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Thread: Question for those in I.T

  1. #1
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    Default Question for those in I.T

    I'm thinking about changing careers, I like my job, but It's such a waste of time and effort for 19$ an hour (light vehicle mechanic). I'm good at it, but alot of companies are downsizing due to the economic slowdown, and i cant be bothered finishing my apprenticeship only to find i cant get a job anywhere. So I'm thinking about doing Information Technology, as I don't mind it and I've done a bit here and there over the years.
    So, what is the best way to get into it? I have my HSC, but my uai wasn't so good so i dont think uni is an option, Would i be best getting a cert IV from tafe, or one of those private training collages? I had a look at distance education, but there isn't many options.

  2. #2
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    IT is shit.

    Finish your apprenticeship so you at least have something to fall back on.

  3. #3
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    How far into your apprenticeship are you? I'd highly recommend you finish your trade. Worst case scenario is you have three or four years left which in reality is absolutely nothing in the long run.

    If you're getting $19 p/h on apprentice wages you're doing fucking fantastic. If that's after you've completed the trade then still you're not doing too badly . Once you've finished you should have alot of the skills required to go onto bigger and better things - it's all down to how much you want something and the effort you're prepared to put in to get there. I know it sounds cliche` but hard does pay off.

    Depending on how long ago you did your HSC (did mine in '06) you can gain entry as a mature age student. If your still too young to get in as a mature age student TAFE is a good way to prep you for Uni. If you do well it's not hard to slip into Uni once completing a course.

    When I was leaving Highschool I was told that IT was a flooded industry with so many Uni entrants and not alot of job opportunities. But, recently I was told that skilled IT workers are pretty sort after.

    But I still stand in what I say. Go through with the apprenticeship.

  4. #4
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    Correct, they are now sort after from the best of my knowledge.

  5. #5
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    Yeh ive thought about it, im staying put for now. Work just has been pretty shit lately and I havent had my holidays yet, It'll get better hopefully. Also the 19$ an hour i mentioned is for a qualified tech, not for a 1st year.
    Last edited by Mickey H; 15th January 2009 at 05:02 PM.

  6. #6
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    What section of IT are you looking to get into and what sort of skills/experience do you already have?

    I'd recommend sticking with your trade.

    A lot of the entry level jobs for IT (Bigpond help desk for one) have gone offshore to the Philippines in the efforts of cost cutting, and this will only continue.

    Don't waste your time with TAFE if you want to go into a specialised field. Not to trivialise TAFE but as far as I'm concerned when it comes to IT it's a waste of time. Two of my friends went to TAFE full time for 4 years straight out of high school whilst I went to work in a variety of other industries. We're all in pretty much identical roles and on similar money now with different companies.

    Industry qualifications (Microsoft - MCP, MCDST, MCSE Cisco - CCNA etc), good communication skills, and experience are what's important.

    DBA is what I'd be looking at if I had my time over.

  7. #7
    Elite rthy's Avatar
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    Tafe will get you into the entry level help desk rolls, otherwise as above uni and ms certs will get u into the bigger bucks.
    30kw club

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