advice.

jaymz

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#357214 27-Jul-2010 16:52

Jaxson: There is a big push towards Degrees but University qualifications are not always orientated around employment, more 'higher learning'. It's almost sad to see graduates coming out armed with qualifications that are general rather than someone with the equivalent years of industry specific training.

Point has been raised above that you really need to work out what you want to do, rather than just a global work in IT. It might pay to talk to potential employers, find out what they value and perhaps even try for some unpaid/paid work experience to see if that field is actually close to what you think it is right now.

Not rubbishing any qualifications, just saying it's the wrong way around in my opinion to decide what you want to invest time and money into before you've worked out if you actually enjoy working in that field. That said you have to start somewhere and naturally we wish you all the best.

+1 for the work experience.

I currently work as a Project manager and Network Engineer at my company. I started off just doing one day a week work experience (unpaid) and got offered a full time job as a bench tech/helpdesk at the end of it. I only had a 2 year diploma from tech to go on, but I am glad I took the chance for work experience rather than going back for a third year at tech.

Then once you get a foot in the door, don't be stagnant in your job role. Always ask to take on new and harder jobs, if you just sit in the terms of your role then you won't advance.

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