career change

Pnut · Post by **Pnut** » November 13th, 2009, 19:23

A few jobs have opened up in the I.T support department at my mum’s works (C.I.S) and I’m thinking about going for one. Thing is I have no I.T related qualifications and I was wondering if any of you chaps had any recommendations as to what sort of courses/ qualifications I should be looking at to help me get a decent job at last. Cheers in advance.

Post by **Dog Pants** » November 13th, 2009, 19:48

Well it depends on what level you're aiming at. An MCSE/MCSA is still very useful, despite claims of them being dumbed down, and a CCNA is apparently the in thing at the moment. There's also ITL for structured helpdesk management, and I believe CompTIA are pretty standard (correct me if I'm wrong here other IT professionals). You could always start off with an ECDL if you're new to the business, although whether an employer would give a shit about something so basic is arguable, but having one has to be better than not doing and for first line it wouldn't harm your chances I expect.

Pnut · Post by **Pnut** » November 13th, 2009, 19:52

I was looking at doing the ECDL thing but the bloke at the job centre is sending me on an I.T assesment next week, hopefully that will give me some idea at how good/bad I am on these things.

Post by **Dog Pants** » November 13th, 2009, 20:03

Sounds good, he's probably got a better idea for starting out. The ECDL is a bit noddy, but there's so many utter computer biffs out there it's probably taken more seriously than most IT types expect. Oh, and don't forget you can still use your standard and advanced learning credit from your RAF days.

Baliame · Post by **Baliame** » November 13th, 2009, 23:06

IT support as in phone tech support? Take up an indian accent and pretend you're an outsourced person.

friznit · Post by **friznit** » November 13th, 2009, 23:46

I've been trying to break unto civvy InfoSec, based on the fact I did 5 years of it in the Army. No fucking chance. They all want CLAS, CISSP and ITIL as a minimum. It's one of those classics where CISSP needs 5 years experience to even get the qualification but no fucker will take you on unless you have it. wtf?

I'm giving up on that and going to be an office bitch,

TheJockGit · Post by **TheJockGit** » November 14th, 2009, 0:02

Its all bollox...I have no IT qualifications but have been doing this job for 7 years, and won the job over several Uni and College based graduates.. what swung it?

Experience... they would much rather have someone who can problem solve as well as being capable of changing the cartridges in the printer or fax machine, unless you plan on specialising your years of experience as a gamer are actually quite handy, being able to get a swept game to work, fixing minor PC problems etc are all things that gamers deal with on a regular basis.

You'll be surprised how much you actually know even if you think you don't... compared to the casual office worker who only use a PC to type and e-mail.

I have been lucky in that i have had a number of IT based jobs but I got in the trade in the early days when it was still considered a "black art"... now every 12 year old probably knows as much as me, but I have past experience and companies on the CV which helps.

Probably not much use to you P-Nut, but don't put yourself down is what i am trying to say... your experiences in trying to get a LAN going with your mates or working out how to use PotatoShop without a manual all help in problem solving which is 98% of IT support.

Good luck anyway, even if I haven't helped at all... I blame the whisky

Post by **Dog Pants** » November 14th, 2009, 0:19

I hope you're right Jock, because I've not a great deal of IT qualifications either (including all the ones I've listed up there ^). What I've found though, assuming I have any success with my avenues of next employment, is that it isn't what you know but who you know.

bomberesque · Post by **bomberesque** » November 14th, 2009, 6:20

^what Jock git says

I have an engineering degree ... I worked hard for it and (I think) it's quite a good one. The last time an employer asked for it (as a way of deciding whether or not to employ me) was about 18 years ago ... at my first interview after graduating. Since then it's only been used to apply for work visas (and it's been very good at that

) I *really* may aswell have goofed off more and settled for a 2.2 or even a third for all the good the extra did me in the employment race.

