Entry level IT

[caduceus]

What is a good entry level IT qualification to start a new career? I have had a look at TCP/IP and taken a quick free online test. But the whole subnet mask mathematics is a bit beyond me at the moment. So maybe I'm looking at the wrong area. Although I do find network transport fascinating.

I have no work experience in IT. I just want to get my foot in the door, and then carry on training. So I guess a helpdesk job is the bottom rung?
Is an MCSE qualification the best place to start? Just to get me employed and go from there.

Thanks
Cad

Edited by caduceus on Tuesday 21st April 11:16

[Puggit]

Helpdesk is a good starting point - I suspect most of us have risen up from this lowly point! You'll need to serve your time before moving up.

MCSE is a good start - but a search will give you countless threads on its worth. An MCSE by itself is irrelevant in the UK job market, you need experience to back it up. The searched threads will provide evidence of PH employers stating that they won't consider MCSEs above others in some cases.

Take a look at the IT Certification thread also running for some other bright ideas.

IT isn't what it used to be - but, if you get in the right sector it can still be very worthwhile.

[caduceus]

Thanks Puggit. I imagine nothing is what it used to be these days...

Do you need an MCSE qualification to get a helpdesk job? Or is there another qual that would suffice to get me in, and also might prove more relevant on its own? If an MCSE is'nt worth much without experience.

What do you see as a future 'in demand' sector of IT?

Cheers

[Ordinary_Chap]

caduceus said:

Thanks Puggit. I imagine nothing is what it used to be these days...

Do you need an MCSE qualification to get a helpdesk job? Or is there another qual that would suffice to get me in, and also might prove more relevant on its own? If an MCSE is'nt worth much without experience.

What do you see as a future 'in demand' sector of IT?

Cheers

No MCSE is required for a 1st line position. MCSE is more geared towards 2nd/3rd line support.

Future demand? Interesting question, I suspect cloud computing and more gearing towards mobile technologies.

I used to employ 1st line staff and primarily looked for a good attitude, enthusiasm and a good level of intelligence above any qualifications.

IT qualifications are important for anything more than first line. I'm a MCSE, A+, N+ etc, I think A+ or a couple of core Microsoft qualifications are useful for getting your foot in the door.

I'd personally start with A+.

[caduceus]

I think a trip to the library is on the cards. Along with trying to narow down a good source for realistic job vacancies for 1st line support help desk.

I have done a Google search for 1st line, and A+, and as usual is brings up alot of crap you have to sift through. So I've got some work to do there too.

Can anyone suggest a decent site that covers London/Herts/Essex for 1st line vacancies?

Thanks for your input chap btw.

[Puggit]

A+ is a very good suggestion!

Jobserve is the website I tend to use.

[Ordinary_Chap]

caduceus said:

I think a trip to the library is on the cards. Along with trying to narow down a good source for realistic job vacancies for 1st line support help desk.

I have done a Google search for 1st line, and A+, and as usual is brings up alot of crap you have to sift through. So I've got some work to do there too.

Can anyone suggest a decent site that covers London/Herts/Essex for 1st line vacancies?

Thanks for your input chap btw.

Jobserve, jobsite, cwjobs, planetrecruit, monster and stacks more.

I'd just spend time getting your CV right and then bash it out to as many of them as possible.

['Yadi]

Cad

I'll second what ordinary chap has written.

All the teams I've worked with across numerous firms and accounts have always employed the candidate (even for 2nd Line) who can display a proven ability and willingness to learn, shows evidence of a keen interest in technology and is able to show problem solving skills and logical thinking. We can always train the right candidate to support the product.

A+ certification will show you're serious but don't lose sight of the fact that in terms of a 1st line helpdesk role you'll have other transferrable skills to offer. I got my first IT job with no commercial IT experience or qualifications. I sold myself on the strength of my retailing customer facing skills. A good CV will help with that.

We've recently interviewed a number of highly qualified people (MCSE on paper) for 2nd/3rd line roles who were unable to display even basic (and I mean basic) troubleshooting skills - we hired the candidate with the qualities and not the qualifications we were after.

It's not about always having the answer to hand. It's about always having the ability to find the answer.

[caduceus]

Guys, thanks for all your positive input.

I have already made a start on the CV front. Going to the library tomorrow to get some A+ literature, and maybe some network protocol stuff too.

Will also check out the said sites to see whats what.

I used to work in the hotel industry, and have a firm grounding in customer service skills. So hopefully that will go in my favour in the helpdesk job search.

Cheers

[Ordinary_Chap]

caduceus said:

Guys, thanks for all your positive input.

I have already made a start on the CV front. Going to the library tomorrow to get some A+ literature, and maybe some network protocol stuff too.

Will also check out the said sites to see whats what.

I used to work in the hotel industry, and have a firm grounding in customer service skills. So hopefully that will go in my favour in the helpdesk job search.

Cheers

Some simple rules for an IT CV.

- No more than 2 pages as it will end up getting shredded otherwise.
- Have a professional skills section which details you customer handling skills and other related achievements at the top so that they can see your skills.
- I'd recommend you cover in that section your enthusiasm for IT and how you been using your own time to study for your A+.
- Less words are better. I've read too many wordy CV's and not taken anything of them in because if you have to paper sift 50 cv's then wordy ones don't generally get read.


