How qualified are you?

[wilksj01]

Hello,

After years of slogging away to get a decent career I am now considering doing a distance learning course and have had some good advice about in terms of are these comparable to degrees gained from going to uni.

The purpose of this thread is to see what kind of qualifications the Hexus community has and if it has helped them in their chosen career. If possible please say what career, qualification etc.

Just think your post could help shape my future!

[fat jez]

Hi,

I'm a Systems Engineer for a Northern Irish Telecoms company (AePONA). I work on large server systems running custom databases which sit within the Orange telecommunications network.

My degree is a BEng in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from Strathclyde Uni. I am also a Member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

My degree basically got me onto the graduate training scheme at Orange, but other than that, I've used none of it since.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Stephen

[IBM]

BA Hons in Interactive Multimedia Communications .... helped me up to a point, the course had programming and web dev elements, and I used them through and through for the first six years after uni. I still do, and I'm very glad that I did that degree.

Now I've progressed, and need a different set of skills, so I've just started an MBA and hope that'll help with my current businesses...

[pollaxe]

B.A. (Hons) and PhD in History. I work in I.T.

Any qualification will prove you have the nous/commitment to any employer I would say but probably (says the voice of experience) tailor your qualifications to your subject. No education is ever really wasted though.

[Kilmatead]

I studied philosophy in university. Now I do hard landscaping, quite happily. Qualified me to be the most well-read brick-layer around, though. So, uh, no connection at all, I'm afraid. And I even went to school in America where (shock of shocks) you actually have to pay real money for that nonsense. Much better off thinking for yourself, and just smiling quietly when people waffle about their "training"...

But then again, white-collar crime could be lucrative...

[JPreston]

BSc Mathematics - best bragging rights of any undergraduate degree

I then qualified as a chartered accountant, ACA. Least bragging rights of any profession

Now I am in business on my own account, basically consulting and bits and bobs here and there. I use the maths more than the ACA, but neither get dusted off that often TBH.

Distance learning - what like Open University? Yeah it's good, go for it especially if it's something you are interested in, is useful (i.e. a little bit vocational), and transferable.

[Butcher]

5 A-levels - Games programmer. Didn't bother with a degree just got straight into it.

[Fraz]

MSci in Physics with Astrophysics
PhD in High Energy Physics

I am now a High Energy physicist currently involved in writing control software for the commissioning and long-term running of the triggering hardware on one of the new CERN Large Hadron Collider experiments (CMS), so I guess that worked out pretty nicely for me

[redlight]

In the eighties as a mature student in Scotland,ONC Computer Aided Engineering,HND Analyst Programmer,
Got my self a place down south at uni studying hardware engineering,
I became totally disillusioned with the whole system quit and became a postman and lived happily ever after.
Well until I had to take ill-health retirement in 1999.

[Whiternoise]

MSci in Physics with Astrophysics
PhD in High Energy Physics

I am now a High Energy physicist currently involved in writing control software for the commissioning and long-term running of the triggering hardware on one of the new CERN Large Hadron Collider experiments (CMS), so I guess that worked out pretty nicely for me

Stoled as a role model

Seriously though, i'm looking to start an MPhys next year hopefully specialising in astro Had a look at the LHC earlier this year.. really is a beast of engineering..

[wombar]

BSC (Hons) in Computing (Specialising in Game Development)

Gave me a foot on the ladder to get into web design (never hurts to have a degree) but I've now moved away from that and run my own company doing a range of web services (web dev, SEO, graphics etc). Personally, I would say that degrees and formal qualifications are becoming less important in certain areas of IT (3D Modelling, Games development & especially web design).

For corporate/big business work, qualifications are essential. Smaller/Medium businesses, I've seen a trend more towards proving you've got the skills instead of a certificate.

[finlay666]

A Levels currently my best finished qualification

Currently doing a BSC (sandwich) in Computer Game Software Engineering

Basic interest in ICT gave me the chance to do work undercutting local people setting up some networks for the company I used to work for (would get £30-60 an hour when I had to do it)

[Mullet]

BA in Geography, currently in 2nd year of p/t MSc in Technology for Teaching and Learning. Work now managing a small team of people building elearning modules for distance learning application.

[CMC]

my highest qualifications so far are a levels, im currently on a placement year as part of my BSc in Computing & Information Technology...


but i wanna be a photographer...

[LWA]

BEng in Software Engineering.

The degree helped me get me a job as a Software Engineer and I'm now a project manager.

[tiggerai]

BEng Internet Engineering (see above, almost the same as Software Engineering but with Internet based specialisation in third year)

Helped me get a technical support job, leading on to a Web Support Manager / Project Manager, then going to attempt to branch out into Web Development.