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Developing programming or IT skills at home

  • 11-02-2020 11:21PM
    #1
    ARB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 ✭


    I may have to leave work shortly to care for a relative at home. I'm looking for ideas to:

    a) keep myself from going insane at home
    b) try to keep myself somewhat employable
    c) learn new skills and stop my brain turning to mush
    d) try to get into a career where I can work remotely

    I was thinking about self study of programming or some other aspect of IT. I already have a "piece of paper" - the Grad Diploma in IT from DCU, Level 9 but probably equivalent to about 1.5 years of the CA degree from the same institution. I did well in it (top 5 in class of 120) and enjoyed the Java and other programming but that is twenty years ago now. Since then, I have been employed in a scientific field and have done some mickey mouse SQL, VBA and web editing in addition to my core work.

    I have no idea if I still have any aptitude for this stuff. Am I wasting my time even thinking about this or does anyone have any suggestions. Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,596 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    GDY151


    There's a good thread in Bargain Alerts with free Udemy courses, good start to get in to new skills before shelling out for them...

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057198335&page=294


  • #3
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 11,189 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    Get yourself a $99 annual sub to https://subscribe.packtpub.com


  • #4
    kirkfx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 176 ✭✭kirkfx


    https://www.nand2tetris.org/

    Look into this, requires no prior knowledge and you will have a very very solid base to progress further.


  • #5
    ARB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 ✭ARB


    These all seem like great suggestions. Thank you and keep them coming!


  • #6
    Manach
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 9,871 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manach


    The Safari site, run by O'Reilly publishing is a good IT resource as it mirrors current industry trends and tech.


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  • #7
    OMM 0000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,733 ✭✭✭OMM 0000


    Just try to build something.

    You'll learn pretty quickly if you like it.

    I can recommend a book if you want to go down the web development route. It's called "Fullstack Vue".

    It'll hold your hand as it teaches you front-end development, and a small bit of back-end development.


  • #8
    feelthepower
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88 ✭✭feelthepower


    All Okay suggestions there but what you acutally need is proper IT certifications to boost your C.V. They can all be studied from home and then you book the exam online which are usually around 100 euro and go to a test center to do the exam. These are what companies want and not just some guy doing random Udemy courses.

    You need to pick an area that your interested, plenty of jobs in programming in but there's also stuff which is booming now like Cloud computing and Networking.

    education.oracle.com/java/java/pFamily_48 - Heres proper Java certification.

    Amazon, Microsoft all have cloud computing certifications that you can do in your spare time.

    Good luck.


  • #9
    tritriagain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,197 ✭✭✭tritriagain


    feelthepower wrote: »
    All Okay suggestions there but what you acutally need is proper IT certifications to boost your C.V. They can all be studied from home and then you book the exam online which are usually around 100 euro and go to a test center to do the exam. These are what companies want and not just some guy doing random Udemy courses.

    You need to pick an area that your interested, plenty of jobs in programming in but there's also stuff which is booming now like Cloud computing and Networking.

    education.oracle.com/java/java/pFamily_48 - Heres proper Java certification.

    Amazon, Microsoft all have cloud computing certifications that you can do in your spare time.

    Good luck.
    I am in same situation. Made redundant and would like to use redundancy and time to retrain. Interested in Java se course. What would the realistic chance of gaining employment from that course alone. I'm 47 would this go against me.


  • #10
    OMM 0000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,733 ✭✭✭OMM 0000


    tritriagain wrote: »
    I am in same situation. Made redundant and would like to use redundancy and time to retrain. Interested in Java se course. What would the realistic chance of gaining employment from that course alone. I'm 47 would this go against me.

    IT is notoriously ageist.

    What is your background? Could you transfer some of your skills?

    For example, business analyst, QA, tech support, project manager, management...

    By all means give programming a try.


  • #11
    feelthepower
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88 ✭✭feelthepower


    tritriagain wrote: »
    I am in same situation. Made redundant and would like to use redundancy and time to retrain. Interested in Java se course. What would the realistic chance of gaining employment from that course alone. I'm 47 would this go against me.

    Depends what area you want to get into. Probably the handiest would be an IT helpdesk role which usually pay 28K-38K and then you develop your skills to be come a sys admin.

    If you want to get your foot right in the door maybe have a look at the Comptia + exams, Microsoft Windows 10 exams.

    These are probably the handiest ones to get started in IT.

    Programming is a whole different ball game.


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