Entry route into having a job in networking?

[witch]

In this economic climate, and presuming that the apprenticships would be attached to a job, I'd go for that every time - also you would be 'learning on the job' which is the best way IMHO

[TheMan100]

Thanks for the reply, I think I'll just have to see what the future holds and how the economy is. Maybe things will change but I'm seriously considering an apprenticeship now; get paid for learning, gain experience, qualifications and confidence. I think the experience will be especially useful when going for a job

[cpjitservices]

HI, I have done MS and Cisco quals in the IT field you'll be lucy to get anywhere even a sniff of an interview if you havent got a few years experience so your gonna have get experience from somewhere to back up those vendor certs dude so get yourself some voluntary work maybe, still hasn't worked for me yet though!

[TheMan100]

HI, I have done MS and Cisco quals in the IT field you'll be lucy to get anywhere even a sniff of an interview if you havent got a few years experience so your gonna have get experience from somewhere to back up those vendor certs dude so get yourself some voluntary work maybe, still hasn't worked for me yet though!

 

So I'm guessing you're for apprenticeships then.

[michaelf]

Another +1 for experience over qualifications, I was lucky enough to be able to help out in my own school between lessons and during breaks before being offered a permanent position when I left Year 13. After a year there I secured my current job with only A-Level certifications.

 

In your shoes, I'd certainly be looking at the apprentiship route over a degree to allow you gain that experience. Another thing to bear in mind is that in a course you'll more often than not be taught how things should work, rather than how they actually work. And in IT there's often something of a void between the two. It's one thing being able to install and troubleshoot in an isolated lab environment, but when doing so in the real world there's often additional factors in play.

 

Another way to get a feel for things is to make use of Microsoft's virtual Labs here TechNet Virtual Labs These let you use a virtual machine running a Microsoft product for 90 minutes to get a feel things, and while they can't beat having a real server to play with, it's a good way to get a feel of things without the expense of doing so. One thing to bear in mind, although some of the labs may have quite imposing titles, you'll generally find that whichever you pick will present you with a full install of the product in question from where you can do whatever you like. Another advantage is that if you totally trash the machine you can just close the lab and start again.

[bondbill2k2]

I would also recommend looking into an NVQ and study for CompTIA A+ and possibly N+m then move in to more specalised areas such as Cisco and MCSE's.

Thankfully I managed to get an entry level role after doing my Computer studies degree (which has no relation to the world of IT, its all programming and website stuff) with no other certifications to my name, I have since completed 701 of my A+ and really should be taking my 702 to become A+ certified asap (ive let it slip) Im learning on the job atm alot as before now I'd never touched a network or a server or even knew anything about them.

 

I really recommend the Mike Meyers books e.g.

CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition (Exams 220-701 & 220-702) eBook: Michael Meyers: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

 

Or the "slimmed down" passport versions which cover the areas for the exam but dont elabourate on them much compared to the main book

MIKE MEYERS' A+ R CERTIFICATION PASSPORT, SECOND EDITION Mike Meyer's Certification Passport: Amazon.co.uk: Michael Meyers, Martin Acuna: Books

 

N+

CompTIA Network+ All-in-One Exam Guide, Fourth Edition: Amazon.co.uk: Michael Meyers: Books

 

I have both are they are great study guides and refrence guides. Even getting a part time entry job will help you or anything you can which is related will look better on your CV then "shop work". Its tough as most jobs even entry jobs are recieved applicants who have worked in the industry for some time and been made redundant in these times.

[TheMan100]

Advanced Apprenticeships for IT & Telecoms Professionals

"National IT Partnership (NiTP) Fast Track Advanced Apprenticeship for IT & Telecoms Professionals" seems good.

 

"

* 7 months Intensive Apprenticeship

* Specified units ideal for a number of IT technician and network support roles

* Time is split equally between an employed work placement and Bedford College.

"

 

Qualifications which you can gain from the apprenticeship:

Certificate in ICT Systems and Principles - CompTIA A+ - Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist (MCTS) - Microsoft Certified IT Professionals (MCITP)

 

I'd say that's a good apprenticeship

[Dos_Box]

This is the kind of 'modern' apprenticeships that the current govt it trying to move away from and back to the old kind which industry used to run. Many years back we entered into a weird situation where the education sector started to be led by the colleges dictating what skills should be taught rather that the industries themselves. These courses then became vital sources of revenue for the colleges.

I'm not knocking the course, but rather the way you have to get an apprenticeship via the college rather than via the company you actually wanted to work for in the first place.

[russdev]

Advanced Apprenticeships for IT & Telecoms Professionals

"National IT Partnership (NiTP) Fast Track Advanced Apprenticeship for IT & Telecoms Professionals" seems good.

 

"

* 7 months Intensive Apprenticeship

* Specified units ideal for a number of IT technician and network support roles

* Time is split equally between an employed work placement and Bedford College.

"

 

Qualifications which you can gain from the apprenticeship:

Certificate in ICT Systems and Principles - CompTIA A+ - Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist (MCTS) - Microsoft Certified IT Professionals (MCITP)

 

I'd say that's a good apprenticeship

 

I wish that was around when I was young.

