Careers in I.T
Discussion
Hi all,
I am thinking about changing my career, I'm currently an Engineering Manager. I was wondering what the best route of entry would be and what the pay scale is for entry IT careers, I am youngish still
. Are there many field based positions? or practical positions? I know I.T is a very broad industry and wondering what type of job would suit me best?
Some attributes I feel I have that could be useful in I.T
I Can take apart and repair almost anything
Good logical fault finding
I like to solve things or think of ways to improve things
good with people
I'm very creative and have a good imagination.
I'm Ex HM Forces, I have no problems doing exactly as I am told, I also am confident to use my initiative and own up if I make the wrong decision and balls something up
I am thinking about changing my career, I'm currently an Engineering Manager. I was wondering what the best route of entry would be and what the pay scale is for entry IT careers, I am youngish still
. Are there many field based positions? or practical positions? I know I.T is a very broad industry and wondering what type of job would suit me best?Some attributes I feel I have that could be useful in I.T
I Can take apart and repair almost anything
Good logical fault finding
I like to solve things or think of ways to improve things
good with people
I'm very creative and have a good imagination.
I'm Ex HM Forces, I have no problems doing exactly as I am told, I also am confident to use my initiative and own up if I make the wrong decision and balls something up
Not in IT but I have done IT recruitment. It's a very broad field as you say, and it really depends what you want to do in IT and why.
From how you describe yourself I would probably be thinking Network Engineer - and the best route to that would be working your way through the support channels.
If you're an engineering grad you're presumably fairly technical minded, you might be able to skip the first line support side where you're answering phone calls and telling people to restart windows.
If it's taking things apart you want then perhaps an onsite support job would be better, but these tend to be quite limited in terms of career progression as you're not really learning from more experienced people.
I'd think carefully about why you want to work in IT though, as in my experience it's full of people who wish they didn't, and started an IT career thinking it was a case of a couple of years playing on the computer then 500 pound a day contracts. It's not.
From how you describe yourself I would probably be thinking Network Engineer - and the best route to that would be working your way through the support channels.
If you're an engineering grad you're presumably fairly technical minded, you might be able to skip the first line support side where you're answering phone calls and telling people to restart windows.
If it's taking things apart you want then perhaps an onsite support job would be better, but these tend to be quite limited in terms of career progression as you're not really learning from more experienced people.
I'd think carefully about why you want to work in IT though, as in my experience it's full of people who wish they didn't, and started an IT career thinking it was a case of a couple of years playing on the computer then 500 pound a day contracts. It's not.
Start as a helpdesk monkey and work up from there.
Anything other than that tends to need experience. Field work is possible but again requires experience.
Fixing PC's and other IT is the same as any other form of troubleshooting so the logical background helps and you can build knowledge from there.
Anything other than that tends to need experience. Field work is possible but again requires experience.
Fixing PC's and other IT is the same as any other form of troubleshooting so the logical background helps and you can build knowledge from there.
Build yourself a computer from old bits and get it running with Linux. Get it on the network, turn it into a firewall/music server/whatever. Figure out how Linux works, top-to-bottom. Learn a development language. PHP, Perl, Java, MySQL. ***Learn SQL!!!*** Play with VMWare.
If you are on a bus or a train (unlikely on PH!) then you should have your head in an IT book. Read, read read! Attend user group talks -- many around, and not always as dull as you might think. Do some certs, but don't go overboard on these.
I wouldn't bother with helpdesk jobs. Try and get in as a junior/support developer somewhere and work your way from there.
If you are on a bus or a train (unlikely on PH!) then you should have your head in an IT book. Read, read read! Attend user group talks -- many around, and not always as dull as you might think. Do some certs, but don't go overboard on these.
I wouldn't bother with helpdesk jobs. Try and get in as a junior/support developer somewhere and work your way from there.
swamp said:
Learn a development language. PHP, Perl, Java, MySQL. ***Learn SQL!!!*** Play with VMWare.
If you are on a bus or a train (unlikely on PH!) then you should have your head in an IT book. Read, read read!
