What course to do
 

I'm currently changing jobs to enable me to have more time to get some IT qualifications, I'm one of those that can do a lot with PC's I just don't have any qualifications on paper.

I've looked at MCSE and cisco courses but i'm not sure which is going to be the most beneficial to career opportunities.

I've also looked at doing the Clait/IBT 1/3 courses over a few weeks and getting a teaching qualification with the intention of teaching adult IT further education.

So what have you got and what doors does it open up? would I be better getting into programming or would web design bring more $$

Your thoughts very welcome,

thanks

Hm

Re: What course to do
 

I'm sure you mean "web development", which is what I do (programming).
Web Design needs serious art & design skills.

Anyway, I'd do a CCNA and learn how to configure high end routers. :)

Re: What course to do
 

I'm just wondering whats needed at the moment as I really would like to get back to skool and learn something that will enable me to get a better job.

hmmm looking into a CCNA now :)

Re: What course to do
 

If you want really big bucks, you could also look at SAP or Oracle courses. May have tailed off recently but SAP Basis consultants used to be able to clear 100K.

Just a thought, if you want a change in direction.

Re: What course to do
 

Well Paul is starting training with this company on Thursday - they only seem to operate in London though. I'll let you know how he's finding the training in a few days! :disturbd:
I think he's doing a CCNA, MSCE, MCSA and MCDST - and no doubt other combinations of letters that mean absolutely nothing to me! :dunce:

Re: What course to do
 

Makes you think!

Re: What course to do
 

Just a word of warning... although qualifications help, experience is just as important. I've interviewed far too many people that put stuff on their CV, yet when I ask them specific details about a subject, they suddenly clam up because it wasn't covered in the Dummie's Guide to... or by their training course.

To summarise, look for ways of putting the stuff you learn to actual use, so you learn from the hands-on style as well as the theoretical stuff. It really does make all the difference.
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I guess it also boils down to availability of capable candidates... every Tom, Dick & Harry puts 'extensive Microsoft Windows knowledge' on their CV, whereas only a few put java or Oracle or Unix skills, so the available pool is smaller, and they can therefore demand higher salaries.
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Finally, think about what you can do or what you'd rather do, and then go for the training. There's no point learning to be a DBA if you want to do web development, for example. You've cited several certifications that cover a very broad range of subjects. IT is a very wide field, with several different areas you could specialise in. If I was you, I'd sit down and think about what you like and/or can do best.

Hope that helps :)

Re: What course to do
 

Mark,

I would start off with the clait course, that will give you a basic grounding in IT, although you peobably know most of it it will help overall.

You really need to decide which way you want to go .... Networks or Microsoft based. I chose Networks and studied Cisco CCNx and CCIx, but have also some basic grounding in Microsoft products.

One thing that will be common on both is TCP/IP. The more you can learn about this the better. Maybe do an MCP in TCP/IP.

Once you have that grounding, you can then choose either MSCE or CCNx
.

I say either/or as both routes can be time consuming, in regards to exams and study.

I personally have found it easier to do the Cisco exams and study, whilst just keeping my hand in with the Microsoft stuff.

Experience is really the key, backed up with some paperwork, but don't get too hung up on qualifications. If you know your stuff you will be fine.

So ... Clait, TCP/IP, then see where yo want to go from there.

Re: What course to do
 

Cheers nem,
The clait route was really just a line of thought to lead to becoming a further education lecturer. I have helped several people with their clait, IBt courses and in fact on paper they are more qualified than me.
My mom can teach to IBT3 level though she still has to get me over to order books on amazon :).

Looking at the wealth of qualifications and the various routes I could take I'm leading to the networks and systems design side of things rather than web development or programming.

With out blowing my trumpet I fear that in tring to get something on paper i'm going to have to start at a basic level and I don't think I could. I want to get my teath into advanced stuff now :(

I'll keep you posted on what I end up doing though i'd bet i'll try cisco training and some form of server 2003 qual from what i've seen so far :)

Re: What course to do
 

I've just passed the first exam for the MCDST :dmonk: The pass mark was 700 and I scored 711. I was given this breakdown that showed the various areas of knowledge and a scale from "Needs development" to "Strong". I didn't do so well on installing XP, but then again, I've never installed it :D That said, companies tend to use images rather than installing from scratch. I'm ok with imaging.

The questions weren't that bad - 49 of them in total. One or two were tough, such as the ones on interpreting Task Manager. I tend to look at CPU usage and that's all. I thought only seeds had kernels :D

One more exam to go :disturbd:

Re: What course to do
 

gc, just out of interest, how much preparation did you do prior to sitting the exam?

Re: What course to do
 

Well I did the recommended course at college and that's pretty much it. I work with XP a fair bit, plus I have a couple of XP Nutshell books. I don't normally revise for exams - I've always had the belief that if you haven't learnt it, then it's not going to help sweating over a book a few hours before the exam. The only thing I was really shakey on was IP addressing - the various networks and so. Thankfully, the questions relating to that were easy - e.g. picture of the IP settings for a PC. Subnet mask is 255.255.255.255. I wonder what could be wrong... :dozey:

Re: What course to do
 

thanks... I'm contemplating getting certified :D

I also tend to believe in understanding and having practical experience to fall back on, rather than just revising from guides and brain dumps, but wasn't sure how in-depth the exam is, and whether this was being a bit optimistic. Think I'm gonna look into this a bit more.

Re: What course to do
 

i'd steer clear of programming if i were you. The be more specific id steer clear of programming where you dont need to be with the customer. Those sorts of programming jobs are destined for India

Re: What course to do
 

Well I'm partially certifiable, but always have been :D

I'd agree. During the exam there were times when my experience helped me decide which of the possible answers (it's a multiple choice exam) was the right answer, though there were times when it told me that Microsoft's answer wasn't the right answer :)

The key to the exams is the ability to read a scenario and sort the important facts from the padding. Basically, simple analysis skills. Not everyone has them. I know many people who, upon reading something, immediately stop reading and leap to an answer, when further down the page is an important bit of information that qualifies what they read ealier. The legal bods on here should relate to this.

I would agree that many jobs are moving abroad, but the reasons for that create opportunities, not threats. I think everyone knows that jobs for life are no more, but I think many haven't realised that the modern worker is a commodity, and is being bought and sold as such. The worker does the selling, and those workers who are good salesmen and women, stand a far greater chance of remaining in employment than those who aren't. It's about image, marketing and seizing and creating opportunities; abandoning the old ethos of "loyal to the company, and the company will be loyal to me"; and about continuous personal and professional development, so your skills are always in demand. So programming jobs are moving abroad. Who's going to talk to the customers to create the initial design briefs? Who's going to manage the outsourcing? Who's going to manage the rollout? Who's going to train the customers?

You could always move to India :)

Re: What course to do
 

manage manage manage, we used to be the industrialists, eventually all we will be able to do is manage and eventually the management will be outsourced too.