Getting into IT, bright but late bloomer. What to do?
Discussion
dustybottoms said:
I will also say; that most people when they hear this answer reply with something along the lines of; but I want to be a network specialist, or a developer, coder, designer etc etc etc...not going to happen mate, never going to happen, not unless you do your time and get a real world reputation and experience that is backed up with current professional qualifications.
I'm a developer. I don't think I've ever worked with one who started on a helpdesk.sharpfocus said:
dustybottoms said:
I will also say; that most people when they hear this answer reply with something along the lines of; but I want to be a network specialist, or a developer, coder, designer etc etc etc...not going to happen mate, never going to happen, not unless you do your time and get a real world reputation and experience that is backed up with current professional qualifications.
I'm a developer. I don't think I've ever worked with one who started on a helpdesk.I said that many people in IT do start from a help desk role as one of the more obvious routes into starting their career or changing their career (as backed up by a number of replies to that effect in this thread and similar threads) but there will always be exceptions to how people get in to this industry but roles like a developer, network specialist etc will never happen unless you do your time and gain real IT working experience more often then not backed up by current professional qualifications.
Before the fashion and need for help desks and help desk roles I would have suggested becoming a tape monkey as that was another one of the more obvious routes in to IT, would be pointless suggesting that in this day and age.
At the end of the day I am merely suggesting the more obvious and potentially easiest way on to the bottom rung of a career in IT where lack of experience may not be a major problem.
sharpfocus said:
dustybottoms said:
I will also say; that most people when they hear this answer reply with something along the lines of; but I want to be a network specialist, or a developer, coder, designer etc etc etc...not going to happen mate, never going to happen, not unless you do your time and get a real world reputation and experience that is backed up with current professional qualifications.
I'm a developer. I don't think I've ever worked with one who started on a helpdesk.Developers feel they do not need social skills and so tend to skip this part
Carl_Docklands said:
Developers feel they do not need social skills and so tend to skip this part
That's funny, as I know 4 helpdesk people and they're all social misfits sharpfocus said:
I'm not sure what you're saying... but while a helpdesk role is fine to get into 'IT' .. I don't think it'll help anyone who wants to write code, as the OP does.
Yep, if you want to get into coding (within this decade) then forget helpdesks.It's not everyone's cup of tea but I taught myself from scratch - and for those who say a degree doesn't help, it was the basis of my first developer job as they were specifically targetting graduates and I'd imagine it's something that has helped me get many interviews in the past.
I dropped out of uni 22 years ago. I went for interviews at small to medium software houses and managed to get a junior programming job. I worked my way up and eventually got a job as a consultant at one of the big IT consultancies.
A year or two later I had enough experience to quit and go contracting. That was 13 years ago. I am now contracting at investment banks, so it can be done. I am completely self-taught and have never had any formal training.
I also have a couple of successful mobile phone apps that I write in my spare time. Hopefully one of these will eventually pay enough for me to quit the day job, but not yet unfortunately.
P.S. A better starting point than helpdesk could be software testing? I know a few testers who made it into coding.
A year or two later I had enough experience to quit and go contracting. That was 13 years ago. I am now contracting at investment banks, so it can be done. I am completely self-taught and have never had any formal training.
I also have a couple of successful mobile phone apps that I write in my spare time. Hopefully one of these will eventually pay enough for me to quit the day job, but not yet unfortunately.
P.S. A better starting point than helpdesk could be software testing? I know a few testers who made it into coding.
Speed_Demon said:
the direction I would like to go in (web design/program design and coding).
Easy, learn how to design or code.Many recruiters would value a university drop-out with good skills over a university graduate with poor skills.
Buy some books, work through them, and make some websites. Then apply for jobs citing your experience and skills, possibly skim over the fact you did not get a degree (you can explain that in the interview).
Thanks for the input everyone. Very much appreciated.
I've decided to finish my degree as it looks like they are going to uncap my degree result (have to wait for someone to come off holiday, bloody academic
). The aim is to achieve a first, just because if you have a first, it atleast demonstrates an ability to apply ones self.
As Dustbuttons mentioned, that I am aware of, technologies learned at uni are usually not learned to an extent that you can actually jump straight into a job and be productive. This is something I am going to address by starting a website from scratch, not a simple SEO blog page, but a site addressing a large niche based off a framework. It will require extensive documentation of planning and implementation, and will also require me to be not just aware of the theory and basics of languages/technologies/toolsets, but profecient in it's practical application. Which I think is critical to show to employers. Granted it may be just one website, and it's going to take me well over a year to get it going, but it's going to be mightily impressive... one hopes
What do you guys think?
I've decided to finish my degree as it looks like they are going to uncap my degree result (have to wait for someone to come off holiday, bloody academic
). The aim is to achieve a first, just because if you have a first, it atleast demonstrates an ability to apply ones self.As Dustbuttons mentioned, that I am aware of, technologies learned at uni are usually not learned to an extent that you can actually jump straight into a job and be productive. This is something I am going to address by starting a website from scratch, not a simple SEO blog page, but a site addressing a large niche based off a framework. It will require extensive documentation of planning and implementation, and will also require me to be not just aware of the theory and basics of languages/technologies/toolsets, but profecient in it's practical application. Which I think is critical to show to employers. Granted it may be just one website, and it's going to take me well over a year to get it going, but it's going to be mightily impressive... one hopes
What do you guys think?
Speed_Demon said:
Thanks for the input everyone. Very much appreciated.
