Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Career change to the IT industry, is it worth it?

  • 24-11-2013 6:19pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,743 ✭✭✭


    Hi people, I am at a bit of a crossroads in my life, career wise. I have a degree in my field and I have done a few evening courses which have led to my skillset improving a bit but I feel my potential and current skillset is stagnating. I think I have come as far as I can in my current position, both because promotions in my job are very rare and even when they do pop up they go to the favorites in the office and not the people who toil night and day. Plus my boss doesnt like me so my training chances are limited.

    I have been looking into the IT industry a bit lately and Im interested in some aspects of it like pc repair and using common office software and I would like to know a bit more but I really am starting from scratch so I dont know what companies expect from people in this field- are qualifications more important that experience? IS it better to go back and do a degree then start from scratch, are the Springboard/FAS courses worth anything? Im basically looking for advice on how I would start to research a transition to this industry. For the record im in my mid 30s and my current wage is very good.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭GarIT


    Jobs are plenty in the IT industry, to get a good job though you need a degree and a couple of years experience. The two problems I can see with what you said is that PC repair isn't much more than a minimum wage job, after doing over three years I wouldn't go back, and using office software (like a secretary?) probably is a minimum wage job.

    Also its difficult to get a job in PC repair, its hard and sometimes disgusting work (over 50% of PCs I was working on had pubic hair on the keys, some were even worse) and there is nearly no chance of promotion. Experience in PC repaid wouldn't be any good to you in any of the better paid IT jobs either.

    If you have about 8 years to work on building your career you can get great jobs out of it though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,513 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    If you are going to change careers bare in mind that often means starting at the bottom again. It can be tough getting started in IT. The best option if possible is to move in to IT relating to the field you are working in.
    If you work with financial software going into software implementation of financial software is a way to go. Expand on what you have done and go side ways rather than start again.

    Software testing is a good way to go so maybe consider the ISTQB.

    PC repair is a lowly paid job and unlikely going to expand your opportunities. You would be just moving into a dead end field would be how I would look at it. On top of that you need to stay up to date. People don't stay in it for a reason.


Advertisement