 

I certainly started out getting unpaid experience while I was at college (helped the IT department out) which then turned into my first job (although temporary) it was enough to give me some experience.

 

Sadly in this market young people need both some kind of qualification and experience. I would say in terms of industry qualification higher the better but entry level job I would like something along the lines of A+ or N+ (or both).

 

As other people said apprenticeship in current climate is a good thing.

 

Russell

Edited March 6, 2011 by russdev

[TheMan100]

This is the kind of 'modern' apprenticeships that the current govt it trying to move away from and back to the old kind which industry used to run. Many years back we entered into a weird situation where the education sector started to be led by the colleges dictating what skills should be taught rather that the industries themselves. These courses then became vital sources of revenue for the colleges.

I'm not knocking the course, but rather the way you have to get an apprenticeship via the college rather than via the company you actually wanted to work for in the first place.

 

It says the time is split between an employed work placement, could that count as some sort of experience'?

Edited March 6, 2011 by TheMan100

[Dos_Box]

Sort of. This is where the watering down of apprenticeships has muddied the waters some. If you went back, say, 20 years and you wanted to be an aircraft engineer the you had on of 2 options.

 

1.Join the forces and spend several years training to become one (the equivalent of an apprenticeship) and then spend subsequent years building up your skills (the career part) to enable you to earn higher wages, better positions and authority etc.

 

2. Join a company such as BAE as an apprentice and spend 3 days a week learning skills with them and 2 days a week at college getting the academic side (maths, physics etc.) digested. the point being here is that unless you finished your apprenticeship (and became a 'journeyman') and had the relevant paperwork to say so, you were unemployable in that field.

 

Now, I'm not to sure how a modern apprenticeship works, but you will certainly have 'on the job' training, and gain a few qualifications over the period of the apprenticeship, but should you drop out it may look bad,especially if you are only there to get 'experience', and not see the course through, because all this tells future employers is that you are simply there to use their company as a stepping stone.

[TheMan100]

Sort of. This is where the watering down of apprenticeships has muddied the waters some. If you went back, say, 20 years and you wanted to be an aircraft engineer the you had on of 2 options.

 

1.Join the forces and spend several years training to become one (the equivalent of an apprenticeship) and then spend subsequent years building up your skills (the career part) to enable you to earn higher wages, better positions and authority etc.

 

2. Join a company such as BAE as an apprentice and spend 3 days a week learning skills with them and 2 days a week at college getting the academic side (maths, physics etc.) digested. the point being here is that unless you finished your apprenticeship (and became a 'journeyman') and had the relevant paperwork to say so, you were unemployable in that field.

 

Now, I'm not to sure how a modern apprenticeship works, but you will certainly have 'on the job' training, and gain a few qualifications over the period of the apprenticeship, but should you drop out it may look bad,especially if you are only there to get 'experience', and not see the course through, because all this tells future employers is that you are simply there to use their company as a stepping stone.

 

Ah, I see where you're coming from. I plan on following through the apprenticeship if I go on it, definitely not drop out until it's finished. But I'm pretty sure things may have changed from 20 years ago

[featured_spectre]

Modern Apprenticeships "sound" good to young people which is where the catch is.

 

You work for £90 a week on a 37.5 hour "shift", this is done 30 hours on the job, 7.5 hours in college. It works out to be about £2.60 an hour. Yes this is more than EMA, and you get on the job training (which is not a bad thing), but you learn how that company does things, rather than how things are done in a "vanilla" environment. I have found when learning skills, vanilla environments are the best way to learn so you can adapt to how companies work rather than having to relearn all over again.

[TheMan100]

Modern Apprenticeships "sound" good to young people which is where the catch is.

 

You work for £90 a week on a 37.5 hour "shift", this is done 30 hours on the job, 7.5 hours in college. It works out to be about £2.60 an hour. Yes this is more than EMA, and you get on the job training (which is not a bad thing), but you learn how that company does things, rather than how things are done in a "vanilla" environment. I have found when learning skills, vanilla environments are the best way to learn so you can adapt to how companies work rather than having to relearn all over again.

 

The pay isn't fantastic, but I'm sure £90 a week is good for someone still living at home (like my self), as for EMA, I've never heard of it if I'm honest with you.

[somabc]

The pay isn't fantastic, but I'm sure £90 a week is good for someone still living at home (like my self), as for EMA, I've never heard of it if I'm honest with you.

 

Depends where you work, £90 a week may not even cover the travel expenses. Say I live in Zone 6 London and get the Tube to Zone 1 for work then that would cost £50 / week. If you were getting a train or petrol it could easily be more.

[GREED]

I'd like to put in my 2 pence, as I run apprenticeships for my company. £95 per week is the bare minimum, although in fact legislation states it as being £2.50 per hour. Our apprenticeships are lead by the employers themselves, with on the job training taking priority over all things. My guys and girls get NVQ L2 and L3, technical certificates, Key/Functional Skills L1 and L2 (equivilant of top GCSE), and at L3 we offer A+ and Windows 7 MCITP exams if they choose. We being a MS IT Academy means we have access to online training materials for most of this to give access to.

 

All of my guys love what they do, get so much out of it (I have countless feedback reports from them on the subject), and most either stay in their position or move on up the ladder within the 18 months we give them to complete it all.