I've decided to finish my degree as it looks like they are going to uncap my degree result (have to wait for someone to come off holiday, bloody academic). The aim is to achieve a first, just because if you have a first, it atleast demonstrates an ability to apply ones self.
As Dustbuttons mentioned, that I am aware of, technologies learned at uni are usually not learned to an extent that you can actually jump straight into a job and be productive. This is something I am going to address by starting a website from scratch, not a simple SEO blog page, but a site addressing a large niche based off a framework. It will require extensive documentation of planning and implementation, and will also require me to be not just aware of the theory and basics of languages/technologies/toolsets, but profecient in it's practical application. Which I think is critical to show to employers. Granted it may be just one website, and it's going to take me well over a year to get it going, but it's going to be mightily impressive... one hopes
What do you guys think?
Good plan. I've decided to finish my degree as it looks like they are going to uncap my degree result (have to wait for someone to come off holiday, bloody academic
). The aim is to achieve a first, just because if you have a first, it atleast demonstrates an ability to apply ones self.As Dustbuttons mentioned, that I am aware of, technologies learned at uni are usually not learned to an extent that you can actually jump straight into a job and be productive. This is something I am going to address by starting a website from scratch, not a simple SEO blog page, but a site addressing a large niche based off a framework. It will require extensive documentation of planning and implementation, and will also require me to be not just aware of the theory and basics of languages/technologies/toolsets, but profecient in it's practical application. Which I think is critical to show to employers. Granted it may be just one website, and it's going to take me well over a year to get it going, but it's going to be mightily impressive... one hopes
What do you guys think?
Also, get involved, at a technical level, with an open-source project, and write lots of code for it. This will show actual collaboration skills - both social and technical. It also shows that you have written code that people, other than you, are happy with.
As a side benefit, if your code is s
t, they'll let you know in no uncertain terms.Speed_Demon said:
Thanks for the input everyone. Very much appreciated.
I've decided to finish my degree as it looks like they are going to uncap my degree result (have to wait for someone to come off holiday, bloody academic). The aim is to achieve a first, just because if you have a first, it atleast demonstrates an ability to apply ones self.
As Dustbuttons mentioned, that I am aware of, technologies learned at uni are usually not learned to an extent that you can actually jump straight into a job and be productive. This is something I am going to address by starting a website from scratch, not a simple SEO blog page, but a site addressing a large niche based off a framework. It will require extensive documentation of planning and implementation, and will also require me to be not just aware of the theory and basics of languages/technologies/toolsets, but profecient in it's practical application. Which I think is critical to show to employers. Granted it may be just one website, and it's going to take me well over a year to get it going, but it's going to be mightily impressive... one hopes
What do you guys think?
If you can achieve a first you will be well on your way....I've decided to finish my degree as it looks like they are going to uncap my degree result (have to wait for someone to come off holiday, bloody academic
). The aim is to achieve a first, just because if you have a first, it atleast demonstrates an ability to apply ones self.As Dustbuttons mentioned, that I am aware of, technologies learned at uni are usually not learned to an extent that you can actually jump straight into a job and be productive. This is something I am going to address by starting a website from scratch, not a simple SEO blog page, but a site addressing a large niche based off a framework. It will require extensive documentation of planning and implementation, and will also require me to be not just aware of the theory and basics of languages/technologies/toolsets, but profecient in it's practical application. Which I think is critical to show to employers. Granted it may be just one website, and it's going to take me well over a year to get it going, but it's going to be mightily impressive... one hopes
What do you guys think?
Speed_Demon said:
Thanks for the input everyone. Very much appreciated.
I've decided to finish my degree as it looks like they are going to uncap my degree result (have to wait for someone to come off holiday, bloody academic). The aim is to achieve a first, just because if you have a first, it atleast demonstrates an ability to apply ones self.
As Dustbuttons mentioned, that I am aware of, technologies learned at uni are usually not learned to an extent that you can actually jump straight into a job and be productive. This is something I am going to address by starting a website from scratch, not a simple SEO blog page, but a site addressing a large niche based off a framework. It will require extensive documentation of planning and implementation, and will also require me to be not just aware of the theory and basics of languages/technologies/toolsets, but profecient in it's practical application. Which I think is critical to show to employers. Granted it may be just one website, and it's going to take me well over a year to get it going, but it's going to be mightily impressive... one hopes
What do you guys think?
Sounds like a sensible plan, look for some of the larger IT company graduate schemes - they often offer a good structured program over a couple of years to build your skills and experience. The gap in your education history is going to need explaining but if you're honest about it and deal with it well it will prove you've got some life experience not just a university degree.I've decided to finish my degree as it looks like they are going to uncap my degree result (have to wait for someone to come off holiday, bloody academic
). The aim is to achieve a first, just because if you have a first, it atleast demonstrates an ability to apply ones self.As Dustbuttons mentioned, that I am aware of, technologies learned at uni are usually not learned to an extent that you can actually jump straight into a job and be productive. This is something I am going to address by starting a website from scratch, not a simple SEO blog page, but a site addressing a large niche based off a framework. It will require extensive documentation of planning and implementation, and will also require me to be not just aware of the theory and basics of languages/technologies/toolsets, but profecient in it's practical application. Which I think is critical to show to employers. Granted it may be just one website, and it's going to take me well over a year to get it going, but it's going to be mightily impressive... one hopes
What do you guys think?
Try and find some work (for free if needed) with local companies helping out with web development - as previous posters have commented real commercial experience even if it's just putting together basic websites for local businesses is like gold dust when you're applying at a low level.
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