careers

izzy007

izzy007

Big Geek
hello
what careers can be achieved from A LEVEL's in ICT. i think that web designing, software engineering, computer engineering. Computer engineering is what im best at but max computer engineer salary is only about £28000 per annum, (or is it).
i was thinking whether if working for a company like fujitsu as a computer engineer technician would be more per annum. Computer technician and engineer is similar isnt it?
thanks
 
Well, does it factor in certifications like MCSE or Cisco? Those do add a lot of value over something like no cert.
 
Big B said:
Well, does it factor in certifications like MCSE or Cisco? Those do add a lot of value over something like no cert.
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im only 15 at the moment so im really a bit lost about that, how much more value would they add anyway. nd i think that web designing and computer engineering has pretty much the same value and plus for web designing there is all that learning to do aswell.
 
A-Levels are good but to go for the real specialist jobs get a degree. I'm doing a BSc in Internet Computing at the minute. A-Levels are good but you'll only start off low and you'll have to prove your 'worth' before they go giving you any real techy-jobs.
 
ICT at A level is not good enough engineering job. Whether software or hardware it doesn't matter as it doesn't cover any type of programming.

You should look into doing A level computing for programming, but even Computing won't make you stand out. For a real software engineering job you'll need to do computer science at Uni like Matt does. What type of engineering job are you looking at?
 
Addis said:
ICT at A level is not good enough engineering job. Whether software or hardware it doesn't matter as it doesn't cover any type of programming.

You should look into doing A level computing for programming, but even Computing won't make you stand out. For a real software engineering job you'll need to do computer science at Uni like Matt does. What type of engineering job are you looking at?
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to tell you the truth, i hate software engineering, i wanted to do computer engineering and as B sed, do MCSE (which is that microsoft certification) and you can get a descent job. i waas wondering what course i will have to do to get that or do i have to do the basic enigneering and then do that.
thanks
 
Also, go for what you love to do. Why spend time and money on something you just hate. Will you find it out right away? Not necessarily, but if nothing else, take the required courses you'd have to take anyway and maybe dabble in some other classes in a few areas you think you're interested in.

Whatever you do, stay in school. Trust me. I'm nearly 26, live with my parents (for the time being, and I have a good reason why) and work at a retail store 3rd shift. I'm sure you can figure out I'm far from ignorant when it comes to computers, but I don't have that piece of paper to say I know what I know.
 
Big B said:
Also, go for what you love to do. Why spend time and money on something you just hate. Will you find it out right away? Not necessarily, but if nothing else, take the required courses you'd have to take anyway and maybe dabble in some other classes in a few areas you think you're interested in.

Whatever you do, stay in school. Trust me. I'm nearly 26, live with my parents (for the time being, and I have a good reason why) and work at a retail store 3rd shift. I'm sure you can figure out I'm far from ignorant when it comes to computers, but I don't have that piece of paper to say I know what I know.
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B, what about operational engineering, its just putting together hardware and that i think, how LOW is the salary in that. also database management and maintenance, what is invlolved in that. also in MCSE, do you have to know everything from windows server, xp etc.
sorry for asking so many qestions, im a bit paranoid now cause i cant choose.
thanks a lot anyway
 
As for database management you'll need qualifications, especially if you're working with anything like Oracle with SQL. Databases are what businesses rely on, if there's problems, a business can crumble.
 
Matt555 said:
As for database management you'll need qualifications, especially if you're working with anything like Oracle with SQL. Databases are what businesses rely on, if there's problems, a business can crumble.
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thats true but wat bout working for a company but making databases for small businesses or other people.
 
That's different, that kind of thing wouldn't be a full time job I wouldn't think, I wouldn't think a small company would have the resources to keep a fully employed database admin.
 
It doesn't matter whterh the company is big or small, any incompetence with databases can have disastrous results. You'll need full Oracle/PostgreSQL/MySQL training to get a job as a DB admin I think.

You know putting together hardware isn't all that, it can be a hobby, but don't rely on it for a full time career. If its what you love to do, then go for it and look for a job which requires it, but I would imagine that companies want more than a hardware person unless its a repair technician job.

