New Career in IT

Mackman

Hi everyone,

I want to change my career to one in IT. I currently work in an Architect's office, so i have experience with computers and some knowledge of networks. My query is, what course is the best to do? i have been looking into Pitman Training, are they any good? if so which course do i start on?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks

jon1981

as im sure you know IT offers a vast range of career paths. IT in itself isnt a profession but an industry that contains many professions, what area are you looking at or do you think your interested in? This information will help to get a more beneficial reply.

Zulu

what interests you most about it?

(as mentioned saying I want a career in IT is similar to saying I want a career in building)

Mackman

Sorry about that, i suppose i should have been more specific.
Im mostly interested in IT management in an office environment. Setting up and configuring networks and computers.
I am interested in it because I enjoy working with computers, and i feel i would get good job satisfaction from it.

jon1981

well i work in software development/Telecoms so i wouldnt have much info on what your looking for.

But i believe for the kinda of area of work your interested in, a good start would be the network/A+ (maybe the CCNA but it might be a big jump considering you never did networks before) and the msca qualifications. From what i hear to break in to area you need to get into a good deskside support job and most likely to do this you will have to start of in firstline support. most likely your talking a good drop in salary.

I wait to some of the guys that work in these areas respond as they would have first hand experience.

Zulu

I'd suggest looking up ITIL. It's a managment course that describes and breaks down the various IT sectors. It's a detailed overview as such. This will give you an idea of a) IT managment and b) support which again are quite different.

IT managment is a lot different to support (which would include setting up networks etc.) although you might be interested in an architect type role? (Designing networks as opposed to being an admin)
Support/Admin roles do the nitty-gritty work - setting up, maintaining etc..

AARRRGH

You would also greatly benefit by setting up a network in your home, e.g. a mail server, a web server, a file server, etc.

Are you more interested in the Windows or the Unix side of things?

eth0_

Zulu wrote: »

I'd suggest looking up ITIL. It's a managment course that describes and breaks down the various IT sectors. It's a detailed overview as such. This will give you an idea of a) IT managment and b) support which again are quite different.

I doubt you'd get into IT management without having any experience of working in helpdesk/sys or network admin type roles.

Zulu

eth0_ wrote: »

I doubt you'd get into IT management without having any experience of working in helpdesk/sys or network admin type roles.

I highly doubt (s)he'd get into anything but an entry level role, but the course gives an overview of the industry which should help them to have a clear picture of what they want to do.

Eoin

The ITIL stuff is good to do, though as it's more of a framework around the management side of service and support, I would recommend getting into the technical knowledge first. ITIL would then be a good addition once you have some of more of that knowledge under your belt.

Zulu

thats true really.