What Do I need to get into school ICT...

[torledo]

My personal opinion is, although this is an education professionals website, if you're 15 or 16 and looking to get into IT the school environment is not what people should be aspiring to, there is a going to be a huge skills shortage in certain areas of IT in industry and the public sector, and they'll be no shortage of opportunities for talented graduates with some practical experience, what a waste if you're doing the thankless task of being a school tech five or six years from now.

 

Im currently on my placement doing network support. you say that theres going to be a huge skills shortage in certain areas of IT in industry, what areas are these?

 

I'm assuming you're part way through an IT related degree, in which case

there are a number of industry skills shortages you'll be able to take advantage of. PM me with some info on what area you're interested in i.e

network, server systems, databases, development etc. and I can make some suggestions if you like. I can also let you know what i think the really opportunities are going to be, may not suit you're current interests but as a graduate you can make you're choices.

[stu]

This is all personal opinion but finding the first job is the most important part not the qualifications most jobs will train you to a standard where you can pass the exams with your eyes closed... well to an extent you would need to try hard etc etc but the point is you can always go back into education whenever you feel like it and having the practical experience at a younger age put you ahead of your competition instantly

 

never mind that your first job will more than probably be around people that have all the qualifications and experience to guide you, its not like you will be running a network single handedly as a first task learn from them and get paid to do it, thou your lack of experience will deffo mean you will be on a low rate of pay but the experience is priceless!

[Guest kerrymoralee9280]

What's with all the degree talk?! It's experience that counts, qualifications second!

 

I'd say get a job in IT first. Yes, it might be hard, but there's room to make it. A lot of school's employ apprentices. Yes, rubbish wage but it's a start.

 

My story: Started in 2004 as apprentice, on mere £50 a week. This lasted for 4 months before the school offered me a permanent contract on a proper salary.

 

Finished my NVQ's - School put me on day release to uni. Couldn't finish that as changed jobs, but started again at night college. Now I'm well on my way to a degree with no debt to show for it and MASSES of experience. Put that up against a university leaver and see which one would get the job.

[Friez]

Mainly you need a lack of sanity to work in this field!

[torledo]

What's with all the degree talk?! It's experience that counts, qualifications second!

 

I'd say get a job in IT first. Yes, it might be hard, but there's room to make it. A lot of school's employ apprentices. Yes, rubbish wage but it's a start.

 

My story: Started in 2004 as apprentice, on mere £50 a week. This lasted for 4 months before the school offered me a permanent contract on a proper salary.

 

Finished my NVQ's - School put me on day release to uni. Couldn't finish that as changed jobs, but started again at night college. Now I'm well on my way to a degree with no debt to show for it and MASSES of experience. Put that up against a university leaver and see which one would get the job.

 

But a university leaver with a 2:1 or 1:1 (good institiution or good degree course) can likely aim higher than a job in a school. It's not a guarantee of landing a good job, and there are a lot that struggle, but you've got more options. University grads are more likely to specialise and therefore attract higher salaries. A years experience in IT as part of the degree and a minimum 2:1 and then it's all down to how that individual does in the selection process.

 

For a job in a school, yes an apprenticeship or college course is more suitable. But the IT skills shortages I'm bangin on about will be in specialisms. School jobs are jack of all trades by nature.

[Guest kerrymoralee9280]

Yes, so when I finish uni and have a degree I won't be eligible to go for better jobs? I think I'll stand more chance. Because I'll have the same qualifications as a uni leaver plus 5 or more years experience in the trade.

 

I know lads (and I don't mean one, I mean 4) who all left uni with a degree and were offered jobs with a wage ALL poorer then what I was on!

 

I prefer my way - I'm getting experience, qualifications, a full wage and I'm not landing myself into debt. Yes, it takes me an extra 2 years to get that degree and it takes an extra 6 hours of my free time per week, but to be honest theres no contest which route I would take if I had to chose a million times over.

 

My old network manager took this route as well, and now he's got no debt, a degree, his MCSA (which were sponsored!) and a cracking job working a top secret project for a top company.

[pallen]

When I left Uni, both myself and friends had attended interviews for jobs where the company was looking for someone who had the experience to come in and do the job straight away. Whilst we may have been able to do the job with a little training, this was not something they were looking for. The only way that people coming from Uni are going to benefit are when companys are looking for graduates. And even then, if you have a degree and experience you are going to stand out from the crowd.

[Guest kerrymoralee9280]

Thank you Pallen. Why couldn't I put it like that!

 

Haha

 

That's what I was trying to say folks!

[dgsmith]

In my own experience, getting an apprenticeship or work placement through a college is the best and easiest way to get into a job. Once you have your foot through the door so to speak, start looking for what qualifications are on offer and best suited to you. Like other posts I have read in this thread, I didn't go to uni after leaving school, and then there was no guarantee i'd get a job; I know there are uni courses which offer you work placements, where you compete with other candidates on the course and have an interview.

 

I went to a normal college, got a placement for 4 months and a good recommendation from the manager, which helped me get my current job where I have been for several years.

 

..and no debts! - although I still would like some better qualifications in the near future.

[stephenleak]

and a cracking job working a top secret project for a top company.

 

How do you put those on a CV?

[logonui]

If you are going to go with the experience over qualifications make sure you are working in a place that is willing to train you. I got a job as a techi in a school straight after college and I am now stuck. I'm not earning enough to do any Microsoft certs and the school wont pay for them.

[torledo]

If you are going to go with the experience over qualifications make sure you are working in a place that is willing to train you. I got a job as a techi in a school straight after college and I am now stuck. I'm not earning enough to do any Microsoft certs and the school wont pay for them.

 

Good point. A lot of people on the forum balk at paying even a few thousand pounds for equipment that is standard in industry, mainly because they have strict budgets. In that case there certainly isn't going to be the money to undertake any kind of proper classroom based training, which will typically be well over £1000+ for 4-5 day courses in Microsoft, Cisco, Novell or IBM. Even if the training can be made available as part of project - that training will typically be offered to the NM only due to cost.

 

Although classroom based training is rarely a requirement for a school or small IT department, for specialist roles in industry it's the best way to become familiar in a new product and obtain the necessary skill sets in a short space of time. You'll be provided with regular training in a position requiring high technical skills i.e if you're taken on as a graduate trainee in an IT consultantncy. Whereas as a school tech or apprentice you have to be more creative with how you obtain the necessary training. The big difference is there is little or no structured training provided.

 

Things like the CCNA is now offered over a 12 month period at local acadmies, but even the relatively low cost of the academy CCNA courses is too much for some schools.

 

Microsoft courses are also available at local colleges, but they're not as mature as the Cisco academy, and the experience can be very variable.

The CCNA learning experience can also be variable if it isn't at one of the regional acadmies. As a lot of instructors are straight out of uni with no real-world experience beyond a few months in a school or college as part of a FYP or MSc dissertation.

 

If you need to learn something like Oracle or Sharepoint and you haven't got £1000+ for a 3-5 day course you're stuck with CBT, books and forums.

 

Nothing wrong with that ofcourse, i'm sure a lot of sharepoint gurus have never been on any kind of formal training. But classroom training is a

nice way to learn a lot in a short period of time without getting distracted.