IT Admin Training

Keano

Recently at work I have been undertaking some IT duties. This is fine as I have been rewarded financially for my agreeing to do so. However I have no training in the area. In college the majority of topics were programming something which I stuck at and got a degree in but never seen myself as a programmer. Now I know I want to do IT admin work but the stuff I know is self taught and I try learn off our other IT person but some proper training would be great and work is willing to pay for it. Anyone any suggestions or have any of ye undertaken such a course? Obviously it would have to be night time or part time.

Thanks

subway

an ITIL course is something ive heard mentioned,
not sure how advanced it is but ive heard it referenced as a minimum standard for running an it dept.

someone else may be able to give you more of an insight into it.

wiki here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITIL

feylya

ITIL is only a best practices course. If you want training for being an admin, there are training centres that does MCSE courses. Try New Horizons

Stephen

ITIL is more the kind of thing IT managers would be learning, and then putting into practice in their departments.

LoGiE

Knowing the new tasks you will be doing would help a lot in pointing you to the right course.

Ron_Jon

I'm also interested in doing a few courses. Are the ECDL courses worth doing?

I came out of college with a Comp Sci degree and was unable to work for over a year due to being sick. Now I am looking for a job in IT but every job requires experience (2-3 years) of which i have little. I have a broad range of skills from PHP, MYSQL, Web design, but would ideally like to avoid a web design job.

Any good courses worth doing to back up my qualifications?

seamus

Ron_Jon wrote:

Are the ECDL courses worth doing?

ECDL courses are far people who've never seen a computer in their life.

If you've a technology degree, you won't need to do an ECDL course.

Cake Fiend

For basic desktop-type maintenance: CompTIA A+

For networking, i.e. routing, switching, etc: Cisco CCNA

For Microsoft-based networks, domains, etc: MCP -> MCSE

As already mentioned, give more info about what kind of things you need to know, and we can recommend something more specific.

Keano

Thanks for all the help

Here are some of the duties that have to be done
New PC setup
Adding printers to network / Fixing them when they break!
User desktop support
Installation of new software (Adobe, AutoCad etc...)

I could probably list a lot more but as ye will know no 2 days are the same in an IT Dept.

These me seem like easy tasks but we recently got multifunctional printers and had to setup up IP addresses and subnets. I have no clue about this sort of thing so just did all the moving work etc!!

Tom Dunne

Keano A Legend wrote:

Thanks for all the help

Here are some of the duties that have to be done
New PC setup
Adding printers to network / Fixing them when they break!
User desktop support
Installation of new software (Adobe, AutoCad etc...)

I could probably list a lot more but as ye will know no 2 days are the same in an IT Dept.

These me seem like easy tasks but we recently got multifunctional printers and had to setup up IP addresses and subnets. I have no clue about this sort of thing so just did all the moving work etc!!

There are two ways you could approach this. Courses such as those above will give you a highly specific body of knowledge and certainly empower you to do your job. From what I understand, the qualifications are in demand and would certainly enhance your career prospects.

If, however, you are looking for broader knowledge in all areas of computing, you could opt for a third level qualification, anything from a diploma up to an honours degree. This would arguably make you more qualified for a broader range of jobs, especially if combined with some of the above qualifications. The caveat of course is that the courses would take longer to complete (years as opposed to months with the other courses).

The bottom line is that it is up to you. Do you want to go the short-term route, or the longer, broader route?

seamus

Keano A Legend wrote:

These me seem like easy tasks but we recently got multifunctional printers and had to setup up IP addresses and subnets. I have no clue about this sort of thing so just did all the moving work etc!!

No doubt you'll pick it up quite quickly. Google is your friend when you come against something you've not seen before.

If you've little or no prior IT experience, and you're using all Microsoft products, then I'd strongly suggest what Cake Fiend says.
Start out with A+. This'll give you a good grounding.
Then go with MCP's - Windows XP & Windows Server 2003
Then it may be worth going for a decent networking exam, CCNA or similar
Then you can get an MCSA and/or MCTS. I'd advise going with Windows Server Network Infrastructure to start. This will complement the Networking certification.
Then depending on your company's requirements, an MCTS in Windows Security, SQL Server or Exchange Server will give you the MCSA.

Paligulus

tom dunne wrote:

If, however, you are looking for broader knowledge in all areas of computing, you could opt for a third level qualification, anything from a diploma up to an honours degree.

Keano A Legend? Did you say that you have a degree already? What was it in?

Tom Dunne

Paligulus wrote:

Keano A Legend? Did you say that you have a degree already? What was it in?

Doh! Missed that bit.

That's what I get for not having my coffee before I post on Boards.ie

Keano

My degree is in Software Engineering but the title is so misleading! It should have been software programming as far as I am concerned. They thought us how to programme well in my case as I said I stuck it out! Since then I have always got the old "you did computers in college thing" and will you have a look at my computer. This is where I have learnt the ins and outs of pc's and how have been given my new work role! But if I was ever to move on I really would want more papers behind me.

Cheers for all the replies.

mountainyman

http://www.koenig-solutions.com/

Get certified.

MM