Career Progression

[YouKnowWho]

Was just wondering what careers do people move into after working in schools?

 

I've been working at an Independant School for the last 4 years, as a Network Support Assistant. I get to work on everything, from creating the Image for PC's, configuring our new SAN system, and developing SharePoint etc..

 

I really enjoy my job apart from having to deal with the end-users (i.e teachers).

 

So i'm thinking its time for a change, however i dont know what jobs to start looking at now.

[FN-GM]

This is the good thing with education there is a verity of jobs. (Although you have to do the rubbish jobs) It will be hard to find something with lots of verity outside of education. Would you want to keep the verity of jobs?

[jcollings]

Most of my staff seem to train up in school jobs then move on to places like Lancaster Uni. In fact I think Lancs should start slipping me some commission!

 

Think Zak is correct though - the range and variety of work in schools is huge compared to many other areas.

[YouKnowWho]

This is the good thing with education there is a verity of jobs. (Although you have to do the rubbish jobs) It will be hard to find something with lots of verity outside of education. Would you want to keep the verity of jobs?

 

Not really, I dont mind working in one type of field, I just can't figure out which one.

 

When looking at jobs, they all seem to want people who are highly experiened in one field.

 

For example I could start training for an MCSE and try for some network support roles, or get some proper software developement qualifications and go down that route. I just dont want to start down one route, and find out that my past 4 years experience is worthless.

[KarlGoddard]

my long term aim is to move into training, so I'd say consider looking into IT training as a potential career.

 

you get the variety, you have to know your training specialism inside out and keep abreast of developments in your area so that should satisfy your techie side and you can earn shite loads of money

[Joedetic]

I don't know where I'm going to move on to.

 

I'm currently on a placement year from my Network Engineering degree back working in education. I was discussing today with my sister what I'd like to do with my career. There's two routes...stay with education and slowly work my way up to a senior tech, lea tech etc or move to working within the private sector.

 

Eventually I think I'd like to end up being some kind of manager of a team of people doing network based operations projects...

 

As you can see I have no /real/ career direction

[Grommit]

I don't know where I'm going to move on to.

 

I'm currently on a placement year from my Network Engineering degree back working in education. I was discussing today with my sister what I'd like to do with my career. There's two routes...stay with education and slowly work my way up to a senior tech, lea tech etc or move to working within the private sector.

 

Eventually I think I'd like to end up being some kind of manager of a team of people doing network based operations projects...

 

As you can see I have no /real/ career direction

 

BSF ?.....

[Joedetic]

Sorry...I forgot to add "in the private sector" to that bit. So no...not BSF...horrid project...they should just shh and sit in a corner or something useful.

[torledo]

Most of my staff seem to train up in school jobs then move on to places like Lancaster Uni. In fact I think Lancs should start slipping me some commission!

 

Think Zak is correct though - the range and variety of work in schools is huge compared to many other areas.

 

that's not necessarily a good thing if we're talking about career progression.

 

There will always be a demand for jack of all trade all-rounders. But most opportunities in industry and to a lesser extent in the public sector are in a specialism - or function specific. That doesn't mean a specialism can't have variety in the role, but for career development opportunity and greater financial gain i would strongly encourage people to look at getting into an organisation where an individual can work on projects and get trained to a high level in a particular technical specialism....for the ts, that could be working on a portal project (extending existing sharepoint experience), or on larger more complicated SAN projects - again an extension of their limited experience with a small school SAN.

 

to be fair universities aren't the best paid positions unless you start talking about IT managers and IT directors, what they do afford people is the opportunity to get that important 'enterprise' experience. Many uni's have big budgets and a variety of IT support functions so there is ample opportunity to get involved in some big projects and gain experience that way. There is perhaps more variety in a role as server or network administrator in a university, as they may have sysadmins wearing many hats (e.g windows, *nix, SANs etc) but many other areas will be covered by dedicated teams - e.g voice systems, mail, portal, MIS, and in big uni's you'll have dedicated unix teams...

 

so your right, school roles are in many ways unique in the variety.

 

One thing to look at is demand for skills - which skillsets can you develop that will be in demand from employers in the coming years. And more importantly which can command good rates of pay coupled with great demand for skills

Edited August 17, 2008 by torledo

[john]

I started as a lowly IT Tech on a 1 year contacts, i was basically Network Manager in it though, no-one above me in terms of technical just head of IT Teaching who held the budget strings which was fine so it was all mine mwhahaaha then went and spent 5 years as IT Tech as part of a team (bottom of the list was I) but did everything and anything, nothing wasn't attempted at some point, and just moving into Senior IT Tech on Monday so working my way up there. My aim is still to get to the top and be the IT Director for a school and have my own team and system that is all mine to manage and have but it does take time, I just feel that after 5 years at it now I should be higher up but thats another story

[listerdl]

Hi John, i know you posted ages ago, but can I ask what qualification you obtained to get your foot in the door? Thanks..

