Starting an IT career?

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smileynz

63 posts

Master Geek

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#934140 14-Nov-2013 22:33

I have worked for a council as a service desk engineer for the last 11 months. I have no IT qualifications but have worked in the Hospo Industry for the last 12 Years. I have a passion for computers and technology and i love my job to bits . I also love helping people. I'm lucky they were looking for someone with lots of customer service skills as this is your main focus on the helpdesk. I dont know everything there is to know but i like to find out and very willing to learn, I mentioned this in my cover letter for the job application.

I have had awesome feedback from the Clients (staff in the Council) about how we are so helpful and really easy to deal with. The past staff members knew a lot but never spent the time to help the staff and give them the skills to do their job better and more efficiently.

Guess i'm saying if you have the right attitude and show you have awesome customer service skills you will get a helpdesk job which will then open the doors to the IT world.

What i have learnt over the last 11 months has been amazing and opened my eyes to the IT world. I feel lucky to have this Job and work in the environment i do, Its so much fun :)

Good luck on your endeavors.

jonb

1771 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#934144 14-Nov-2013 22:50

Consider applying for junior/graduate test analyst roles. Even if you don't want to be a software tester forever you get a great immersion in the software development process, and can be a pathway to BA roles, Developer or Project Manager.

PlanIT have a graduate programme, for example.

nicnzl

172 posts

Master Geek

#934180 15-Nov-2013 08:17

timmmay: Plenty of people here willing to help, but the OP doesn't bother answering the questions asked. Unsubscribing.

It had only been 4 and a half hours since the original post!!

Not everyone can spend there day on GZ waiting for replies haha.

Edit: Sorry, less than 3 and a half hours!

sidefx

3711 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#934183 15-Nov-2013 08:30

Might be a bit late, but holiday\part time work experience is a great head start for any student. The compulsory 800 hours work experience we had to do as part of the engineering degree was gold when it came to graduation time (And with the length of uni holidays you can get a lot more hours in by the time you graduate) Even if it's only vaguely related to your chosen career path it'll help with job prospects IMO.

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

lokhor

2858 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#934291 15-Nov-2013 10:55

I think going for a graduate role or internship is a good start. After I graduated I did an internship as a System Analyst at Hamilton City Council and learned a great deal that helped me to secure a better job. I'm now working as a Business Analyst/Consultant at Provoke Solutions in Wellington and loving it.

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

khull

1245 posts

Uber Geek

#934302 15-Nov-2013 10:59

surfisup1000:
EviLClouD: Hey, just wondering, how does one usually start off their IT career?
Im a soon to be graduate with no IT work experience.
Alot of the jobs i find require some sort of experience, even help desk/service desk analysts.
What do you guys suggest is the best approach to enter this industry?
Thanks in advance!

Back in the day (90's) i think most students were hired by the end of their final year on graduate programmes. They were great, like an extension of Uni except you get paid for studying and alcohol was free :)

Not sure if that still happens.

I was a mid 00's student and it was still the case. You would often know who your employer was 6-12 months before finish - signed sealed and delivered. alcohol was free, racking up air miles like nobody's business then the financial crisis hit and it was a convenient excuse to cut back

EviLClouD

266 posts

Ultimate Geek

#934360 15-Nov-2013 12:34

surfisup1000:

Back in the day (90's) i think most students were hired by the end of their final year on graduate programmes. They were great, like an extension of Uni except you get paid for studying and alcohol was free :)

Not sure if that still happens.

khull:

I was a mid 00's student and it was still the case. You would often know who your employer was 6-12 months before finish - signed sealed and delivered. alcohol was free, racking up air miles like nobody's business then the financial crisis hit and it was a convenient excuse to cut back

They still have these graduate programmes but it's alot more competitive. At the career expo i spoke to one of the larger companies and they mentioned that they alone receive over 1000 applications for only 10 or so graduate positions they offer...

smileynz: I have worked for a council as a service desk engineer for the last 11 months. I have no IT qualifications but have worked in the Hospo Industry for the last 12 Years. I have a passion for computers and technology and i love my job to bits . I also love helping people. I'm lucky they were looking for someone with lots of customer service skills as this is your main focus on the helpdesk. I dont know everything there is to know but i like to find out and very willing to learn, I mentioned this in my cover letter for the job application.

I have had awesome feedback from the Clients (staff in the Council) about how we are so helpful and really easy to deal with. The past staff members knew a lot but never spent the time to help the staff and give them the skills to do their job better and more efficiently.