For a MCSE, you'll need to know MS Server 2003 etc in depth. But as Linux grows ever stronger in the server market, its not a bad idea to get familiar with it and gain some invaluable network experience. I find that the best way to learn with things like networks is to experiment and do it yourself. Try to implement it, and see what kind of things are involved.
 
Addis said:
It doesn't matter whterh the company is big or small, any incompetence with databases can have disastrous results. You'll need full Oracle/PostgreSQL/MySQL training to get a job as a DB admin I think.

You know putting together hardware isn't all that, it can be a hobby, but don't rely on it for a full time career. If its what you love to do, then go for it and look for a job which requires it, but I would imagine that companies want more than a hardware person unless its a repair technician job.

For a MCSE, you'll need to know MS Server 2003 etc in depth. But as Linux grows ever stronger in the server market, its not a bad idea to get familiar with it and gain some invaluable network experience. I find that the best way to learn with things like networks is to experiment and do it yourself. Try to implement it, and see what kind of things are involved.
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well database management is out of the equation, also i was thinking that operational engineering wasnt good coz you could get a good job like in heathrow airport and earn more than that. its MCSE then, but its got ALOT of learning in it. so MCSE is microsoft and CCNA (Cisco) is networking and what was A+? that was mainly hardware related wasnt it. if i was to pass MCSE where could i get a job, i mean would i be able to work as a technician for a particular company such as fujitsu or sumnthing or could i work for a computer repair specialist company, if so could you possibly name some.
i think its better to work for a company as many people are learning how to make their own computer and therefore know how to fix minor problems such as PSU replacement etc so the repair companies dont really get that much
 
I think qualifications are a good idea, but ask AT and he'll tell you that being an MCSE doesn't mean that you know what you're doing. Some people learn the content, but don't actually know what they're doing in a real life situation. I've come across people like that.

Don't be put off by a career that could be too demanding, I think its better to be challenged than to be bored.

MCSEs are very big, much bigger than A+ which is CompTias general hardware/software technician qualification. You have to build up to MCSE through A+ and maybe some other qualifications as well. Megamaced is doing his MCSE course at the moment, (until his college went bust, not sure whats happening now). He did the A+ first, and I think possibly the Network+ and Linux+.

IMO, I doubt that companies like Fujitsu etc will hire someone because of an MCSE, but I don't know. I think experience is also a heavy factor, and the will and drive to continue learning. You'll need to constantly update your skills to keep up with this fast moving industry. E.g, how far will an MCSE take you in 10 years time? You'll probably need to continue learning, to set yourself apart from the rest of the qualified people.

However, thats not to say that qualifications like the MCSE are useless. I don't have any experience with them, but I'm sure that having it on paper, as well as other qualifications (you definately need more than MCSE) will greatly help in a job interview, so they do have value. how much is up for a debate left to people who have experience with it.
 
Database admins apparently make pretty nice money. But then again, they're being paid to not screw up. A low-level tech would be fixing PC's, and that's about it. That's core material, and if you're not able to do that, I think it's going to make it very difficult to do your job. Don't be the Must Call Someone Else MCSE, be a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. A certification looks good, don't get me wrong, but if you don't know the material in the application of it, that's bad. Every bozo like that makes certs less valuable.
Should you get them? Why not? It's not going to hurt, but know the material. You only need to know the right answers for the test once. You need to be able to use the knowledge regularly.
I can't tell you the path to Admin Tools off the top of my head, but I can get there and know what I'm doing when I'm there. On a test, that's a likely question for me to blow.

Right now, for me, getting my A+ is step one. As time goes along, an MCSE and possibly Cisco would be nice to have.
 
@ Addis

Nothing has changed from my perspective. I am still going to complete my course as before, but I'll have to pay for the remainder of my books. I doubt I'll pay for another college again, especially when most of the tutors just read out of the book :doh:

@ Izzy

The A+ examination is an introductory course into the world of IT. A+ comprises of two exams, the 'Core Hardware Technologies' and 'Operating Systems'. The hardware examination should be sufficient for any PC repair work. But such work is hard to find and the pay is pretty poor.