As for A+, If you can afford to do so, they Sybex books are what you need as there is a lot of useless fluff in most IT books. I read the books, took my self down the test centre and passed the exams, just make sure if you do, you practice the tests as I found the format difficult as I'd not practiced their question style.
http://www.sybex.com/WileyCDA/SybexTitle/A-Complet...

[Dan x2c]

Ordinary_Chap said:

caduceus said:

Guys, thanks for all your positive input.

I have already made a start on the CV front. Going to the library tomorrow to get some A+ literature, and maybe some network protocol stuff too.

Will also check out the said sites to see whats what.

I used to work in the hotel industry, and have a firm grounding in customer service skills. So hopefully that will go in my favour in the helpdesk job search.

Cheers

Some simple rules for an IT CV.

- No more than 2 pages as it will end up getting shredded otherwise.
- Have a professional skills section which details you customer handling skills and other related achievements at the top so that they can see your skills.
- I'd recommend you cover in that section your enthusiasm for IT and how you been using your own time to study for your A+.
- Less words are better. I've read too many wordy CV's and not taken anything of them in because if you have to paper sift 50 cv's then wordy ones don't generally get read.


As for A+, If you can afford to do so, they Sybex books are what you need as there is a lot of useless fluff in most IT books. I read the books, took my self down the test centre and passed the exams, just make sure if you do, you practice the tests as I found the format difficult as I'd not practiced their question style.
http://www.sybex.com/WileyCDA/SybexTitle/A-Complet...

Good bit of advice that, I myself have been in IT 3 yrs now, I got into a 1st Line/Call logger work without any experience, then after 8 months moved to a Finance company (where I am now) who lobbed me on loads of courses including the A+ and some MCP's. A+ was good, but I knew 80% of it already, the best step I took was doing a MCDST qualification and courses, benefited greatly and since done a couple more MCP's, just got 070-291 left to complete my MCSA, then it's onto MCSE and CCNA. Currently have a ITIL V3, MCDST, MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician, as well as a MCP in W2K3.

Don't leap before you can jump 99% of entry level roles won't expect you to have much, if any, IT qualifications, certainly not an MCSE, just good customer facing skills.

[caduceus]

Ordinary_Chap said:

caduceus said:

Guys, thanks for all your positive input.

I have already made a start on the CV front. Going to the library tomorrow to get some A+ literature, and maybe some network protocol stuff too.

Will also check out the said sites to see whats what.

I used to work in the hotel industry, and have a firm grounding in customer service skills. So hopefully that will go in my favour in the helpdesk job search.

Cheers

Some simple rules for an IT CV.

- No more than 2 pages as it will end up getting shredded otherwise.
- Have a professional skills section which details you customer handling skills and other related achievements at the top so that they can see your skills.
- I'd recommend you cover in that section your enthusiasm for IT and how you been using your own time to study for your A+.
- Less words are better. I've read too many wordy CV's and not taken anything of them in because if you have to paper sift 50 cv's then wordy ones don't generally get read.


As for A+, If you can afford to do so, they Sybex books are what you need as there is a lot of useless fluff in most IT books. I read the books, took my self down the test centre and passed the exams, just make sure if you do, you practice the tests as I found the format difficult as I'd not practiced their question style.
http://www.sybex.com/WileyCDA/SybexTitle/A-Complet...

Thanks fella. I do appreciate all this.

I have already downloaded the first chapter of an A+ complete study guide from that link you supplied, and having a good read.
What you said about the CV composition makes alot of sense, and is what I am going to try and achieve.

[Ordinary_Chap]

caduceus said:

Ordinary_Chap said:

caduceus said:

Guys, thanks for all your positive input.

I have already made a start on the CV front. Going to the library tomorrow to get some A+ literature, and maybe some network protocol stuff too.

Will also check out the said sites to see whats what.

I used to work in the hotel industry, and have a firm grounding in customer service skills. So hopefully that will go in my favour in the helpdesk job search.

Cheers

Some simple rules for an IT CV.

- No more than 2 pages as it will end up getting shredded otherwise.
- Have a professional skills section which details you customer handling skills and other related achievements at the top so that they can see your skills.
- I'd recommend you cover in that section your enthusiasm for IT and how you been using your own time to study for your A+.
- Less words are better. I've read too many wordy CV's and not taken anything of them in because if you have to paper sift 50 cv's then wordy ones don't generally get read.


As for A+, If you can afford to do so, they Sybex books are what you need as there is a lot of useless fluff in most IT books. I read the books, took my self down the test centre and passed the exams, just make sure if you do, you practice the tests as I found the format difficult as I'd not practiced their question style.
http://www.sybex.com/WileyCDA/SybexTitle/A-Complet...

Thanks fella. I do appreciate all this.

I have already downloaded the first chapter of an A+ complete study guide from that link you supplied, and having a good read.
What you said about the CV composition makes alot of sense, and is what I am going to try and achieve.

No problem. I've worked in IT for about 10 years now so have learnt stuff and remember when I was in your position.

If you want anyone to proof read your CV and give feedback, either post it here with your personal stuff removed or PM me and I will send you one of mine and/or give you feedback.