computeach

[Gottu]

Daz send me a pm with the course your interested in and i'll see if theres a Learn Direct course that matches it.

I havent used them but am studying at University in a course which includes web design. I get annoyed at the computeach adverts that make it seem you can be a IT Professional/Games Programmer and so on. Its hard enough for University graduates to get jobs in the industry at the moment, i do not know how people with a computeach do it

Like I said i am not sure on there teaching or anything and I am not sure how they are seen in the industry if you looking for a good job out of it.

[ikthius]

Originally Posted by daz300

i phoned them today befor i set this thread and they are sending some out to chat about what they have to offer/sell me .

ps reps in post .

take everything they say with a pinch of salt.

they will tell you you have to visit CT incentre at points in your studies, you actually stay in accommodation they send you, you pay about £25 per night, and CT pay you £20 per night back, but this is done as a cheque. so your out of pocket there.

you have to make your own way there, your money, if you stay far enough away, belfast, scotland or not england, then they pay for extra nights accomodation. rememebr £20 you get back.

you are not staying at CT, but a B&B mainly.

remember it is a salesman you will be speaking to, not an impartial advisor.

they will want about £700-£1000 just as a deposit if you sign up, then they will push for you to take out a career development loan from Barclays, they get comission on this.

think about what you would want to do, programming, web design, databases, networking.

I know one guy from CT got a job, but he got a job with CT teaching java, and he done the same course as I did, he doesn't talk to me now.

let me know what happens and what they say, remember thtey may push for you to sign there and then, as I got told I could not think about it, and they would not come back.

ik

[Chrysalis]

I remember when I almost signed up to a IT training scheme a few years back, basically get a mcse and then get given a job at the end of it, I signed up but then cancelled during the period before I paid the 1st payment. The women who came round to sell it to me was touching my legs and all sorts of stuff to get me to sign, I think they play on people who are desperate and the success of these schemes is exaggerated.

Colleges and Universitys do part time courses. I highly recommend these? Especially if you just want to increase your knowledge

What is the teaching quality like at computeach? Its not a case of learning microsoft office like same places is it?

[ikthius]

Originally Posted by Damien

Colleges and Universitys do part time courses. I highly recommend these? Especially if you just want to increase your knowledge

What is the teaching quality like at computeach? Its not a case of learning microsoft office like same places is it?

I found I learned more about java at incentre courses, and online with javaranch than with the course material.

plus, you learn a whole lot more when you actually do a program for yourself than what they tell you to do.

a bit unhelpful lot I found, some tutors are better than others, and help you in different ways, and show you where you went wrong so that you know, they don't just tell you the answer

ik

[daz300]

i am thinking more and more about uni now there are two near me . that do part time courses .

Originally Posted by daz300

i am thinking more and more about uni now there are two near me . that do part time courses .

Tis a good idea! They would be worth more and if the uni is like mine the teaching and content is good

[daz300]

hi any one know any thing about ECDL more here ,i think i will have to do this then the ECDL.

[handyman]

If you can post on a forum I think you'll be ok doing a ECDL, I have a book here and I'm confident i could pass with out doing the book.

Originally Posted by Damien

I get annoyed at the computeach adverts that make it seem you can be a IT Professional/Games Programmer and so on.

Yeah...

You can become a programmer - "£30k and a company car"...

Since when do programmers have a salary of £30k AND a car!!


Prgrammers are generally in one place and as such their job dosn't require them to have a company car as they are not field based!

[Scarlett]

*Cough* experience *Cough* thats Why it took me 3 years to get a proper computer job after university (did Computer science) a simple course will not get you a job in computers

Have you looked at the Open University or do you need to just go for the basics ?

From what I've seen (because I've only looked at the postgrad stuff) they do modules and you could pick and choose what interests you and then you can also get a degree after a few years (i.e. once you've gained enough credits) it works out at a round £100 a month for the post grade stuff and they can sort out student loans for you if you can't pay up front.

[Stuartbe]

They are a bunch of expensive wasters. Half of the so called qualifications they offer are there own certificates and are not recognised by the industry.

Contact your local uni or polytech, You will get honest help and it will cost you loads less. Sometimes its free !!!

[ikthius]

Originally Posted by Stuartbe

They are a bunch of expensive wasters. Half of the so called qualifications they offer are there own certificates and are not recognised by the industry.

Contact your local uni or polytech, You will get honest help and it will cost you loads less. Sometimes its free !!!

I know the java one is not, it is the Sun microsystems certificate.
same with the MSCE, but for things like CIW webdesign, javascript, html, dhtml, css, yes it is their own certificates.

ik

I've done a few computer courses in the past mainly NVQ's GNVQ's, I started the ECDL but didnt finish it because another more challenging course I wanted to do was starting at a previous college I went to... ECDL is a doddle if you already know the basics, and seeing that this is a requirement now by most government departments you apply to work for, it does seem to be a good thing to have under your belt.

I found out a hell of a lot more about hardware and software/OS Sytems by studying the A+ - not the best of courses I know, but it is a world wide recognised qualification and a qualification that I felt I could pass, plus a lot of IT businesses pride themselves on there staff having it. I've seen a good few computer repair stores advertising the fact that their staff are A+ qualified technicians.

A+ Comptia Exam 220-301 A+ Core Hardware
A+ Comptia Exam 220-302 A+ Operating System Technologies

The only minus about this qualification and other more recognised, sort after qualifications like it, are that the exams are multiple choice meaning anyone with a good enough memory can walk away with a good qualification and know hardly nothing about what they've just passed! I know people who were on the same course as me that dont know sod all, but they have a certificate and card that says they are a A+ certified professional! At the end of the day it's down to the employer to make sure that this person is competent enough to do the job by maybe setting a couple of quick practical tests at the start of the interview.

Apart from that, I really enjoyed the 6 month course (3 months hardware and 3 months OS/software)

I do like the little CompTIA A+ Certified Professional card you get for your wallet its like being CORGI registered if u know what I mean? lol

Oh... and from what I have been told, I can go back and finish the ECDL course I started nearly 3yrs ago at anywhere that teaches it, as long as its been less than 3 yrs, so I better get my skates on!