[Jiser]

Theres not realy alot!

 

Tech/Senior Tech/I.T. Manager/Director

[ahuxham]

The copious roles undertaken in a school are seen as excellent experience when apply for other jobs.

 

When working outside education, most placements/establishments will take 4 years education experience over any qualification out there, it IS the best experience an IT (support) role can undertake.

 

You may move into a more specialized field, and never change toners again, or run around plugging cables in etc. The worlds your oyster.

 

2nd Line Support is a good field to go into, highly paid, and easily down.

[jcollings]

Theres not realy alot!

 

Tech/Senior Tech/I.T. Manager/Director

 

That's not true at all. There are loads of other careers in education and many outside. Web design, network design, network specialists, Windows administrator, VLE content designer, project manager, data manager, field service engineers etc etc

 

and the list goes on.

 

Those are just some of the posts I've seen in the last couple of months at local schools/universitys.

[Domino]

That's not true at all. There are loads of other careers in education and many outside. Web design, network design, network specialists, Windows administrator, VLE content designer, project manager, data manager, field service engineers etc etc

 

and the list goes on.

 

Those are just some of the posts I've seen in the last couple of months at local schools/universitys.

 

True.

 

But the tech/NM/SMT structure is the way a lot of schools have it.

 

Certainly to have any kind of progression in my previous role I would have had to wait for someone to kick the bucket.

[jcollings]

True.

 

But the tech/NM/SMT structure is the way a lot of schools have it.

 

Certainly to have any kind of progression in my previous role I would have had to wait for someone to kick the bucket.

 

Yes but the OP asked what jobs people moved into after working in schools. I was pointing out that gaining a grounding in a range of technologies (as you do in a school) then opens up many possibilites both inside education (FE/HE) and outside in the wider world.

 

I seem to be in an endless cycle of training junior techs who then promptly upsticks and go to the local uni for double the money (not that I blame or begrudge them that)

[Guest richard_s]

I spent several years in education as both technician and Network Manager before taking a year out after being redundant. I have now come back to IT but in the private sector working for a small IT firm doing everything from selling and fitting Graphics Cards through virus removal right upto Network and Server rollouts. For the knowledge and skills I picked up in education have stood me in good stead for what I do now.

[john]

Hi John, i know you posted ages ago, but can I ask what qualification you obtained to get your foot in the door? Thanks..

Buckets of experience and good A Level Results did me

 

Oh and to update the thread, I'm now near enough at the top of the tree, I'm a Network Manager now and have a team of staff as well.

[IanT]

I went college got my a-levels, worked part-time during that as a ict techie at a school, then went onto a IT outsourced company then bk to education sector as a IT Network Manager at the age of 23 so must be doing something good!

[rad]

I have been in education IT for 2 and a half years.

 

Got here through loads of experience, first job was probably the worst of them all but taught me all I needed, its not going to be fixed unless you sort it so research how to solve it!

[tmcd35]

Failed A-Level, got a B-TEC in Computer Studies, 3rd Class Degree in Applied Computing and a home study diploma in PC-Repair. After 5 years in IT retail I spent 3 years as a Tech/senior Tech before becoming a NM. Oh and I got a VCP along the way!

 

Only now I'm I even bothering to look into MSCE's and the like.

[danIT]

I worked as a IT Tech for 3 years on very low wages, left the school to work for a company who supplied the school with some web based software. I was happy at the school but it just didnt pay well enough....

 

Based on the fact I dont have any A'levels or a degree or any kind of certification just my GCSE's to fall back on I earn 3 times what I was earning in the school.

 

I now train, support, consult with schools who buy our products all over the country.....very happy!

[Oops_my_bad]

Oh and to update the thread, I'm now near enough at the top of the tree, I'm a Network Manager now and have a team of staff as well.

 

Well done chap!

 

Network manager on the SMT? That's almost as rediculous as suggesting your finance manager be on SMT oh wait... some are

[Jiser]

I would think companies like RM/outsourcing would be the next step for those looking to stay in 'education'. Following on from that? 2nd line/ field engineers/ I.T. engineers etc.

 

Bumped up with a few certs, your sweet.

 

But I stand by my original opinion, progression in schools is very non existant/rigid. It is litterally, someone leaves and you take place (just an assumption).

[IanT]

Before I become a Network Manager I worked for a IT outsourcing company.......lots of fun, differnt faces and places each day