IT Career Switch
Discussion
Has anyone ever come across this before;
https://itcareerswitch.co.uk/
Essentially it's an online training course for entry level IT jobs with a supposed "guaranteed" job at the end of it or your money back.
A friend of mine is looking for a career change and looked into it but it seems a bit iffy myself?
https://itcareerswitch.co.uk/
Essentially it's an online training course for entry level IT jobs with a supposed "guaranteed" job at the end of it or your money back.
A friend of mine is looking for a career change and looked into it but it seems a bit iffy myself?
My suggestion would be to try and get your foot in the door at a company who offers some kind of development scheme aimed at people with experience, but not an IT background. Most companies do them now as there is much a shortage of skilled IT workers.
https://www.nationwide-jobs.co.uk/students-graduat...
Those IT training followed by "guaranteed" jobs usually lead to a minimum wage data entry role, which won't enhance your CV at all.
https://www.nationwide-jobs.co.uk/students-graduat...
Those IT training followed by "guaranteed" jobs usually lead to a minimum wage data entry role, which won't enhance your CV at all.
Getting onto a Service Desk is a good way in the door and often doesn't need much in the way of formal qualifications in IT. Good customer service skills and a keen interest in the technical stuff can get you a job there and then in a year or two you have some experience to move into other roles if you so choose and have more of an idea on what exactly you want to pursue.
Just had a quick read, and at the end of the £600 course you get a Comptia A+ certification and a 'Guaranteed' entry level job. A+ consists of 2 exams, £130 each.
They quote £18-30k as a guaranteed salary, yeah, maybe in London. Otherwise, nope.
You can do the A+ course yourself, it's pretty basic and covers a LOAD of legacy stuff, plus basic networking, binary etc.
An entry level desktop support role will be £16-20k outside of London, you should be able to get one of these with a basic interest in tech/computers and (importantly) good telephone/customer service skills.
Once you've got your foot in the door, that's the hard bit done. Progression will be swift, I changed careers 4.5 years ago into IT support, I'm now looking at possibly moving to my third role and I won't be looking at anything less than £30k, having started on £20k. I would have on £30k a year or more ago if I'd moved on from my initial role on time and not been strung along with false promises (company takeover, should have been moved up but all moves and recruitment put on hold by new owners).
They quote £18-30k as a guaranteed salary, yeah, maybe in London. Otherwise, nope.
You can do the A+ course yourself, it's pretty basic and covers a LOAD of legacy stuff, plus basic networking, binary etc.
An entry level desktop support role will be £16-20k outside of London, you should be able to get one of these with a basic interest in tech/computers and (importantly) good telephone/customer service skills.
Once you've got your foot in the door, that's the hard bit done. Progression will be swift, I changed careers 4.5 years ago into IT support, I'm now looking at possibly moving to my third role and I won't be looking at anything less than £30k, having started on £20k. I would have on £30k a year or more ago if I'd moved on from my initial role on time and not been strung along with false promises (company takeover, should have been moved up but all moves and recruitment put on hold by new owners).
As others have said, I wouldn't bother with such courses. Get your foot in the door at a decent company which offers training, throw yourself in the deep end and you'll learn more than any course can teach. Either apply for 1st Line Support/Service Desk roles or higher apprenticeships, such as the Nationwide one or the Civil Service Fast Track/Fast Stream (I did this).
After 1-2 years you'll be able to switch up to, another 1-2 years do the same, rinse and repeat until you're CIO. Job jobbed.
After 1-2 years you'll be able to switch up to, another 1-2 years do the same, rinse and repeat until you're CIO. Job jobbed.
rustyuk said:
Go for programming rather than support. I did a HND whilst working 20 years ago and haven't looked back since.
Hi mate seen your post, I’m really interested in software development. I’m currently trying to learn python. I can really see myself working on database applications but don’t know where to start. I used to work in IT support as a network admin. That was about 12 years ago. Now in a job I hate and really want to make a switch before it’s too late, any advice would be appreciated. Russell
I did a HND part-time at a local college. Afterwards I just applied for a grad scheme at Rolls-Royce. That was about 23 years ago.
Completing the HND was the door opener for me. Nearly quit a couple of times to take a support role, so glad l stuck with it.
I'm currently considering studying for a Msc in AI at Sheffield again to open doors.
Let me know if there is anything specific you want to know.
