IT Technician

[Matty94]

Hi everyone,

 

I was wondering if anyone could help me. I'm currently trying to get my foot in the door to get into the IT industry to become an IT Support Technician. However, me being a young age 19, and not having any certificates, only a BTEC Extended National Diploma in IT. What would the best way to get to become an IT support Technician?

[hardtailstar]

Hi everyone,

 

I was wondering if anyone could help me. I'm currently trying to get my foot in the door to get into the IT industry to become an IT Support Technician. However, me being a young age 19, and not having any certificates, only a BTEC Extended National Diploma in IT. What would the best way to get to become an IT support Technician?

 

Volunteer! I did 8 months volunteering at my old Secondary school for experience whilst working at Homebase as a part time job, The more experience you get the more you're likely to get a job, Also get a test machine and just set yourself tasks on that, I did this and installed various trials of OS's to increase knowledge etc.

 

Good luck

[featured_spectre]

^^ This. Ask at the local college to volunteer in exchange for Certs...could get Comptia A+ or N+ or Linux+ all of which are very handy to have. Possibly also CCNA. Volunteer for a year to pay back the certs and bam...1 year experience, and some certs in hand

[kmount]

Where in the country are you?

[Matty94]

@hardtailstar I was thinking about volunteering for my old Secondary school. (Found my old NM on here). But didn't know if I was allowed because I'll be working with children. I'm going to be getting a new PC within the next 2-4 weeks. Would it be easier to use it as a virtual machine for the OS, as well as a normal desktop?

 

@nephilim When I was in my second year of college, the IT support staff were walking out something to do with the SMT.

@kmount I'm from Coventry

 

[FN-GM]

Age and no certificates doesn't mean you wont get a job. In my first job i was 16 and just left school 6 weeks before. I worked in a voluntary role for 6 months and got a good reference from them. Thats what got me the job. I was against 2 people out of college and 1 from uni none of them had experience.

 

Volunteer and get some experience under you belt.

[IanT]

Age is not a problem and certificate...........mean nothing! IMO.......Where are you located? Edited November 10, 2013 by IanT

[Matty94]

@IanT I'm in Coventry

[hardtailstar]

@hardtailstar I was thinking about volunteering for my old Secondary school. (Found my old NM on here). But didn't know if I was allowed because I'll be working with children. I'm going to be getting a new PC within the next 2-4 weeks. Would it be easier to use it as a virtual machine for the OS, as well as a normal desktop?

 

@nephilim When I was in my second year of college, the IT support staff were walking out something to do with the SMT.

@kmount I'm from Coventry

 

 

I normally just use a normal desktop, not really used virtual machine.

[andrew_91090]

I would go for an IT Apprenticeship, I got years of experience, a couple of quals and got paid for it

[Griff]

Volunteer work at local schools, if you have the right personality it doesn't matter who you go up against in an interview sometimes so I wouldn't worry about certs and what not right now. We are about to look for an apprentice but we aren't in your area. good luck

[elsiegee40]

If you volunteer in a school, you will have to have a DBS check (used to be called CRB) done. The school will do it and, as you are a volunteer, it will be free

 

With regard to qualifications, it may come as a surprise to you, but many of us have none... and some of us have qualifications that are so dated that they are irrelevant (I started out with punch cards before the PC was invented and the internet was definitely not in use!)

 

In this trade we have to keep up with change and adapt to suit what comes along. I would rather have an enthusiastic trainee who is willing and able to learn fast and adapt quickly than someone with a pile of qualification certificates who thinks that their ways are always right and doesn't listen and learn on the job.

 

Keep an eye out for apprenticeship roles where you will be trained on the job... no previous IT qualification is required usually for these posts.

Edited November 11, 2013 by elsiegee40

[Norphy]

I'd like to say something about qualifications if I may. Yes, they're not the be-all and end-all of things but don't dismiss them entirely. They can be very useful to have and if you get something like a Network+ it will be useful for a very long time to come. Networking principles haven't changed in a very long time.

 

Even with qualifications like MCPs, yes they may be in a specific product which will become outdated once it's replaced but that doesn't make it useless. The product may have changed but again the underlying principles most likely haven't. And how many people are still using Windows XP/Windows 2003 for example?

 

There are also always going to be employers who look for them. Don't rush out and get a CCNA but do look at getting some training as well as experience.

[jonnykewell1]

I initially started working a couple of days a week at a local high school whilst working in a supermarket. This happened for about 6 months and I was then offered the job full time. I only had a first diploma and a national diploma at the time. I'm sure you will find something, the school is getting a worker and not having to pay anything.

[Mako]

I got my job via an apprenticeship at 17 straight out of 6th Form.

 

If not, volunteering, as the others have said. The issue is having the experience, it doesn't have to be paid experience.

 

Your BTEC diploma will set you ahead if you're looking for apprenticeships. It shows you have an interest and are willing to work towards a goal.

[Lion93]

Go for an IT apprenticeship. I did mine at a high-school and then got a full-time job straight away.

 

I remember there was someone else at the interviews who had a degree in IT.

[elsiegee40]

I'd like to say something about qualifications if I may. Yes, they're not the be-all and end-all of things but don't dismiss them entirely. They can be very useful to have and if you get something like a Network+ it will be useful for a very long time to come. Networking principles haven't changed in a very long time.

 

Even with qualifications like MCPs, yes they may be in a specific product which will become outdated once it's replaced but that doesn't make it useless. The product may have changed but again the underlying principles most likely haven't. And how many people are still using Windows XP/Windows 2003 for example?

