Looking for a computer course to take

[gino_76ph]

Hi there!
* This thread is a slight extension of what i had before.

I am a nurse who worked for the NHS for 10 years. I was being payed £31,000 per annum. I now managed to find a job for an agency as a community nurse but would like to take a course in IT/networking and computers as a "back-up" to my nursing and because it's like a second passion to me as i'm quite familiar with OSes, installing softwares, etc.

I would consider myself as an intermediate computer user but bordering on being an expert in minimal stuff.

I know there are hundreds of jobs that require certain qualifications to have. What i really want is a first-line telephone support advisor or analyst job. But in terms of job prospects i'd like to ask:
1. What course/s i need to take with this type of job?
2. Will i earn the same amount of salary with that type of job?

I have heard stuff like MCSE, CompTia A+ & Cisco but what do i need? I need to a course for me to start somewhere and to get a foot in the door if you like in the world of phone software support.

Thanks.

[petercook7]

Hi there!
* This thread is a slight extension of what i had before.

I am a nurse who worked for the NHS for 10 years. I was being payed £31,000 per annum. I now managed to find a job for an agency as a community nurse but would like to take a course in IT/networking and computers as a "back-up" to my nursing and because it's like a second passion to me as i'm quite familiar with OSes, installing softwares, etc.

I would consider myself as an intermediate computer user but bordering on being an expert in minimal stuff.

I know there are hundreds of jobs that require certain qualifications to have. What i really want is a first-line telephone support advisor or analyst job. But in terms of job prospects i'd like to ask:
1. What course/s i need to take with this type of job?
2. Will i earn the same amount of salary with that type of job?

I have heard stuff like MCSE, CompTia A+ & Cisco but what do i need? I need to a course for me to start somewhere and to get a foot in the door if you like in the world of phone software support.

Thanks.

Maybe do MCP desktop ( can't remember what it was called something like this)and compTia network, or maybe MCSA, do not bother with cisco.
and No you will not earn 31k but more like 16k to 22k, working in IT will turn a hobby into something you dislike.

[gino_76ph]

Hmm..interesting.

Found some stuff in Google saying something about "Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)" which is a 6 months to a year course (based on what the Microsoft website is saying) and this "Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)".

Which among the two would be "ideal" for me based on my level of experience with computers and my circumstance? Do you think i would need these Cisco courses as well?

I just want a course where i have my first foot in the door in a world of IT/computers/software. that's all.

Also, do you guys think if my job prospect would be better if i look for a job in video games as it also one my passion? (just asking)

[Guy]

The MCDST, MCSA, and MCSE are all old qualifications. They're not officially retired, but certainly not worth doing from scratch.

Either the MCITP, and MCTS in a specific area would be a good start, with possibly Network+ or similar.
For level 1 tech support, often an employer won't be looking for certs as they'll either send you on them, or will have an in house training scheme.

[petercook7]

there is a big difference between playing video games and working in the industry.
and no it is not worth you doing cisco.
You can do desktop and comp network plus them in 3 months or less, if you have a good understanding of the basics.
I would start with the network plus and then move onto the mcp certs, and what ever you do dont pick a specialised subject you havent even worked in IT. once you are in an IT job 3 months into the job start to look at networking and scripting courses, along with server side.

[gino_76ph]

Very interesting.

But may i ask is "Network+" another course or is it amongst the subject of A course or is it an "add-on"?

I'm thinking seriously about Level 1 computer/software/network support advisor or analyst (if those are the terms they are using now) like i said before.

[petercook7]

http://certification.comptia.org/get...s/network.aspx
then if you wish do ccna,so you'll have a good foundation for the exam.

[HalloweenJack]

i spent 10 years in the industry before i had had enough and got out - got to the point at even looking at a pc was simply painful, especially when you allready `know` why the machine is there in the first place ` no sir , its a new error called an eye dee ten tee error , sir`.

as for working in the gaming industry - its nothing like you imagine sorry to say - low wages and a pressure cooker enviroment = you have a role thats all you do and stare at lines of code, with a high turnover. unless you want to do it all yourself and self publish on steam

[gino_76ph]

Sorry the link doesn't seem to say much about Network+.

Would i need to take it if i want those kind of jobs i said earlier?

[petercook7]

Sorry the link doesn't seem to say much about Network+.

Would i need to take it if i want those kind of jobs i said earlier?

Its better to have it, than not.

[Guy]

Wikipedia have a fairly good brief rundown of the CompTIA qualifications.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompTIA

Network+ is a certification that is used to measure skill as a network technician: understanding of network hardware, installation, and troubleshooting. Network+ was first launched in 1999, and exam updates followed in 2002, 2005, and 2009. The 2009 version will be retired on August 31 2012; new objectives (the "2012 objectives") will begin to be examined in Nov/Dec 2011.
Topics include network hardware, connections, software, the OSI Reference model, and different protocols used in local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs).

Treat the CompTIA range as entry level qualifications, certainly give you a good grounding.

[gino_76ph]

Thanks for all your advice and suggestions. But, due to financial reasons (i.e. no funds to take a course) i have sadly decided not to pursue an IT/computer course for now.

May i ask when is the next term after this? (maybe i'll take it there once i have enough funds)

[Smudger]

You could buy the MCITP books on Amazon, last I looked, they were £90 or so. You can then read them at your own pace, build yourself a server* and get the experience. Then if you want to take the exam, you can book it at a time to suit you. If you decide not to pursue a career, You're only £90 out of pocket and you've got more of an understanding about how MS Networks work...

*Not as daunting as it sounds, my server is an AMD mATX setup with 8Gb of RAM and a 1TB disk - enough for 4 or 5 virtual machines...