Completing the HND was the door opener for me. Nearly quit a couple of times to take a support role, so glad l stuck with it.
I'm currently considering studying for a Msc in AI at Sheffield again to open doors.
Let me know if there is anything specific you want to know.
rusticm3 said:
rustyuk said:
Go for programming rather than support. I did a HND whilst working 20 years ago and haven't looked back since.
Hi mate seen your post, I’m really interested in software development. I’m currently trying to learn python. I can really see myself working on database applications but don’t know where to start. I used to work in IT support as a network admin. That was about 12 years ago. Now in a job I hate and really want to make a switch before it’s too late, any advice would be appreciated. Russell
Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server are the two main database platforms, and they both use flavours of SQL. Once you can code in one it's easy enough to learn the slight differences for the other.
I would focus on which part of IT you want to specialise in, as other have said easy way in is via first line support, but make sure you don't get stuck in first line stuff as it's boring and badly paid.
Once you have your foot in the door look at a professional cert such as Redhat RHCSA or Cisco CCNA.
Once you have your foot in the door look at a professional cert such as Redhat RHCSA or Cisco CCNA.
rusticm3 said:
I’m currently trying to learn python.
A good choice. It's a good language to learn as an introduction to programming as there is very little clutter to deal with to get _something_ running. You can quickly start focusing on the key concepts. It lets you write simple scripts, object oriented code, gives you an introduction to some aspects of functional programming, and access to loads of database, big data, web platforms and frameworks. The unclutteredness includes a conscious effort to not provide 100 ways of doing the same thing which is elegant and means you can concentrate on understanding stuff rather than memorising arcane crap. And there are a lot of well paid jobs for competent Python developers.Hi Orchid1. I'm contemplating a change of career myself into the IT sector, and I am tempted by the guarantee of a job or my money back from Career Switch IT. However at the same time I am suspicious as it seems to good to be true, and there may well be provisos in the small print of the Ts&Cs. Can I ask, did your friend start a course with these guys, and if so what were their experiences? I have seen some positive reviews on Feefo, some from people who have successfully completed the course and are now in work as IT technicians. Does anyone else have any experiences of this company? Many Thanks, Rob
Unless you are ready to waste your time taking tests upon tests (9 in all) before even getting registered for the Comptia A+ itself, You're better off paying for the Comptia A+ tests yourself , take Udemy courses and 1 or 2 Test Prep questions spending less time.
Bottom line ? Read the small prints before you part with your money.
Bottom line ? Read the small prints before you part with your money.
I did something similar to this in Nantwich many years ago. Was great, 6 week technician course and the college was also a job agency with contacts at places like Dixons so could place you at the end. You had to be prepared to move for the job guarantee and they paid the loan back fairly slowly if they couldn't place you, but it was a good deal and they did place the majority of students. I ended up working in London for a few years then returning to uni, I know others who are now in senior roles with no other IT background.
It wasn't this company however. This one seems a bit cagey on where the actual course is run, is it online? Would definitely read the small print carefully about any conditions!
It wasn't this company however. This one seems a bit cagey on where the actual course is run, is it online? Would definitely read the small print carefully about any conditions!
TheAngryDog said:
rustyuk said:
I'd probably focus on big data tech if starting again. Knowing the basics of SQL will definitely help though.
Been over 5 years since I've know anyone move or implement anything in Oracle.
My company uses Oracle. Works well for us. Been over 5 years since I've know anyone move or implement anything in Oracle.
If you want to go in to IT go for something broad with lots of opportunity, like cloud. There aren't a tonne of certified AWS or Azure IT folks with hands on experience - in fact, most enterprises are still new to cloud and desperately want skilled people. There is also plenty of room to specialise - nobody is an expert in all AWS services anymore because there are too many. You could be a security expert, or infrastructure code guy, or a hundred other things.
It's a good time to get in because cloud in enterprise and large organisations that are pre-2000 is still new. In my last job we were teaching people to manage cloud consumption - this requires no technical skills but again the internal governance and management of cloud with Finsnce, Procurement, Business and IT teams is a massively growing area where there is lack of maturity.
It's a good time to get in because cloud in enterprise and large organisations that are pre-2000 is still new. In my last job we were teaching people to manage cloud consumption - this requires no technical skills but again the internal governance and management of cloud with Finsnce, Procurement, Business and IT teams is a massively growing area where there is lack of maturity.
Edited by silent ninja on Sunday 3rd March 08:50
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