IT industry

[anna]

So as not to derail others threads..

I know there are a lot of .orgers out there in the industry, what advice would you give a young teenager who plans to go into the IT industry when they are able to finish school. It appears that their area of interest is in maintenance and repair work.

What qualifications would you recommend or ways to go about this?

[fizzwheel]

This is what I did

I went to college and retook my GSCE's as I faffed about at school
Then I did a 2 year BTEC in Computer Studies, that had a lot of work experience in it.

One of the work experience placements lead me into getting a job at a company working on their helpdesk.

That gave me a good grounding in IT basics on top of what I learnt at college and taught me how to deal with customers and people. Dont under estimate the people skills side of things...

I have no formal qualifications apart from my BTEC, all the rest has been on the job learning and taking things apart when they were broken and fixing them.

I'd probably say go down the helpdesk route get your foot in the door and then that will allow you to learn and specialise and progress as your skill set builds up.

I'd also probably suggest that going to college and studying a little more might also help. Maybe some suitable A levels or something like the BTEC I did.

MCSE, MCP, CCNA etc all cost money to take and its money that as a school lever he / she probably wont have. Of course getting into a company that is going to train you and pay for it is a bonus to.

From an employer's point of view...

I'd be looking for somebody who had a computer at home and liked doing more with it than just playing games on it. Someobdy who could build a PC from a box of bits, install an operating system on it and who liked tinkering with things would be what I was looking for. Keen, enthusiastic, and willing to try and take on anything and willing to teach themselves things rather than sit on their bum and expect everything handed on a plate.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by anna

So as not to derail others threads..

I know there are a lot of .orgers out there in the industry, what advice would you give a young teenager who plans to go into the IT industry when they are able to finish school. It appears that their area of interest is in maintenance and repair work.

What qualifications would you recommend or ways to go about this?

None. You don't need any, get a trainee job, get some experience and do well.

Originally Posted by anna

So as not to derail others threads..

I know there are a lot of .orgers out there in the industry, what advice would you give a young teenager who plans to go into the IT industry when they are able to finish school. It appears that their area of interest is in maintenance and repair work.

What qualifications would you recommend or ways to go about this?

Don't. Find another job/career. ITs not worth it.

Approach companies and offer to do voluntry work.

I worked in the IT department at the school i was working at as a cleaner, they liked me so much every time i asked to do more voluntry work they let me

Maybe because i was free labour but i was happy doing it, they did say though that if they had a position available they would of given me a job

Originally Posted by Sudoxe

Don't. Find another job/career. ITs not worth it.

+1 IT becomes very very tedious

Cant really speak for the support side of things but i have been in programing and DB work for the last 8 years.

I was lucky in that i got into a temp job and asked and asked to get into the systems and they let me.

I now build apps in APEX moving from VB and Access/Excel. as i am still learning i do still enjoy it. I am lucky in that i have a decent job with ok Pay and good hours.

i was looking to go down the support route but as stated thought it would be a bit repedative so decided tp do programing and even though i initialy struggled with it i did get through it.

wish the Lad/Lass luck in what he does.

I would recomend that He/She gets a trade and then looks at getting into what ever they fancy somthing to fall back on. thats what i have done. I hope i don't need to go back to the Tools !!

Originally Posted by Sudoxe

Don't. Find another job/career. ITs not worth it.

QFE...

[anna]

Thanks for all in the input keep it coming ... it is great to give an overview of the paths to take.

Originally Posted by Sudoxe

Don't. Find another job/career. ITs not worth it.

This isnt unfamiliar advice I have already tried to impart however, obviously I am now officially old, as apparently I dont know what I am talking about and "in the real world" IT is a thriving industry and he doesnt need a back up plan.

This transformation to "idiot old person who obviously hasnt got a clue about this generation" must have happened overnight

Originally Posted by anna

Thanks for all in the input keep it coming ... it is great to give an overview of the paths to take.




This isnt unfamiliar advice I have already tried to impart however, obviously I am now officially old, as apparently I dont know what I am talking about and "in the real world" IT is a thriving industry and he doesnt need a back up plan.

This transformation to "idiot old person who obviously hasnt got a clue about this generation" must have happened overnight

Well you can tell him its 20:50 and i'm still working, and very much not at the pub.