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Thread ID: 138260	2014-10-31 03:43:00	Need some IT study guidance	auckward (17306)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1387420	2014-10-31 03:43:00	Hi all, I'm wanting to get some thoughts on my next move for IT study. Some background, i'm in my mid 20's, left school early and did basic retail jobs until I started working for a big enterprise for the last 8 years. Done very well for myself noting lack of uni education and have been in the world if supporting end users (non IT service desk however) but at a large project level without being a project manager. Basically the business has a problem, I go in and find out what they really need, if we have it, implement it. Otherwise work with IT to resolve it. It's a go to person type role and i'm constantly engaged with sections of IT on everything. Anyways i'm alright with IT and tech, build computers, troubleshoot most issues easily, limited knowledge with Windows Server, IIS, basic network understanding. If I was to say "where do I see myself" it would be in a sysman role or something involving servers, working on implementing business solutions and maintaining infrastructure. I have no IT quals but have my foot in the door to go right into a sysman role when it's next available (I've applied before but just missed the boat due to something like experience in the role was more needed and they didn't have time to get someone in to train up) Obviously as a enterprise, everything is specialized and silo'd and I don't want to limit myself IT wise to just that, makes leaving hard as you only know one thing. So far these are some options open to me: 1. Self-study A+ and N+ then do a Diploma in Information Technology at Unitec next year (gives you the basic type of server stuff IIRC) 2. Seek Learning have offered me A+, N+, MCITP Win7, MCSA Win8, ITIL V3 & CCNA for $1500AUD (Lasts 2 years so have plenty of time) and includes 24/7 book access and virtual labs to use. 3. Some other training track, be it a 3 year degree, or something else? Any help would be great, I know IT (especially in enterprise) is changing a lot with visualization so movement in skill-sets is important to do first off.	auckward (17306)
1387421	2014-10-31 04:12:00	Get some qualifications - Microsoft? - anything Personnel don't know nowt. They go by hard facts to cover themselves	BBCmicro (15761)
1387422	2014-10-31 08:55:00	If you are considering options, learning about setting up or designing cloud services would be well worth while since that is what most enterprise businesses are getting into.	Webdevguy (17166)
1387423	2014-11-02 20:49:00	Hi all, Anyways i'm alright with IT and tech, build computers, troubleshoot most issues easily, limited knowledge with Windows Server, IIS, basic network understanding. If I was to say "where do I see myself" it would be in a sysman role or something involving servers, working on implementing business solutions and maintaining infrastructure. To be brutally honest, every man & his dog can do that ;) .... so you need skills & experience that all the others dont have Getting into the higher end of IT : server admin etc wont be easy, unless its through where you currently work. If you have your foot in the door, seriously consider your employment chances if you leave to study full time .	1101 (13337)
1387424	2014-11-03 09:52:00	You may be best off finding yourself a role with a company that implements specialist software, such as CRM packages, and becoming a project manager / implementation specialist there. Study general networking, rather than Windows / IIS. If anything though I'd suggest looking into professional project manager type courses, rather than something IT-specific.	Chilling_Silence (9)
1387425	2014-11-04 09:17:00	To be brutally honest, every man & his dog can do that ;) .... so you need skills & experience that all the others dont have Getting into the higher end of IT : server admin etc wont be easy, unless its through where you currently work. If you have your foot in the door, seriously consider your employment chances if you leave to study full time . Oh yeah don't get me wrong, I was more trying to paint a picture of where i'm at currently. e.g. no point sending someone through A+ if they have done server builds/customer service for 5 years as an example :D I def have a foot in the door, i'm more just looking to A) secure some official certs/whatever to back me or B) make a bigger point of study to have options if I was to take said foot out the door and say move company/town/country. You may be best off finding yourself a role with a company that implements specialist software, such as CRM packages, and becoming a project manager / implementation specialist there. Study general networking, rather than Windows / IIS. If anything though I'd suggest looking into professional project manager type courses, rather than something IT-specific. Yep that could be the go in regards to a more specialized tech company, i've dabbled in being a specialist of a particular financial CRM and was at one point the only qualified trainer for it (moved on though) I'm honestly not keen on the business side of IT anymore, done it for 7 years and looking to be more involved with tech (understand you never leave it, totally get that) and after working side by side with PM's, BA's and Architecture type roles I would hate to go into it. Getting out of bed for a high pace/driven and stressful role like those would do my head in. It's like being hungry for a pie, making said pie and putting it into the shop front but never actually getting to eat the pie haha! At least with sysman type roles you get to taste it at least. Future role goals aren't set, i'm more just looking for something to start with, i've already gone through A+, just doing some tests/more study on it before I do my first attempt at the offical test. But if I got A+ and N+ really next step up is MCSA, the part i'm trying to get some guidance around is should I ship the "lowbie" stuff and jump into a years study part-time (like the unitec one) while working full time, or do I go for it and blast 3 years study.	auckward (17306)
1387426	2014-11-05 05:07:00	I think if you research the courses you have listed the MCSE for example includes the A + modules, you should also consider CCNA, and get some Linux experance.	beama (111)
1387427	2014-11-05 05:56:00	I think if you research the courses you have listed the MCSE for example includes the A + modules, you should also consider CCNA, and get some Linux experance. Without knowing the course itself, do you think it would have a bigger/better scope of knowledge then just a MCSA?	auckward (17306)
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