 

There are also always going to be employers who look for them. Don't rush out and get a CCNA but do look at getting some training as well as experience.

I agree. What I was trying to say was that a lack of qualifications is not a bar to entry and that these qualifications can be obtained on the job.

[Matty94]

@elsiegee40 Thanks for the information. I'm hoping I can volunteer at my old Secondary school. I always thought technicians had to have a Degree in Computing or other related qualifications. So you have seen pretty much everything regarding this trade and quick you have to adapt to it.

 

I'm keeping an eye out on apprenticeships roles where they will trained me, but there are very few that will train me on the job instead of being in a classroom.

 

@Norphy I was told that networking principles haven't changed much. I have heard Microsoft Certificates are outdated easily compared to other certificates like Network+. However they're good for understanding Microsoft OS. Not many people who I know are not using Windows XP or Windows 2003 because of the security and the lack of updates. I don't like rushing into getting the certificates, I liked to understand the principles of how things work. And also like getting the experience because I understand more then.

 

@jonnykewell1 This is that I'm planning on doing. Did you get offered the job within the same school or was it a different school? I'm thinking if I volunteer with a school, I'm just going to be watching how to do stuff or shadowing people. What did you do when you was volunteering?

 

@Mako What type of apprenticeship did you do?

 

@Lion93 Did they give a reason why the guy with a degree in IT didn't get it? I always assume people with a degree would have a better chance of getting the job because of it.

[elsiegee40]

The time to start searching (Google!) for apprenticeship opportunities is in the spring - about February/March - as the employers are aiming to catch those about leaving school and have them signed up instead of going to university or going into a sixth form. That doesn't mean you aren't eligible for an apprenticeship; they just time the recruitment to maximise the number of candidates and to avoid the exams

[Norphy]

@Norphy I was told that networking principles haven't changed much. I have heard Microsoft Certificates are outdated easily compared to other certificates like Network+. However they're good for understanding Microsoft OS. Not many people who I know are not using Windows XP or Windows 2003 because of the security and the lack of updates. I don't like rushing into getting the certificates, I liked to understand the principles of how things work. And also like getting the experience because I understand more then.

 

I wasn't suggesting you go out and get a Windows XP qualification, I was just saying that a qualification being out of date doesn't make it useless as most of it can be used as a basis for the newer versions of the product. And while there may not be many private individuals that you know who still use XP, there are still a helluva lot of companies, schools and hospitals still using it. There are still a few NT4 installations out there too.

 

Experience is useful and should never be discounted but there are times when it is wise to get the training and qualifications to go alongside it, especially if you're trying to learn how to use a complicated product. Teaching yourself is all very well and good but I'll happily admit that when I've taught myself to use something I've often taught myself the wrong way of doing it and have ended up with problems down the road because of it. This is where formal training from a trained instructor is useful no matter what the product is.

 

You should also bear in mind that Microsoft do training in a lot more than just operating systems. There are a myriad of qualifications that you can get which cover things like Active Directory, the various System Center components, SQL Server, the Forefront components, SharePoint not to mention the client components such as Office. These aren't simple products and the usefulness of being shown how to use them properly should not be underestimated.

 

Did they give a reason why the guy with a degree in IT didn't get it? I always assume people with a degree would have a better chance of getting the job because of it.

 

Having a degree in IT doesn't necessarily mean that you are automatically the best person for the job. IT is a very broad term encompassing everything from high level programming to changing toner in printers. Chances are they felt that he was either completely over qualified for the job or that his qualification was in the wrong area.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Norphy

[Lion93]

I had a years work experience, wheareas the graduate didn't.

 

With a degreee you have the potential to get a decent job in the future, but without the expereince it must be tough to get started. I am in a good position where i can afford to do more qualifications/certificates in my spare time.

[Mako]

@Mako What type of apprenticeship did you do?

 

Originally was supposed to be in IT, level 2, but it transpired that none of the assessors in the area were qualified to mark it, so I ended up doing Business Admin level 2. I then did Customer Service level 2 and Business Admin level 3. Level 3 can be worth 1-5 A levels at A*-C so they're worth pushing for.

 

It was 100% work based, never had to go to college which was a bonus. The first one was a year long, the other two I completed in 6 months each. At the end of the first one I was on full wages and considered a full employee, and that's where my continuous service begins. I was featured in local newspapers as the first apprentice in a school, and made a page on the Council's apprentice newletter thing.

 

I'd highly recommend an apprenticeship if you can get in one.

[andyase]

I would suggest you get some qualifications, especially if you want to work outside of a school at a later date. You can do these yourself while working, buy books set up a small lab, pay for the exam yourself. Most employers don't want to pay for training etc.

[Matty94]

@elsiegee40 Thanks for that tip. I was wondering when it was the best time because some months, I would see quite a few apprenticeships then other months would be less.

 

@Norphy I do know there are companies, school and hospitals are still using XP. I was just referring to people who I know that are not using Windows XP. I agree with you about the teaching yourself, there are going to be barriers where I will need training from a trained instructor.

 

@Lion93 Are you now a full time technician?

 

@Mako Are you still doing business admin stuff, or are you a a techie? Most people have recommend me to go for the apprenticeship.

 

@andyase That's what I'll be doing when I've got some experience. Also, when I'm getting a new PC, I'll start to use that to practice with Cisco Packet Tracer.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Matty94

[Lion93]

Full time anaylst at a Local Authority.