Careers advice needed...

[Hyper]

Hey all,

I am 17 (turning 18 in October) and I am just about to finish my IT Technical Support role at College which consisted of the usual CCNA 1 & 2, IT Essentials 1 & 2 and some other projects and software based assignements. The course is a NVQ Level 3 and is apparantly the equivalent to 1 A level.

Just wondering what you guys think I should do, I only see myself having two options really:

1. Leave college this year and look at going straight into IT Support, was wondering what wage I could be looking at and if it would be the best option.

2. Or I can stay at College for another 2 years and do another IT course and then the College is trying to get us to go to Uni (although I dont pertically want to).

Would I get a better job by staying on another 2 years at college and then going onto a job or getting a job now and gaining 2 years expierence?

Thanks, Sam

 

[llwyd]

IMO, spending another few years in education would only benefit you if you A. were going for a very specific job or B. you went to uni and earned a higher qualification than you have now. An HND and an ND looks better than two NDs dont you think.

And if you go into full time work while still living at home you will be able to save up a fair bit of money very fast, letting you move out or whatever you might want to. Personally, that's the route I wish to take.

 

[deathwish]

i would suggest going on to do some more quailifications

after collage i went on to do a mcdst comptia A+ and Net+ for free at zenos i also have the opitunity to complete a mcsa all funded by the goverment

and those quaifications got me my first fulltime job on my first interview

so definatly well worth getting the qualifications

jobs earning 13000 a year

 

[mrapoc]

I'm on a BTEC national diploma ICT blah blah blah equivalent to 3 x A levels. Well worth doing and u wud probably find it easy due to already have done most of the stuff before. Altho it cud be tedious!

I would recommend to you going as far as you can in terms of education. The IT profession has plenty of people going into the lower end of the IT spectrum (the guys who get called out etc.) but the real money imo is in the higher end. I'd take whatever chance you have to expand to your full potential and get the best job you can in such a competitive area.

GL HF

 

[Hyper]

Thanks for the advice guys,

I have just contacted an apprentiship branch which I went to last year but had no joy due to not having any specific IT qualifications.

Hopefully they will still have my details on their system and will get back to me with any placements.

 

[FarFarAway]

I'd go to work or get an apprentiship mate, once you're in, you're in and experience counts. Try to get an employer who will pay for you to do some more quals