Is it possible

[PullMyFinger]

I am considering a career change and am interested in doing the mcse and wondered if anyone on here has done it or has any views on it as a route into a career in IT.

[ictchris]

Certainly if you want to go in that direction it's probably worthwhlie. I work in IT and didn't even know what it stood for but IT is a varied market - I don't need a great deal of technical knowledge for my job but if you were wanting to work as a contracter or something like that then a Microsoft qualification would be good to get. I thought about going for a Cisco qualification but it's pretty expensive and I went into another area instead.

I do think that getting some actual experience under your belt is as important as getting qualifications - dealing with on the job issues and problems is probably of more interest to a potential employer than having a certain qualification.

[PullMyFinger]

Certainly if you want to go in that direction it's probably worthwhlie. I work in IT and didn't even know what it stood for but IT is a varied market - I don't need a great deal of technical knowledge for my job but if you were wanting to work as a contracter or something like that then a Microsoft qualification would be good to get. I thought about going for a Cisco qualification but it's pretty expensive and I went into another area instead.

I do think that getting some actual experience under your belt is as important as getting qualifications - dealing with on the job issues and problems is probably of more interest to a potential employer than having a certain qualification.

How do I get experience without a job/job without qualification? I'm no spring chicken btw.

[WYNESS101]

Certainly if you want to go in that direction it's probably worthwhlie. I work in IT and didn't even know what it stood for but IT is a varied market - I don't need a great deal of technical knowledge for my job but if you were wanting to work as a contracter or something like that then a Microsoft qualification would be good to get. I thought about going for a Cisco qualification but it's pretty expensive and I went into another area instead.

I do think that getting some actual experience under your belt is as important as getting qualifications - dealing with on the job issues and problems is probably of more interest to a potential employer than having a certain qualification.

How do I get experience without a job/job without qualification? I'm no spring chicken btw.

Maybe the college is running a few IT classes at nights. Be worth having a look?

[PullMyFinger]

Certainly if you want to go in that direction it's probably worthwhlie. I work in IT and didn't even know what it stood for but IT is a varied market - I don't need a great deal of technical knowledge for my job but if you were wanting to work as a contracter or something like that then a Microsoft qualification would be good to get. I thought about going for a Cisco qualification but it's pretty expensive and I went into another area instead.

I do think that getting some actual experience under your belt is as important as getting qualifications - dealing with on the job issues and problems is probably of more interest to a potential employer than having a certain qualification.

How do I get experience without a job/job without qualification? I'm no spring chicken btw.

Maybe the college is running a few IT classes at nights. Be worth having a look?

Thanks, I'll do that.

[Yngwie]

How do I get experience without a job/job without qualification? I'm no spring chicken btw.

Generally you either have to start at the bottom, or know people in high places. Or if you are currently working, wangle a way of doing a few hours here and there in the IT department?

And practice saying, over and over again, "Have you tried turning it off then switching it on again" in a bored and patronising manner.

Although, noting from another thread that you browse with Internet Explorer, perhaps you are not cut out for IT

[Heilandee]

I tried the very same thing quite a few years ago,enrolled with Computeach for the MCSE course,and actually found the study quite enjoyable at the start but it's seriously difficult finding enough time to get to the level required if your working full time.I took a job at Cap Gemini on the help desks as this allowed study as well as a wee insight into the IT world but the pay wasnae great and after a few months the reality's of life kicked in and i had to return to my "day job" I would say opertunities are few and far between up here for the more mature trainee and depending on your salary expectations you may be disapointed as the decent bucks don't start till your well up the qualified tree.I managed to pass the MCP for windows 2000 but found the learning curve too steep at my time of life to complete the MCSE and have long since given up all thoughts of making a living in the IT world.Good luck though,if you chose to go ahead.

[Scotty]

Maybe my experience is similar to yours .... I always liked IT, had a computer since the days of the Spectrum, Vic20, Commodore64 etc !!! Learned to do a little programming in BASIC and then not much else other than play games (I was young). Before the Internet became widely popular, I also ran a BBS which was basically a dialup message board but these sort of things and others like FidoNet were swallowed up by the net.