Guess i'm saying if you have the right attitude and show you have awesome customer service skills you will get a helpdesk job which will then open the doors to the IT world.

What i have learnt over the last 11 months has been amazing and opened my eyes to the IT world. I feel lucky to have this Job and work in the environment i do, Its so much fun :)

Good luck on your endeavors.

Thank you and congratuations on your achievement!

jonb: Consider applying for junior/graduate test analyst roles. Even if you don't want to be a software tester forever you get a great immersion in the software development process, and can be a pathway to BA roles, Developer or Project Manager.

PlanIT have a graduate programme, for example.

Question regarding test analyst roles. Is knowledge of coding a requirement?
But I will definitely look into those. Much appreciated!

lokhor: I think going for a graduate role or internship is a good start. After I graduated I did an internship as a System Analyst at Hamilton City Council and learned a great deal that helped me to secure a better job. I'm now working as a Business Analyst/Consultant at Provoke Solutions in Wellington and loving it.

I think its too late for internships and I have applied for a few graduate roles with no success. I will keep searching though.
Funny you mention Provoke Solutions...I actually interviewed the GM for one of my HR papers. Do you happen to know if Provoke offers work experience/internships/graduate roles?

Thank you

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lokhor

2858 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#934373 15-Nov-2013 12:54

EviLClouD:
surfisup1000:

Back in the day (90's) i think most students were hired by the end of their final year on graduate programmes. They were great, like an extension of Uni except you get paid for studying and alcohol was free :)

Not sure if that still happens.

khull:

I was a mid 00's student and it was still the case. You would often know who your employer was 6-12 months before finish - signed sealed and delivered. alcohol was free, racking up air miles like nobody's business then the financial crisis hit and it was a convenient excuse to cut back

They still have these graduate programmes but it's alot more competitive. At the career expo i spoke to one of the larger companies and they mentioned that they alone receive over 1000 applications for only 10 or so graduate positions they offer...

smileynz: I have worked for a council as a service desk engineer for the last 11 months. I have no IT qualifications but have worked in the Hospo Industry for the last 12 Years. I have a passion for computers and technology and i love my job to bits . I also love helping people. I'm lucky they were looking for someone with lots of customer service skills as this is your main focus on the helpdesk. I dont know everything there is to know but i like to find out and very willing to learn, I mentioned this in my cover letter for the job application.

I have had awesome feedback from the Clients (staff in the Council) about how we are so helpful and really easy to deal with. The past staff members knew a lot but never spent the time to help the staff and give them the skills to do their job better and more efficiently.

Guess i'm saying if you have the right attitude and show you have awesome customer service skills you will get a helpdesk job which will then open the doors to the IT world.

What i have learnt over the last 11 months has been amazing and opened my eyes to the IT world. I feel lucky to have this Job and work in the environment i do, Its so much fun :)

Good luck on your endeavors.

Thank you and congratuations on your achievement!

jonb: Consider applying for junior/graduate test analyst roles. Even if you don't want to be a software tester forever you get a great immersion in the software development process, and can be a pathway to BA roles, Developer or Project Manager.

PlanIT have a graduate programme, for example.

Question regarding test analyst roles. Is knowledge of coding a requirement?
But I will definitely look into those. Much appreciated!

lokhor: I think going for a graduate role or internship is a good start. After I graduated I did an internship as a System Analyst at Hamilton City Council and learned a great deal that helped me to secure a better job. I'm now working as a Business Analyst/Consultant at Provoke Solutions in Wellington and loving it.

I think its too late for internships and I have applied for a few graduate roles with no success. I will keep searching though.
Funny you mention Provoke Solutions...I actually interviewed the GM for one of my HR papers. Do you happen to know if Provoke offers work experience/internships/graduate roles?

Thank you

Provoke definitely has graduate intakes, unsure if anything is available at the moment though. It also depends whether you are in Auckland or Wellington (we also have offices in Seattle, Manila and Singapore).

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

numfarr

329 posts

Ultimate Geek

#936382 18-Nov-2013 07:59

EviLClouD:
These open source projects sound interesting, how do i go about finding them?
I have previous work experience, just nothing relevant to the IT industry....

OpenMRS, a free medical records system for hospitals, is a good one because you can start out at any level, and learn a huge amount about some fairly enterprisey software just by being involved. It would also look very good on a CV I think.

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