Training courses

[Cheshire Cat]

What sort of (non-programming) courses do you chaps/chapettes do during bench time?
Is there much worthwhile free training about, or are all the valuable courses run as "professional training courses" charging huge rates? e.g. the ISEB nonsense.

Does anyone ever consider just doing an A-level in something that might be "useful", Economics, Accounting, etc

I'm sure the costs would be much lower, and would probably be mostly bookwork and coursework, with an exam at the end.

Likewise, has anyone done much in the way of "professional qualifications" and are they worth the paper the certificate is printed on, or is it just as worthwhile buying a book and finding free sources of info on the web (e.g. Prince2, blah blah)

[Ifrit]

I have considered doing a Maths A - level. I always regretted not doing that ten years ago when I did my A - levels and I think Maths would be pretty useful. I would do an ISEB (if I could afford it) Actually last night I was reading a book I bought about contracting............ ( I haven't got my first contract yet) I think technically though I can still be on the bench. this book was detailing how to download exam papers and memorise the results to gain the qualification - so it would seem there is a requirement for these qualifications.

[zara_backdog]

More roles then ever are insisting on being 'Certified' ( Ok, most of us should have been years ago).

Even seen ' Do not apply if you are not Prince/Itil certified" Looks like I will spending some of my rainy day fund doing a few courses and taking the exam's.

[Cheshire Cat]

I'm a test manager / test lead / test dogsbody so loads of the programming courses are just not applicable (little value in me learning .NET etc) but there are some technichal skills that are useful, e.g. Oracle, Perl, Unix shell scripting (even a bit of Excel VBA scripting, if you want to count that), since although I'm not going to be coding, these things repeatedly pop up in my work.

Anyone know of some good online courses in this sort of non-programmer, but "technical" skills area?

[lightng]

I hear Plumbing and Heating has become a popular course for contractors in certain sectors.

[Cheshire Cat]

I hear Plumbing and Heating has become a popular course for contractors in certain sectors.

You may jest, but I have given some thought to learning some non IT skills during my next bench time. How long would it take (& how much would it cost) to become a qualified electrician/joiner/plumber/plasterer? Over the course of my life, it's bound to save me money personally, and it might be useful to diversify the skillset a bit just in case times are hard and I need to make a bit of money between contracts.

Anyone doing / done anything like that?

[Durbs]

You may jest, but I have given some thought to learning some non IT skills during my next bench time. How long would it take (& how much would it cost) to become a qualified electrician/joiner/plumber/plasterer? Over the course of my life, it's bound to save me money personally, and it might be useful to diversify the skillset a bit just in case times are hard and I need to make a bit of money between contracts.

Anyone doing / done anything like that?

Not doing/done but certainly fancy it. Doing Prince2 for an IT CV keyword but have oft considered doing a sparky or plumbing course mainly cos i just reckon i'd enjoy it. Dunno where you are in Cheshire but Macc college do night courses in trades.

[lightng]

I was jesting before but actually it is a serious option. My cousin is a self-employed plumber and way better off than I am. No IR35 to worry about, Cash in hand jobs, and other perks (cough cough) I'm sure.

[BolshieBastard]

Paying for training courses is a waste of time. I paid a grand back in 2001 for a WinRunner accredited course as a lot of testing roles were asking for WR.

Did the course got the certificate submitted the cv........ then nothing! Agents said 'if you havent got 12 months commercial experience' we wont submit \ client wont take you!

The only course I'd pay for would be somthing like ISEB \ ISTQB which is a qualification. Even then I only paid £125 inc VAT to Leysen for the accredited training CD and apssed. Wouldnt pay the £1000 residential course fee. That's a rip off.

[jkoder]

You should get your ECDL

It might be tough given you're a tester though.