Crikey. Sounds like my younger self. I always had my nose in an IT book. If you are on a bus or a train (unlikely on PH!) then you should have your head in an IT book. Read, read read!
It did get me the jobs I wanted, though. 
My advice, if you want to get into IT because it interests you and not because its (a) a career choice and/or (b) looking to earn lots of money then GFI.
If its (a) and/or (b) forget it. Firstly the IT support market is flooded with candidates, everyone and his donkey is MCSE accredited, has worked on helpdesks/service desks/desktop support/server/network and field work. You cannot even specialise anymore as most folk have CCNA/CCNE qualifications. A side line would be Application Support, whereby you have an understanding of and familiarity with various devevlopment applications, be they bespoke or VBA, SQL etc. Even this market is starting to get deluged. Unless you can turn your hand to supporting some niche specialism such as Charles River, Latent Zero or similar then you will be competing with many other folk who will have strong commercial experience.
Sorry to be a bearer of bad news but I have been working in the IT industry for the last 13 years and have a fair knowledge of the current market sectors. I recruit for investment management firms in the City and the Docklands, placing support, testers, developers and BA's, PM's.
Although the markets are pro-active there are so many candidates, most of whom have the all important commercial experience and so can hit the ground running.
If its (a) and/or (b) forget it. Firstly the IT support market is flooded with candidates, everyone and his donkey is MCSE accredited, has worked on helpdesks/service desks/desktop support/server/network and field work. You cannot even specialise anymore as most folk have CCNA/CCNE qualifications. A side line would be Application Support, whereby you have an understanding of and familiarity with various devevlopment applications, be they bespoke or VBA, SQL etc. Even this market is starting to get deluged. Unless you can turn your hand to supporting some niche specialism such as Charles River, Latent Zero or similar then you will be competing with many other folk who will have strong commercial experience.
Sorry to be a bearer of bad news but I have been working in the IT industry for the last 13 years and have a fair knowledge of the current market sectors. I recruit for investment management firms in the City and the Docklands, placing support, testers, developers and BA's, PM's.
Although the markets are pro-active there are so many candidates, most of whom have the all important commercial experience and so can hit the ground running.
jdbecks said:
Hi all,
I am thinking about changing my career, I'm currently an Engineering Manager. I was wondering what the best route of entry would be and what the pay scale is for entry IT careers, I am youngish still. Are there many field based positions? or practical positions? I know I.T is a very broad industry and wondering what type of job would suit me best?
Some attributes I feel I have that could be useful in I.T
I Can take apart and repair almost anything
Good logical fault finding
I like to solve things or think of ways to improve things
good with people
I'm very creative and have a good imagination.
I'm Ex HM Forces, I have no problems doing exactly as I am told, I also am confident to use my initiative and own up if I make the wrong decision and balls something up
What sort of engineer were/are you, you sound just like me! I'm Ex an RN Weapons Engineer (OC), left and went into Building Services as a Manager. I am thinking about changing my career, I'm currently an Engineering Manager. I was wondering what the best route of entry would be and what the pay scale is for entry IT careers, I am youngish still
. Are there many field based positions? or practical positions? I know I.T is a very broad industry and wondering what type of job would suit me best?Some attributes I feel I have that could be useful in I.T
I Can take apart and repair almost anything
Good logical fault finding
I like to solve things or think of ways to improve things
good with people
I'm very creative and have a good imagination.
I'm Ex HM Forces, I have no problems doing exactly as I am told, I also am confident to use my initiative and own up if I make the wrong decision and balls something up
I then went into IT (in Application Support) 13 years ago, but have been a BA for the past few years.
You really need to look at the different jobs in IT, and decide what you want to do. Its a bit like saying you want to be in banking, does that mean you want to serve customers.....or work on a dealing floor.
The logical/fault finding experience you have lends itself to Application Support. I'd learn SQL and PL/SQL as a starting point.
Romanymagic said:
My advice, if you want to get into IT because it interests you and not because its (a) a career choice and/or (b) looking to earn lots of money then GFI.