Got on the net and was given some webspace by my provider and thats when I started doing web design. Very basic back then, most of it was, but as i expanded I got more into computers. Started tinkering about with changing components and such like and got a feel for building them, ended up doing what would now be classified as tech support in one of my jobs because "i knew computers" and then continued to try and learn "hands on".

By the time I left Inverness to come over to Canada I had loads of knowledge but no formal IT skills. There was no way I was getting a job in IT without them so I went back to college and did a Tech Support Analyst Diploma which was combined with A+ and Network+ certifications and basically qualified me to work in levels 1 or 2 in Tech Support. I did consider doing MCP or MCSE or even CISSP but decided not to when I got offered a job at the Globe and Mail newspaper (Canada's #1 National Broadsheet). I worked as tech support for their website and basically advised our readers on their issues - cookies, browser issues, layout problems etc. I also had to troubleshoot any issues that were on our side and pass them to the relevant people - journalists, web designers, programmers, database guys etc.

From there I was headhunted by my current firm on the basis that they found the expression "CAD Design" on my C.V. [this was based on my time as a kitchen salesman at MFI!!] and that I was currently working in IT for a reputable employer even though the job they wanted me for had little to do with "helpdesk" style tech support. Since then, I havent looked back and now I basically look after all of our software licensing for global products, advise other offices on local products, run several servers, do a lot of technical writing [install instructions, FAQs etc] and basically keep everything in that area ticking over. Its totally different to what I was doing at the Globe and if I am honest, far more enjoyable !

However, thats the thing about IT ..... If I were still at the Globe I might have progressed to doing Web Design as my primary position and would have looked for further formal qualifications in things like PHP, SQL, CSS etc but even though my career took a big turn between leaving Inverness (as a Kitchen Designer) and arriving at the Globe I would say it has taken another big turn between leaving the Globe and ending up with my current employers ... I am still "IT" but my area of expertise is now different and if you asked me to resit my Tech Suppot exams again tomorrow I would probably fail as I no longer deal with the hands on stuff on a day to day basis ! I would be more likely to look at Project Management or oher business qualifications to progress higher up the IT management chain than further my IT ones .....

So I guess what I am really saying is that if you want to work in IT, you have to realise it is a very broad field and have an idea of which bit you want to work in and then target your learning so you are qualified to do it ..... Want to work in Helpdesk? You cant go wrong with things like A+, Network+, MCP etc .... Want to get to a higher level in Helpdesk (Tier2 or Tier3 or higher) then MCSE is a good one to get. Want to specialise in a particular area then you would go for CISSP if security interests you or CSS, Flash, SQL, PHP, ASP etc if web design is your thing etc etc etc ......

If you are interested in IT, When i get the chance I will look out some of the email newsletters I get sent which detail whats 'hot' and what's 'not' these days ...... I get these things all the time and they focus on what the "in demand" qualifications are and which ones are starting to look like dinosaurs.

[PullMyFinger]

Acronyms and stuff.

If you are interested in IT, When i get the chance I will look out some of the email newsletters I get sent which detail whats 'hot' and what's 'not' these days ...... I get these things all the time and they focus on what the "in demand" qualifications are and which ones are starting to look like dinosaurs.

I'd really appreciate that Scotty, cheers.

[Scarlet Pimple]

Cor Blimey--where did I miss the boat. ?

Now it's all Greek to me and, being retired , I really don't care

[Scarlet Pimple]

[Scotty]

I'd really appreciate that Scotty, cheers.

Prepare for some links:

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Management/Hot...CSM01262010STR1

http://www.cioinsight.com/c/a/Careers/20-I...KNLEDP02262010A

http://www.channelinsider.com/c/a/Careers/...KNLEDP01152010A

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Management/16-...KNLEDP11242009A

http://www.activetechpros.com/landing.htm?...p;ctype=default

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/career/?...amp;tag=nl.e101

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things...amp;tag=nl.e101

If you also browse these sites in general you will probably find more interesting articles .....

[PullMyFinger]

Thanks Scotty, much appreciated.