Best way to get into an IT job here?

[jgrabham]

OK, Im 15, and this is my last year of school, so not long before I have to decide what to do after my GCSEs!

Anyway, I want to work in IT support, fixing PCs - preferably hardware, but anyway, what do you all think I should do?

I dont really want to stay on at sixth form, so I was thinking of a BTEC course like this - http://www.newdur.ac.uk/staticpages/...=bmit-NAITPrac

[nelefa]

It really depends how long you want to learn. You could go to university and do Electrical Engineering or Computer Science and learn how to design machines. That would be a good life.

The BTec course you mention would allow you to get a foot in the door too - this would also be a good life.

Think about what you enjoy, how hard you're prepared to work to get there, and then aim high.

Choobs

[leftcase]

Originally Posted by jgrabham EDIT: should say "IT job" OK, Im 15, and this is my last year of school, so not long before I have to decide what to do after my GCSEs! Anyway, I want to work in IT support, fixing PCs - preferably hardware, but anyway, what do you all think I should do? I dont really want to stay on at sixth form, so I was thinking of a BTEC course like this - http://www.newdur.ac.uk/staticpages/...=bmit-NAITPrac

Yeah, my youngest brother is just coming up to the end of something like that. He seems to have enjoyed it.

One thing you might find in the working world however is that getting a job as you get older, can often depend on your experience, contacts and being in the right place at the right time.

Take me for instance, I never finished my degree and have only ever done work based training in IT (Microsoft certified baloney). I work in IT however, and don't do too bad.

Personally, I think it depends upon what branch of IT you want to go into. If you want to do software development, hardware design, project management etc, then you're probably best going on to college, doing your 'A' Levels and going to University.

If you want to do helpdesk, PC maintenance or that type of thing, then going to college and doing a vocational qualification is probably better as you'll get more 'hands on experience'.

If I where you, I'd try and decide where you want to be in IT then plan your training around it. Take a look on some of the bigger job websites, find a job that sounds interesting, and figure out what you'd have to do to get the requirements needed to do it.

Hope that helps a little.

[Johnathon]

I did my A-Levels, (IT AVCE course - worth 2 A levels), and then started work in a small company as a gopher. (Very little to do with IT.)

When I got bored of that, I started looking for IT "trainee" jobs, so "Trainee systems administrator", "trainee web designer" or "trainee web developer" depending on what you want to do.

I found my dream job, moved 200 miles to get it, and managed to switch to Ubuntu along the way. (Was Windows only before!)

Luck helps. So does perseverance, and trying to learn stuff outside your job that will help your chances later.

[X3N]

I'd advise that the more specific your end qualification the fewer opportunities you'll be considered for afterwards.

e.g typical routes;


GCSES -> A levels -> Possibilities: Good University - Any course, vocational training - Any course, semi-skilled job with resonable pay.

or

GCSES -> BTEC -> Possibilities: Average/lower end University - specific courses, vocational training - Most courses, unskilled job with low pay

Have a look at the routes that are will emerge for you if you choose one over the other (Above is a loose example)

I'm not saying one is better than the other; if you know exactly what you want to do then i suspect you can make the BTEC route work much better.

[ConvertOne]

I dropped out of uni and did a vocational course, and now 12 years later i'm back at uni!
I was repairing PC's for a pittence, I enjoyed it for a couple of years then realised it was not going any further..

I'd get the best education you can, but it's still not certain..

It's up to you, but if I was 18 agian i'd be sticking with Uni..

Jay

[Matthew Green]

I would advise that you get the best possible formal education you can, regardless, to a large extent, of the title of the course or the institution where you study.

As other responses seen here have mentioned, formal education routes, like a University degree, are not just about the things you learn on your course - they open many doors through the people you meet, the "what if" conversations you'll hopefully have with your tutors, the projects you're involved in, and so on.

Projects, work experience, placements and other opportunities usually tied with formal education routes hopefully expose you to diverse interests in the field, where you should be able to find the things you're interested in along the way, if you aren't too sure when you start.

A formal education route shows prospective employers that you are willing to learn, you're an independent learner, you're willing to commit to something over a long period of time, and other "not directed related to the content" characteristics.

Experience is invaluable, but education and experience together open doors and get you interviews.

I hope this is useful.

[Mr_Mason]

just droped out like 3/4 way though my AS twas CRAP! doing a BTEC course in computing starting next month.

[jgrabham]

Oh well, talking to someone from my lug on mon/tues about it.

I really have no Idea what to do :[

[Penguin Power]

Personally I would recommend you go to University and pick something that interests you like Computing Science and Electrical Engineering.

University's a great place to meet people and do new things... everyone young person should do it!