If its (a) and/or (b) forget it. Firstly the IT support market is flooded with candidates, everyone and his donkey is MCSE accredited, has worked on helpdesks/service desks/desktop support/server/network and field work. You cannot even specialise anymore as most folk have CCNA/CCNE qualifications. A side line would be Application Support, whereby you have an understanding of and familiarity with various devevlopment applications, be they bespoke or VBA, SQL etc. Even this market is starting to get deluged. Unless you can turn your hand to supporting some niche specialism such as Charles River, Latent Zero or similar then you will be competing with many other folk who will have strong commercial experience.
Sorry to be a bearer of bad news but I have been working in the IT industry for the last 13 years and have a fair knowledge of the current market sectors. I recruit for investment management firms in the City and the Docklands, placing support, testers, developers and BA's, PM's.
Although the markets are pro-active there are so many candidates, most of whom have the all important commercial experience and so can hit the ground running.
Are you looking for contract BA's?If its (a) and/or (b) forget it. Firstly the IT support market is flooded with candidates, everyone and his donkey is MCSE accredited, has worked on helpdesks/service desks/desktop support/server/network and field work. You cannot even specialise anymore as most folk have CCNA/CCNE qualifications. A side line would be Application Support, whereby you have an understanding of and familiarity with various devevlopment applications, be they bespoke or VBA, SQL etc. Even this market is starting to get deluged. Unless you can turn your hand to supporting some niche specialism such as Charles River, Latent Zero or similar then you will be competing with many other folk who will have strong commercial experience.
Sorry to be a bearer of bad news but I have been working in the IT industry for the last 13 years and have a fair knowledge of the current market sectors. I recruit for investment management firms in the City and the Docklands, placing support, testers, developers and BA's, PM's.
Although the markets are pro-active there are so many candidates, most of whom have the all important commercial experience and so can hit the ground running.
....no banking experience though 
It depends what area of IT you want to work in? Software or hardware?
If it's hardware then a helpdesk role would be a starting point. We all started on the helpdesk, me included! I'm a field service engineer and if I'm honest, you'll struggle to get into this type of role without previous IT support experience. How good are your IT support skills? Can you fit replacement system boards, setup a server/raid server system from scratch or setup a network using hubs/switches/routers etc? I would say The minimum certification for IT support is Comptia A+.
If it's software, then a junior developer role is the way forward. You'll need to study something like VB.net, SQL, Linux, Java, C/C++ or ASP.net.
Whatever route you take, you'll be starting on a low wage. Something like £12k to £15k usually. It's a tough career to get into and the number of vacancies is pretty low compared with last year. Plus you'll be competing against others with 10 or so years experience - there's a lot of unemployed IT pro's out there.
If that's what you really want to do then go for it. I find it a pretty rewarding job but can be very stressful at times.
If it's hardware then a helpdesk role would be a starting point. We all started on the helpdesk, me included! I'm a field service engineer and if I'm honest, you'll struggle to get into this type of role without previous IT support experience. How good are your IT support skills? Can you fit replacement system boards, setup a server/raid server system from scratch or setup a network using hubs/switches/routers etc? I would say The minimum certification for IT support is Comptia A+.
If it's software, then a junior developer role is the way forward. You'll need to study something like VB.net, SQL, Linux, Java, C/C++ or ASP.net.
Whatever route you take, you'll be starting on a low wage. Something like £12k to £15k usually. It's a tough career to get into and the number of vacancies is pretty low compared with last year. Plus you'll be competing against others with 10 or so years experience - there's a lot of unemployed IT pro's out there.
If that's what you really want to do then go for it. I find it a pretty rewarding job but can be very stressful at times.
The problem with learning skills like SQL, C/C++, etc, is that they will take ages and ages to learn to an extent good enough for commercial use (Even if a junior). Also, SQL/C/Linux is too much at once.
It's best to go in from the support angle, and also you will get to see a lot of techs (firewalls, load balancers, DNS, etc etc).
This is a lot to learn, too, and if you go in a small company, you will need to know it before hand (whichever route you take, there's so much to learn). Look for a big company.
This is in reply to swamp, really.
This coming from a developer. This is in reply to swamp.
