What IT training courses improve prospects most?

[patmahe]

Hi there,

I currently work as an IT Project Manager/Administrator. My formal education extends to Degree level in Software development and I have been working for 7 years since leaving College mainly in IT support roles before I joined my current workplace where I have been for 4 years now.

I reckon its time to get myself more training, but I've been somewhat out of the loop for 7 years and just learning on the job. I would like to formalise my skills in the best way possible, I'm just not sure what I should be looking at doing in order to achieve this.

What I'm looking for is a course that will.
- Make me highly employable and in demand worldwide - But also be useable to small local companies
- Give me a decent wage
- Not cost the Earth to do - or at least see a decent return on
- Be a very recognised, quality qualification
- Give me actual skills rather than just a piece of paper
- Not land me in a job with 14 hour days

Sorry if my description above is a bit vague, but I'm at that vague stage where I'm just looking for ideas. Anyone wanting to PM me please feel free to do so.

Thanks

Pat

Edited by patmahe on Monday 15th November 12:50

[patmahe]

Bullett said:

imho most training is just formalising and expanding what you already know. Certainly in my area if you tried to start from scratch with a training course and no practical experience you would seriously struggle. You will then need practical experience to back up the piece of paper.

Do you have formal PM training? maybe something like itil would help?

Practical technical training that comes up most often is MCSE and CCNP as building blocks. These used to be a license to print money but now are just starting points. And again without experience mean nothing.

No formal PM training just what I've learned on the job.

Forgive my ignorance about the MCSE and CCNP training, I am aware of them but how does the structure work, I'm assuming there are higher qualifications possible after the initial one? Are these in high demand?

I'm really looking for something that if an employer recieves my CV he'll say, wow he's got (insert very highly thought of qualification here) lets hire him and give him lots of money. But as I've said above I'm not looking to do 14 hour days.

[patmahe]

purplepolarbear said:

Do you want to be a manager or a techie in 5-10 years time?
Also, do you want to stay with your current company or are you looking to move elsewhere?
Will your current job support you in terms of costs of training or time off to study, and are you looking for a quick course that can be done in a week or something longer term (e.g. a masters)?

In general I don't think letters after your name means that much at the moment. However, what you learn on the course may help you answer the question better that gets you your next job.

Hi, would like to be in management, wouldn't mind being a techie but would like to be a knowledgable techie with skills not everyone has so I can be in demand.

Would like to move companies, feel very held back and unappreciated here, so would like to address that. Unlikely that current job will give me any support, but am willing to look at all options, long courses short courses etc... would have no problem taking holidays for intensive courses or doing evening study to get there.

[patmahe]

joe_90 said:

If coding.. then:
Java/Spring/xml-xsd/xmlbeans/hibernate/Webservices/JSON/OSGI/SCA/JSP/PHP etc are all quite useful in the Java world.

maybe Objective-C (iphone/ipad) dev?

Its a long time since I touched code (College) and have never worked in Software Development. So I'm wondering if I'm a bit too far removed from it. Is this what you work in? How do you find it?

[patmahe]

TuxRacer said:

patmahe said:

Would like to move companies, feel very held back and unappreciated here, so would like to address that.

Get on the job sites, look at where you'd like to go next, address anything asked for that you feel you don't have, as best you can and then... apply?

Stop being so sensible and applying logic to the situation thanks everyone you've given me a good basis for what I need to look into.