The Operating Systems exam covers Windows home operating systems such as Windows 9x and XP. It does not cover the Server side such as Windows 2000 or 2003. The A+ really serves as a ladder up to the MCSE or similiar professional qualification.

The Network+ or N+, is specifically for computer networking. You will learn about TCP/IP, Netbieu and IPX/SPX. You will also learn about Token Ring, Ethernet and the OSI model.
Like the A+, The N+ serves as a foundation course and should be followed with a professional course such as Cisco CCNA.

CompTIA also have a Linux+ examination. I haven't sat the exam but I've got the books. I plan to study Linux+ after I complete my MCSE, CCNA.

Finally, the MCSE is Microsoft's examination for Windows XP and Server 2003.I am about to take the first exam (XP) in the next few days.
 
megamaced said:
@ Addis

Nothing has changed from my perspective. I am still going to complete my course as before, but I'll have to pay for the remainder of my books. I doubt I'll pay for another college again, especially when most of the tutors just read out of the book :doh:

@ Izzy

The A+ examination is an introductory course into the world of IT. A+ comprises of two exams, the 'Core Hardware Technologies' and 'Operating Systems'. The hardware examination should be sufficient for any PC repair work. But such work is hard to find and the pay is pretty poor.

The Operating Systems exam covers Windows home operating systems such as Windows 9x and XP. It does not cover the Server side such as Windows 2000 or 2003. The A+ really serves as a ladder up to the MCSE or similiar professional qualification.

The Network+ or N+, is specifically for computer networking. You will learn about TCP/IP, Netbieu and IPX/SPX. You will also learn about Token Ring, Ethernet and the OSI model.
Like the A+, The N+ serves as a foundation course and should be followed with a professional course such as Cisco CCNA.

CompTIA also have a Linux+ examination. I haven't sat the exam but I've got the books. I plan to study Linux+ after I complete my MCSE, CCNA.

Finally, the MCSE is Microsoft's examination for Windows XP and Server 2003.I am about to take the first exam (XP) in the next few days.
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good luck mega. anyway hopefully after you pass, where are you planning to work. MCSE looks pretty hard but mothing is easy unless you try and learn it.
 
Thanks man :)

The XP exam is not really difficult, it's just a case of finding the time to study and taking down notes. By the end of the examination I should know almost everything there is to know about XP :)

I can't find work with the XP exam alone. The MCSE comprises of another 4 exams plus one which is optional. The second examination I shall take is Server 2003. Once I've completed that I am MCP qualified. Only when I've completed all 6 exams can I say that I am MCSE qualified. The Server 2003 examination will probably take me a little longer to complete because I have very little experience maintaining a Server. Should be fun though :)
 
megamaced said:
Thanks man :)

The XP exam is not really difficult, it's just a case of finding the time to study and taking down notes. By the end of the examination I should know almost everything there is to know about XP :)

I can't find work with the XP exam alone. The MCSE comprises of another 4 exams plus one which is optional. The second examination I shall take is Server 2003. Once I've completed that I am MCP qualified. Only when I've completed all 6 exams can I say that I am MCSE qualified. The Server 2003 examination will probably take me a little longer to complete because I have very little experience maintaining a Server. Should be fun though :)
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so mega, you're not really sure yet. anyways i read about computer aided engineer coz the salary was around 37K but its not my type coz you have use computer to write software to help make products or manufacturing tools or sumthing better. i think thats wat it is. so on second thought i decided that itsnt my type so its computer engineering all the way then.

wat uni are you studying at now mega. also what wud be the absolute first step towards computer engineering which will eventually lead to wat you're doing (MCSE). do you have to do electrical engineering or sumthing because its about computer and that. thx
 
Mega's not studying at uni, he works to pay for his courses, books and exams.

You don't need a degree for an MCSE, you just need the relevant qualifications before it. Check the Ms website for info on the MCSE. An MCSE is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. The job role of a systems engineer is to design, build and implement an IT system and network.
 
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