It's best to go in from the support angle, and also you will get to see a lot of techs (firewalls, load balancers, DNS, etc etc).
This is a lot to learn, too, and if you go in a small company, you will need to know it before hand (whichever route you take, there's so much to learn). Look for a big company.
This is in reply to swamp, really.
This coming from a developer. This is in reply to swamp.
Edited by Z064life on Friday 24th December 01:49
Romanymagic said:
My advice, if you want to get into IT because it interests you and not because its (a) a career choice and/or (b) looking to earn lots of money then GFI.
If its (a) and/or (b) forget it. Firstly the IT support market is flooded with candidates, everyone and his donkey is MCSE accredited, has worked on helpdesks/service desks/desktop support/server/network and field work. You cannot even specialise anymore as most folk have CCNA/CCNE qualifications. A side line would be Application Support, whereby you have an understanding of and familiarity with various devevlopment applications, be they bespoke or VBA, SQL etc. Even this market is starting to get deluged. Unless you can turn your hand to supporting some niche specialism such as Charles River, Latent Zero or similar then you will be competing with many other folk who will have strong commercial experience.
Sorry to be a bearer of bad news but I have been working in the IT industry for the last 13 years and have a fair knowledge of the current market sectors. I recruit for investment management firms in the City and the Docklands, placing support, testers, developers and BA's, PM's.
Although the markets are pro-active there are so many candidates, most of whom have the all important commercial experience and so can hit the ground running.
Your profile says you're a Business Dev Manager? Are you working in the IT sector?If its (a) and/or (b) forget it. Firstly the IT support market is flooded with candidates, everyone and his donkey is MCSE accredited, has worked on helpdesks/service desks/desktop support/server/network and field work. You cannot even specialise anymore as most folk have CCNA/CCNE qualifications. A side line would be Application Support, whereby you have an understanding of and familiarity with various devevlopment applications, be they bespoke or VBA, SQL etc. Even this market is starting to get deluged. Unless you can turn your hand to supporting some niche specialism such as Charles River, Latent Zero or similar then you will be competing with many other folk who will have strong commercial experience.
Sorry to be a bearer of bad news but I have been working in the IT industry for the last 13 years and have a fair knowledge of the current market sectors. I recruit for investment management firms in the City and the Docklands, placing support, testers, developers and BA's, PM's.
Although the markets are pro-active there are so many candidates, most of whom have the all important commercial experience and so can hit the ground running.
Edited by Z064life on Friday 24th December 01:49
XDA said:
Whatever route you take, you'll be starting on a low wage. Something like £12k to £15k usually
Agreed, but I know people in IT that started on this, and are now making (I would estimate) more than 10 times this a decade later, so I think it is important to realise that opportunities are there if you apply yourself.I'd of thought most would start off in IT helpdesk support (I did). I got paid £10k at the time for my first year.
I didn't look at my career as "making lots of money" because I was generally really interested in how it all works. I also have loads of ideas on developing stuff, which I wanted to persue once I knew how it all works. 7 years on I am very fortunate to be being paid quite a lot of cash for something I still enjoy (at times though I do think I could have taken a more "active" job like a skiing instructor or something rather than staring at a screen all day). Overall I enjoy it - if you don't have an eagerness and curiosity about computing then it probably isn't the career for you.
Start off on a helpdesk type role, understand the basics such as routers, hubs, servers, general software errors, etc and you'll then get a picture in your head as to how it all fits together. Then once you know this, you can specialise in a particular field (hardware, networking, software development and so on).
You'll also get to know how dumb some people can really be and expect to get a LOT of flak when things go wrong (as if you personally broke it). As with most careers, a lot of people look at the salaries and think it's like sitting at your home PC getting paid loads for it - it's not. You can be expected to work long overtime hours sometimes, if things don't go right - you can't leave until it's fixed because everyone uses the computer.
It's a bit like saying you want to be a doctor - its generic. What do you want to specialise in? What interests you?
You're first year shouldn't be about "I want to earn X amount" - it should be open minded and be willing to learn the ropes.