If your mum can get you a shoe in at her work and it's what you want to do, take it. Take a junior post if needs be and accept any on the job training they offer. Makes you look keen and you get paid while you do it. If you have an aptitude for the task (and it sounds like you do) and you conspicuously fail to take a jobsworth approach to it then you'll quickly shine amongst all the dullards that populate most work environments.

You need a couple of years on a CV to circumvent most calls for qualifications (some you'll not get around, such is life ... I may need to get Prince 2 quals before long, not that I'd use them, it doesn't look like a very good system but hey, it ticks a box with some employers) but what an employer really wants to know is not what qualifications you have but can you do the job and will you fit within the organisation. So, if you don't have the formal quals, drum up some other evidence that shows you can do the job and act all flexible and keeen to learn-y. And pressure your mum to put a word in.

Pnut · Post by **Pnut** » November 14th, 2009, 21:04

Cheers for all the help, just had a look at some of the courses and `bloody expensive` springs to mind, hopefully i can get the the money from the jobcentre otherwise i dont think i`ll be doing any of them!

Post by **HereComesPete** » November 16th, 2009, 12:25

Just remember, you can't poke berk on xfire when you're there.

friznit · Post by **friznit** » November 16th, 2009, 12:30

Pnut wrote:Cheers for all the help, just had a look at some of the courses and `bloody expensive` springs to mind, hopefully i can get the the money from the jobcentre otherwise i dont think i`ll be doing any of them!

This is exactly why I've not been able to do lots of courses over the last 6 months. Several thousand quid for something that still won't guarantee you a job isn't really an option. Instead I've been telling prospective employees that I'll take £5k less pay if they invest that much in training me up over the first year, with an equivalent pay raise once the courses are completed (I got that put into the contract on my last job and it worked well - PRINCE2 paid for by the company and a 5k raise once done). It doesn't always work because some are very qualification conscious, especially if you lack experience, but quite a few are receptive to the idea.

amblin · Post by **amblin** » November 16th, 2009, 14:11

Pnut · Post by **Pnut** » December 15th, 2009, 17:18

Well just got of the phone to a bloke from advent consulting limited and have been recommended for a place on a Certified Professional Programme which includes CompTIA A+, now I`m not to sure about this as I’ve not heard of the qualifications (and the price is a bit steep as well!). So I`m hoping that one of you lot would have heard of them and be able to tell me if it was worth it?

Post by **Dog Pants** » December 15th, 2009, 18:06

Dog Pants wrote:I believe CompTIA are pretty standard

Pnut · Post by **Pnut** » December 15th, 2009, 18:08

Ah yes, missed that bit

cheeseandham · Post by **cheeseandham** » December 15th, 2009, 21:44

What JockGit and Bomeresque said.

Thing is, if the position is open now, use your mum and get an interview. On your CV and in the interview, focus on your passion for it and what you know. As said by JockGit also, knowing how to get a LAN going and just know how to Google gives you an edge over most. Focus on your problem solving ability and that you do this stuff for _fun_ and it will go a long way.

By the way, I am an employer of IT people (admittedly not a big company, but still) . and I know that
a) a CV is mostly bullshit
b) A person can have qualifications and know fuck all.
c) All 5punkers know 50x more about IT than the current CS Degree Intern I have at the moment. (seriously) And according to a recruitment consultant I know, it's an endemic problem - see point (a)

If this interview with your mom doesn't pan out, apply apply apply, someone will take you, then dazzle them. If you show someone you're good, they'll give you more responsibility (especially so in smaller companies than bigger ones, but it still works)
Once you're with someone, they send you on courses and help you get the qualifications, my employees get £2k a year training budget and should be part of any decent employer as it's about investing in your staff. If it's not there then as if it's up for negotiation then take the equivalent pay-cut (before tax) or add a 'can't leave for x months after taking a course' clause to your contract. (fair works on both sides

)

Post by **HereComesPete** » December 15th, 2009, 22:16

And if you can't fix something you can just ask on here!