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career advice

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  • 09-02-2015 11:23am
    #1
    The Freeman
    Registered Users Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭


    hi guys,

    first time posting over this side and hoping i could get some advice is possible.

    i am currently working as a store manager for a phone company and have a qfa banking degree.

    the problem is that i have decided to do something i love instead over a stressful average paid job with the only opportunity for my current status in retail management being more stress for little monetary gain.

    i really love computers in a whole, even at 30 years of age i still use my evenings to relax when not exercising, to play ps4 or pc gaming.
    i could have an option to do a level 7 course in computer science as an addon to my banking degree, while working full time hopefully.

    Far as I can make out the qfa is a level 7 qualification so i could do the hdip in nuig and then qualify for the masters.

    http://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/software-design-development.html

    Or this add on year in athlone might be worth looking at...

    http://www.ait.ie/aboutaitandathlone/courses/higherdiplomaincomputing/


    i have 2 issues really,

    1. i am not sure what part of computer science i want to get in to.(would you recommend doing an online overview course like learning to program with freecodecamp or the like?)
    2.there seems to be alot of companies out there that want a specialist who have a level 7 or 8 degree course in computer science(most starting on 25000 or so and rising with experience in industry), is there any way i could do something online in the meantime with my fulltime job?
    i guess i am looking for a way in the back door to a company,where i would normally need a level 7 degree and start here. would this ever be an option with a banking degree, establish myself with online courses and 5 years management experience etc.?


    thanks for reading guys and appreciate whatever reply i get.


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    #2
    bpmurray
    Registered Users Posts: 1,275 ✭✭✭bpmurray


    My daughter did the Galway HDip and had the opportunity to do another year to get a masters. She had only a little web development experience before starting, so that sounds like a good way to do it.

    At that level, though, there's no particular "part" to get into: the major skills to learn are computational thinking and programming.


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    #3
    The Freeman
    Registered Users Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭The Freeman


    bpmurray wrote: »
    My daughter did the Galway HDip and had the opportunity to do another year to get a masters. She had only a little web development experience before starting, so that sounds like a good way to do it.

    At that level, though, there's no particular "part" to get into: the major skills to learn are computational thinking and programming.

    Thanks very much for the reply. I wold live to get some thoughts from some others in this thead At some stage:)


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    #4
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    Generally courses coverage most high level aspects of what you need to know so by doing the course you will figure out what type of a job you might want in an IT setting. The Galway course looks like it is focused on software development but I know there are other courses that for the first year are a mix of three strands, usually software, networking and operations and then after the first year you get to choose which strand you want to focus on. If you're not sure then looking for a course like this might suit you best?

    Unfortunately I don't think your banking degree will be relevant enough to get you in with a company in a role focussed somewhere in IT.


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    #5
    bpmurray
    Registered Users Posts: 1,275 ✭✭✭bpmurray


    Atomic Pineapple wrote: »
    Unfortunately I don't think your banking degree will be relevant enough to get you in with a company in a role focussed somewhere in IT.

    Actually I think it's a fantastic scalp to have. Many IT companies provide services/products to financial companies and/or financial functions within companies, so having a domain knowledge is really useful. I certainly wouldn't pay it down! Have you considered approaching this from that aspect rather than the programming side?


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    #6
    The Freeman
    Registered Users Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭The Freeman


    bpmurray wrote: »
    Actually I think it's a fantastic scalp to have. Many IT companies provide services/products to financial companies and/or financial functions within companies, so having a domain knowledge is really useful. I certainly wouldn't pay it down! Have you considered approaching this from that aspect rather than the programming side?

    Thanks to both if ye guys really appreciate the insight .

    How do you mean approaching it? Do you mean applicant g companies for employment or education?

    Thanks guys


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    #7
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    bpmurray wrote: »
    Actually I think it's a fantastic scalp to have. Many IT companies provide services/products to financial companies and/or financial functions within companies, so having a domain knowledge is really useful. I certainly wouldn't pay it down! Have you considered approaching this from that aspect rather than the programming side?

    Sorry I wasn't clear, it would indeed be very beneficial in getting a job with an IT company involved in that field, what I meant is I don't think it will be useful with regards to getting a foot in the door for an IT job without having the necessary education or work experience to back it up.

    I thought the OP was asking if his degree would help him get into a starting/beginner/graduate type role in an IT position in a company like that without the need to do an in depth course at an education centre and it was from this angle I was playing down its relevancy.


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    #8
    The Freeman
    Registered Users Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭The Freeman


    Atomic Pineapple wrote: »
    Sorry I wasn't clear, it would indeed be very beneficial in getting a job with an IT company involved in that field, what I meant is I don't think it will be useful with regards to getting a foot in the door for an IT job without having the necessary education or work experience to back it up.

    I thought the OP was asking if his degree would help him get into a starting/beginner/graduate type role in an IT position in a company like that without the need to do an in depth course at an education centre and it was from this angle I was playing down its relevancy.

    Your last paragraph is spot on pineapple. I was more looking for an opportunity for a possible shortcut than a position in it banking field.


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    #9
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,651 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    The Freeman wrote: »
    Your last paragraph is spot on pineapple. I was more looking for an opportunity for a possible shortcut than a position in it banking field.

    You might not want to do it. But you could get a job in banking and do an IT qualification at night. Theres a lot of IT work in banking. You might be able to get on some IT projects that way. But I don't think theres any shortcuts into IT anymore. They want the qualifications.


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