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Thread: Where to start (Computer course's)

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    Where to start (Computer course's)

    Hello ,I'm 16 years old and at the moment I'm jobless,But I'm looking to pay for an online course in programming or Computer maintenance to help my chances of getting a job from low to Skyhigh.But i don't know where to start looking for a course i can't go to college as i failed my Gcse's Badly,I know most on here are pc Geeks so i thought I'd ask

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    Theoretical Element Spud1's Avatar
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    Re-sit your GCSE's if you can, they are essential qualifications these days for getting a job. You need GCSE's to get into college, and therefore get A-levels or equivalent, and then get to uni. Even then you arn't guarenteed a job...

    Personally I dont think that any number of courses can help unless its on top of A-levels or a Degree...Feel free to disagree but even low level technician jobs seem to require Alevels/GCSE's these days

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    HEXUS.social member Allen's Avatar
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    I'd get at least Mathematics, Science and English GCSE's, they are considered essential for any job!

    Other than that you could do an MCP or two and head for either an MCSA or MCSE, or go down the Cisco route with CCNA? A+ and N+ are two other reasonable choices I think which should comfortably lead to something else a little higher.

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    Senior Member Kezzer's Avatar
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    Yup, GCSE's are a pre-requisite for anything nowadays. If you don't have them, you can't do anything. Even online courses in computers recommend that you have either GCSE's to a standard level or A levels. There's no point trying to get anywhere without the starting qualifications, it's like jumping in the deep end of the pool when you can't swim

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    Junior Senior Member Aaron's Avatar
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    If you want a job programming then a degree is virtually essential these days, unless you've got many years of experience.

    Other parts of IT are very competitive and I think you'll really struggle to find anything paying more than £10k a year without GCSEs.

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    Oh I don't care about the money (Well I do a little bit),I Just want to be part of something thats hard to do,I wouldn't mind working for a website company I'd love to make websites with all the flash and stuff be cool.

    Retaking my Gsce's would be hard really hard thats why I'm looking for course's or learning it myself.

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    Will work for beer... nichomach's Avatar
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    Phil, I'm sorry to be harsh, but I couldn't even consider a candidate that didn't have the basics, GCSE-wise, if only because a lack of basic literacy and numeracy skills could make communication with them damned near impossible. You need them. It's as simple as that.

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    I have the same qualifications as you Phil... none (Above D in GCSE)...

    Right now i'm an I.T. Manager for a company (Less than 20 staff before you all jump on your high horses) because of the skills i've developed in my own time.
    I started when I was 12 with HTML, 13.. Javascript, 14.. PHP, 15.. PHP and MySQL.

    Right now i'm 17 and i'm learning how to manage a Windows 2003 server when i'm not developing the company website or maintaining the software I developed (Clicky)

    My advice is just determination. If you really want to do something, prove it. Put the effort in.
    Last edited by Michael; 07-06-2005 at 04:45 PM.

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    HEXUS.social member Allen's Avatar
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    IT Manager at 17 with no GCSE's? Who did you have to sleep with to get that job?

    Seriously, you're kidding, right?

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    I started in Telesales. One of the "dialers" (Computers using a rather expensive Dialogic card) went down. They got some fat greasy freelance IT tech in at £120 a day that couldnt fix it. I spent a few hours on it and had it working again. That and i've made the system thats eliminated 90% of paperwork from the office.

    I'm in my own office now and have 5% profit-share in the company

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    Now with added sobriety Rave's Avatar
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    Fair play then mate.

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    HEXUS.social member Allen's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rave
    Fair play then mate.
    Ditto.

    Quite lucky too, I think!

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    If not GCSE's why not look at NVQ's or similar. I fecked up my GCSE's, went to college and did a multi-media course (GCSE equivalent, 1 Year) from that I went onto GNVQ in Art and design (A Level equivalent, 2 Years) which could have taken me to a degree if I wanted. (Instead I joined a metal band, but thats another story)

    I hated the school environment but loved my time at college. This was 10 years ago now. There are other ways if you really don't want to do your GCSE's again.

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    we'll see about that... alterion's Avatar
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    GCSE's are a prerequisite.. you really should be able to get a C or above in maths and english to be considered for any job... and i would really advise going to do an a-level equivalent Michael was lucky.. you really have to be determined to get a decent job nowadats especialy in ict..infact the only area of IT that i think still has demand is Anti-Virus companies.. sophos seems to have jobs a lot adverstied near here buut that is simply cause it is so darn hard.. but REALLY TAKE MATHS AND ENGLISH again.. you will never get a decent job without them
    AMD3000+ ATIX800XL + GBNF44x mobo.. all at stock because they're good enough atm + CA A1 amp-->Mission 73S Loigtech MX1000 + 1GB ram + 1/3 TB HD array
    Wintendo XP + Linux (when it works) .. just incase you were wondering

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    Well tomorrow I'm going to the job centre to see what kind of Advice they will give me then I'll get back you people

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    My hat does indeed come off for you Michael, you landed yourself pretty well there! Surely though you must recognise you were incredibly lucky to secure that sort of job at that age?

    I'm going to have to say get your GCSEs like everyone has said. For a start not to be rude but to pass Intermediate GCSE maths should be a doodle if your even considering Programming / IT. Every single Computer Science course I've looked at recommends A Level Maths with A Level Further Maths being recommended alongside. I'll not insult anyone by saying they are anywhere near essential to complete the courses, thousands have managed without, but Maths concepts are really integral to programming and Informatics in general.

    Unless you get lucky like Michael without qualifications and/or vast swathes of experience getting a job is pretty difficult. I'm about to start a 5 year MEng course in September on Computer Science and Electronic Engineering with probably a placement year on top of that - be dammed if I know I'm getting a job at the end of it

    No harm to you like but I hope any potential firms would hire me over someone without any experience or qualifications.

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