I didn't look at my career as "making lots of money" because I was generally really interested in how it all works. I also have loads of ideas on developing stuff, which I wanted to persue once I knew how it all works. 7 years on I am very fortunate to be being paid quite a lot of cash for something I still enjoy (at times though I do think I could have taken a more "active" job like a skiing instructor or something rather than staring at a screen all day). Overall I enjoy it - if you don't have an eagerness and curiosity about computing then it probably isn't the career for you.
Start off on a helpdesk type role, understand the basics such as routers, hubs, servers, general software errors, etc and you'll then get a picture in your head as to how it all fits together. Then once you know this, you can specialise in a particular field (hardware, networking, software development and so on).
You'll also get to know how dumb some people can really be and expect to get a LOT of flak when things go wrong (as if you personally broke it). As with most careers, a lot of people look at the salaries and think it's like sitting at your home PC getting paid loads for it - it's not. You can be expected to work long overtime hours sometimes, if things don't go right - you can't leave until it's fixed because everyone uses the computer.
It's a bit like saying you want to be a doctor - its generic. What do you want to specialise in? What interests you?
You're first year shouldn't be about "I want to earn X amount" - it should be open minded and be willing to learn the ropes.
Anubis said:
I'd of thought most would start off in IT helpdesk support (I did). I got paid £10k at the time for my first year.
I didn't look at my career as "making lots of money" because I was generally really interested in how it all works. I also have loads of ideas on developing stuff, which I wanted to persue once I knew how it all works. 7 years on I am very fortunate to be being paid quite a lot of cash for something I still enjoy (at times though I do think I could have taken a more "active" job like a skiing instructor or something rather than staring at a screen all day). Overall I enjoy it - if you don't have an eagerness and curiosity about computing then it probably isn't the career for you.
Start off on a helpdesk type role, understand the basics such as routers, hubs, servers, general software errors, etc and you'll then get a picture in your head as to how it all fits together. Then once you know this, you can specialise in a particular field (hardware, networking, software development and so on).
You'll also get to know how dumb some people can really be and expect to get a LOT of flak when things go wrong (as if you personally broke it). As with most careers, a lot of people look at the salaries and think it's like sitting at your home PC getting paid loads for it - it's not. You can be expected to work long overtime hours sometimes, if things don't go right - you can't leave until it's fixed because everyone uses the computer.
It's a bit like saying you want to be a doctor - its generic. What do you want to specialise in? What interests you?
You're first year shouldn't be about "I want to earn X amount" - it should be open minded and be willing to learn the ropes.
Plus dont expect to earn too much, its not about the money with this kind of thing.I didn't look at my career as "making lots of money" because I was generally really interested in how it all works. I also have loads of ideas on developing stuff, which I wanted to persue once I knew how it all works. 7 years on I am very fortunate to be being paid quite a lot of cash for something I still enjoy (at times though I do think I could have taken a more "active" job like a skiing instructor or something rather than staring at a screen all day). Overall I enjoy it - if you don't have an eagerness and curiosity about computing then it probably isn't the career for you.
Start off on a helpdesk type role, understand the basics such as routers, hubs, servers, general software errors, etc and you'll then get a picture in your head as to how it all fits together. Then once you know this, you can specialise in a particular field (hardware, networking, software development and so on).
You'll also get to know how dumb some people can really be and expect to get a LOT of flak when things go wrong (as if you personally broke it). As with most careers, a lot of people look at the salaries and think it's like sitting at your home PC getting paid loads for it - it's not. You can be expected to work long overtime hours sometimes, if things don't go right - you can't leave until it's fixed because everyone uses the computer.
It's a bit like saying you want to be a doctor - its generic. What do you want to specialise in? What interests you?
You're first year shouldn't be about "I want to earn X amount" - it should be open minded and be willing to learn the ropes.
My brother works for an American communications company in the UK office as one of the head network admin people (fixes servers, installs them, etc) and has been doing that for several years and only once he puts in overtime and on call does he earn above £40k...
He enjoys it and even though I have the contacts to get him a job in the City on a basic of £45k he still refuses... Hell he even turned down a job at microsoft working for his friend... but that was more to do with not wanting to cross business and friendship.
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