IT Careers - Learn Computer Programming or Networking
Do you see yourself as quite a techie when it comes to anything to do with computers and the internet? Then what about a career in IT?
Getting retrained to gain professional IT certifications is a sensible idea for anyone with a flair for this work. If you just take the UK, there are currently around 1.1 million IT positions in the professional marketplace.
Is Your Interest In User Skills?
This article will primarily cover IT career skills and training in design, fixing and maintenance etc. rather than office skills. If you want to improve your knowledge of using PC's, you could search for training in any of the Microsoft Office applications.
You'll find there are many courses available that will give you a very good grounding in the application you need - be that PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, Word, Access or Publisher. For an excellent grounding in a range of office skills look for the European Computer Driving Licence.
Be Part of an Exciting Future
It's worth noting that IT was one of the last industries to slow down as the recession took hold. Equally it's being seen as a leader in recovery as 'green shoots' start to emerge. Plus we're talking about the most progressive, state-of-the-art field of work that exists in the world today.
We'll all see massive developments in the next several years that will change the way we live and work. Computers and IT really are setting the pace - and it's all very exciting!
Bags of Opportunity...
Jobs in IT can take on a number of different formats and cover a lot of different disciplines. Some jobs demand a lot of mobility, in contrast to others that ask you to sit at a desk all day. Some are very practical and 'hands-on', and some require a great deal of analysis and consideration. There are IT service positions where the work is all about staff support, and programming positions where you tend to need some peace and quiet!
...But Do Your Research
If you're a newcomer to working in the computer industry, make sure you get a good understanding of which job function is right for you. Training advisors should be happy to answer any questions you have.
In particular, find out what doing the job is really like prior to selecting the course for you. Really do your research well by talking to several different training organisations.
Network Technician & Support Work
As more and more computers are used in industry, the demand for support workers increases. Have you thought about starting on a Helpdesk answering people's queries, or becoming a technician?
There are very broad-ranging Support jobs, plus jobs in Networking, Server Administration, Communications and Security. You might feel that Systems Planning and Design work is more in tune with your interests and abilities.
This type of work ranges from being a technician at the local computer shop, to travelling the world doing senior support work. Many people start by working on fixing and maintaining small networks. As they gain more experience and become better qualified, they can move into more advanced security work.
The commercial world can only function as it does because of the abilities of people in these areas. If we had no computer engineers and support staff we wouldn't have the world market that we have. There are countless millions of PC's being used commercially the world over, with more being introduced all the time.
As they can't operate without trained staff, computer technicians are always in demand. Could you learn to diagnose and resolve hardware and software problems? If you're nodding then it would be well worth taking a look at a number of Microsoft or CompTIA training programs on the subject.
Should I Be Commercially Qualified?
Industry-authorised qualifications will give you greater confidence in the job market. And when you've got some experience as well, many more opportunities will come your way for advancement up the career ladder. You can reckon on getting paid around thirty five thousand pounds a year after you've been in industry for 3 years or so, when you're professionally qualified.
There are many people who've developed a certain understanding of hardware, software and how Networks operate etc. Although they can offer a valuable contribution to a department or company, employers can't be absolutely sure they've got the right person for the job. An employer has a very accurate analysis of a person's capabilities when they have gone out of their way to gain industrial qualifications.
Employees with commercial certifications have been shown to be faster, more confident and more dependable in their work than their non-certified colleagues. However there's more to it than that.
When an employer takes someone on, they want a person with focus, commitment and perseverance - those who've put themselves through training have demonstrated that. Finally, it's often the case that for businesses to obtain insurance on their computer systems, they can only allow fully certified professionals to work on those systems.
