Further education choices for IT

[Bugz]

I got four to choose for next year (year 12)

I'm currently defiently looking at:

IT
Maths

I'm leaning towards learning IT for University.

What other subjects are going to be useful for any IT-based jobs?

 

[MaCaBr3]

I never did any IT studies, but I'm in the IT sector, really depends what u wanna do because there are two mayor choices I guess: networking and programming.

I'm network engineer and VoIP is gonna be the future, think there'll be enough job oportunities in that field.

I don't know enough of the programming sector because you probably have to specialize urself into whatever code appeals to you the most.

 

[Alan]

When recruiting for a junior role, we looked for the basics IT, maths and english.

No matter what role you do within IT there is going to be the dreaded "Documentation" word

 

[Solo]

physics or maths

 

[old.Tohtori]

And now for the designer comment:

Truckdriving or hamburger flipping 'cause you'll need it

 

[uron]

ello, im in my first year of 6th form..doing AS's atm.
im doing Computing, bit of programming and lots of theory, its pretty easy tbh. purly from a jobs pov u cant really go wrong with sumthing like economics or buisness studies imo, i do economics and i really like it.
best thing to do is talk to ur careers advisor or something like tht, it helps to make sure u do the right subject for the job ur thinking of. also make sure u do subjects u like, lots of ppl have hated subjects this year and dropped em ect.. remember u will most likley be doing every subject pretty much every day, so choose summin u like

 

[Naffets]

I'm in the IT sector, i got standard gcse's (8 in total, mostly B's) and a GNVQ intermediate level in ICT.

Guess I was lucky tho Got my foot in the door when i was 16, been working fulltime since. I'm now responsible for training staff on two continents

 

[Darzil]

Philosophy used to be the big one in programming, cos it teaches you how to think logically.

Did Electronic Engineering with heavy IT content, personally.

Darzil

 

[Mey]

You mean i may just find a purpose for my Philosophy a-level! o.0

 

[Gamah]

I'm going the private certification route for IT i'll let you know how it works out in 2 years '_'

 

[DocWolfe]

I never did maths or IT at a-level... maths is a good one... but a-level IT is dogshite from what I've heard. Physics is pretty good too.

 

[Chronictank]

I got four to choose for next year (year 12)

I'm currently defiently looking at:

IT
Maths

I'm leaning towards learning IT for University.

What other subjects are going to be useful for any IT-based jobs?

dont do IT, its a complete waste of time you wont learn anything useful unless your a completely new to common apps such as MS Access

Subjects you are doing in school are pretty insignificant to employers, Maths looks good on the old cv do whatever you need to get into a good uni for the other. Its your degree that matters not your a-levels

 

[tris-]

I'm leaning towards learning IT for University.

not sure whyd you need either.

i came to uni with 10 GCSE A-C, half an AVCE and an uncompleted GNVQ. im now studying a course which is only available at 3 unis in the UK of GB. i past the first year with 72%.

A-levels are over rated. leave school and get a job. aslong as you can rake in about 750 a month and buy all the snazzy shit (massive TV, consoles etc) you cant really go wrong.

i didnt anyway. and i was on 850 a month before i got to uni

concering IT though, if you really want to do it, id suggest not bothering. i studied my AVCE in ICT. was fucking shite. i did my GNVQ for the council installing and reparing PCs, was fucking shite. 20k a year tops as a techy? no thank you. once you get in IT your pretty much stuck in it for life.

 

[Dreamor]

Like people have said, it depends on what you want to do - as to courses etc.

I went down the Apprenticeship route, it was easy and paid me an ok salary. Some companys prefer experience over qualifications, as the paper may only ensure you have a basic understanding (if that)

What type of job do you want?

 

[Jeremiah]

Some companys prefer experience over qualifications, as the paper may only ensure you have a basic understanding (if that)

I know is true for the majority of careers, but in any kind of computing capacity then it really tips the balance in your favour. If you are going to do IT at uni, try get IT placements for each summer break, it will put you well ahead of the competition after you graduate.

 

[old.Tohtori]

Seriously by the way, get another job education proficiency as a backup. You'll be out of a job in IT. It's not a matter of if, but when.

Everyone in any IT business, or any business at all, will have a moment where they get let out and can't find a job. If you can drive a craptruck or flip burgers, you're better off.

 

[yaruar]

concering IT though, if you really want to do it, id suggest not bothering. i studied my AVCE in ICT. was fucking shite. i did my GNVQ for the council installing and reparing PCs, was fucking shite. 20k a year tops as a techy? no thank you. once you get in IT your pretty much stuck in it for life.

I'm unfortunately stuck in IT. Never wanted to be, just turned out that way. Always been a techy and haven't been on 20k for a long time Although i've always taken low paid jobs to gain experience, it's always paid off and i'm now on nearly 35k (still low pay for what i do, but i'm building specific experience and i'm looking to make a leap to over 50k with my next job if i decide to move...)
Still don't want to be doing it though..

I've got no IT qualifications (apart from a GCSE in IT taken back when we had no interweb at shools and less than 10 computers in the whole place) and an Economics degree.
Unless you want to be a hardcore developer and you can get into one of the better Compsci degrees, gain experience work your way up and educate youself for the joy of learning.

 

[tris-]

i just grabbed that figure from that people i worked with back at the council.

 

[soze]

I got a E for gcse IT and only got the bug when i got my first computer when i was working manual labour after not going back for A Levels. I got into computers through a Modern Apprentice and now 5 years later im out earning all my mates who did degrees in IT. Because i have practical experience and people that employed me looked for people who can do the job rather than people with magic bits of paper. I now manage some one from the year below me in school with a uni degree and he is useless great for book knowledge but put him infront of a server thats gone tits up and hes crap.

So i don't think there is a magic answer for it to get a job all depends on what that company are looking for, but as i tell my mates unless you are truly special which im not be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up.

 

[Congax]

be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up.

That's IT.

Get maths instead of ICT degree, Bugz, you can get all IT information you need just by experience and self-learning.

 

[tris-]

even if you get an ICT degree and it goes tits up, its usually a lot easier to get some kind of generall managers job somewhere.

 

[Ormorof]

i did ICT at a-level and it was useless

physics, maths and economics!!

 

[Mojo]

I worked in IT for 7 years before getting a cert, quals dont matter really, mine have not affected my wage. IMO the best way to get experience is contracting ,I did that for 8 years before getting a full time IT job.