MYOB wrote: » Don't bother with the ECDL. Its 100% worthless in an IT role - it is a secretarial qualificaiton. Look at getting an MCSA before the CCNP. Maybe even the CCNA. Many more places use Windows than use Cisco gear. You likely don't need to volunteer anywhere at all - there is currently a horrendous skills shortage in IT and we've had trouble finding L1 support people for months now.
Kinet1c wrote: » I'd agree with MYOB on the ECDL, unless you're completely new to computers then skip it. CompTIA/Network+ will help you get your entry level roles but even the knowledge will help you. Get reading asap. Once you've started your career path, you'll get a feel for what area you want to specialise in.
PDAWN wrote: » Thanks for the response!! That's reassuring- i was really worried I would find it extremely difficult getting my foot in the door! So basically you're saying: A+ > NET+ MCSA ??
MYOB wrote: » Yes. The A+ might also be unneeded but that's really up to you - its not a bad certification at all, but it doesn't prove much. If I was back where you were I'd look at the Net+ books and practice tests. Kinet1c is correct in that the CompTIA certs will get you an entry level role on their own. I'm currently in an senior field engineer / sysadmin (due to what we sell) role having gone from Leaving Cert -> call centre -> MCSE + CCENT -> current role. I have SQL and IIS/Sharepoint certification also but it was picked up along the way more than anything. When I was getting the MCSE I did seriously consider the A+ as it was swappable for one of the 7 MCSE exams on the old system (this was nearly a decade ago) but decided against it - on reflection I would have prefered the variety as otherwise I ended up doing three nearly identical exams on Active Directory.
PDAWN wrote: » Thanks again for your in depth answers- there is so much crap on the Internet so it's refreshing to hear positive news from someone actually in a networking position. How long did it take you to get into a networking position?
MYOB wrote: » I was in a field role within about 20 months of my leaving cert - via a completely unrelated job (in a TV station), helldesk for British Telecom and then phone support for the company I still work for. Its networking, server admin and software support for the software my employer writes. They would like someone in my role to have a degree but they have the sense to realise its not always going to happen - that said, I'm getting a degree through the Open University at the moment to try get further advancement. I get paid enough to afford buying a house and having a fast (if extremely cheap) car on the driveway, so I'm happy out in that regard.
Kinet1c wrote: » Early in your career you'll spend most of your time in front of the customer... that customer could be internal or external and you'll most likely take a lot of crap. Keep smiling and get the job done.
PDAWN wrote: » That gives me a lot of hope. I have myself driven mad looking at job adverts requiring a degree in a technical field. I lived in Scotland for four years. Had my own chauffeur car company that went tits up. Back in Ireland two years now but am going back to Scotland ASAP as my 3 year old daughter and girlfriend are still living there. She can't come here as she's a school teacher and doesn't speak irish. My plan is to avail of FAS and get my certs for free. I'm working as a truck driver part time but my dream would be to complete a few certs, move back to Scotland and get an entry level role. Then, if possible, up skill with CCNP,CCIE, MCSE etc and hopefully hit the £50k mark in within 5 years. Do you reckon this is possible? I seem to have a natural flair for computers with a genuine interest and I'm very motivated.
wexie wrote: » I can confirm this, most likely external customer if you end up in a callcenter. Which can be hard work and very stressfull depending on what you're doing. But it depends on what you're there for. A lot of company also have a wealth of online training available to you and quite a few of them will pay for exams if they're related to what you're doing. My employer have their own Pearson Vue exam centre onsite. So regardless of what a lot of people say call centres can definitely be a good way to get ahead. And from what I know the guys were right on the ECDL, don't do it, yes it's a cert but it won't be taken very seriously. (and if colleagues find out could well be the source of relentless slagging). Depending on where you want to go and what you want to do I can very much recommend looking into HyperV and VMware (you can download esx for free) and getting familiar with it. You'll probably won't get a Vmware cert as you can't take the exam without a course and the courses are very expensive if you have to pay for them but it's good to be familiar with it.
PDAWN wrote: » Can I go straight for my MCSE after doing the NET+ or should I do the MCSA to begin with??
MYOB wrote: » IT salaries are nowhere near as good in the UK with the exception of London and, from what I've seen, Leeds - due to the NHS IT being based there. .
wexie wrote: » I've a friend living near Edinburgh and he's very good and very experienced (mostly Commvault) and I'd say he's in London nearly every second week as the work just isn't there for him in Scotland. The problem is the more specialised you become the more you make. But the more specialised you become the fewer companies will have a fulltime place for you. So then you're looking at hardware vendors, consulting etc. Very few companies would have a fulltime Commvault guy for example, almost no companies (in Ireland) would have a dedicated storage administrator etc. etc. The 2 big things I see a skillsgap in at the moment are virtualisation, (although VMware really isn't that difficult) and converged networking.
PDAWN wrote: » What's the route for virtualisation?? I was looking at a job listing in Aberdeen a few weeks ago. It was for a network engineer with 3 years experience. No mention of a degree. Just CCNP, NET+ and then an outline of duties. £45k + healthcare + pension!!!
Kinet1c wrote: » I'm doing virtualisation self study right now. You definitely need entry level knowledge of networking/storage/OS' before looking at it.
Stereomaniac wrote: » Is that not what we are doing right now, or did I miss the joke entirely, as I see your smiley there?
wexie wrote: » Vmware are by far the most common (that I see anyway) but HyperV is catching up. Xen has only a tiny market share. Keep in mind though I may well have a somewhat distorted view of the market as I would exclusively see customers who have SAN's.
mbiking123 wrote: » With regard to CCNA, do it if you want and then follow with CCNP. just remember the 3 year issue. if you do CCNA then do CCNP within 3 years (and pass).
denlaw wrote: » I took the a+ through fas in a classroom setting, I was the oldest by 5 yrs in the class, they're were kids with degrees in all sorts from computer science to electrical engineering, one chap had a degree in chemistry and a few like myself who'd lost their jobs in the recession, half of them failed the two exam first time round mainly because they pissed about on facebook and twitter in class, I wouldn't mind as the tutor was sound and would go out of his way to help .. I view doing the a+ like doing the first yr of an apprenticeship and I have to laugh at some of the snobbish views I've seen on boards at the cert ...you've got to start somewhere ..
