How to move from A level in to an IT career....

**tranceporter** · 1 July 2013, 14:36

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

Not sure where this goes but potentially technical element so will try here.

Family friends son wants to get in to IT. He has a Computer Sciences A level but can't get any work. How do kids with this qualification get in to IT nowadays? In our days first stop was desktop support but that died many years ago. I thought he might come in with me to do some legwork stuff at my clients just to get something on his CV but it wouldn't be anything focussed, just working in an IT environment. He also wants to go down the techie hands on route which I can't help with. It appears to me that anything like this has been bobbed out now so no chance of him getting a foot in.

Anyone an ideas how the young uns get their foot on the IT ladder in this day and age? Are apprenticeships a good option?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Send him to Bobland with vengeance? He gets invaluable skills like bobbing his head, doing the needful, and hocking phlegm. Then he can come back and fit right in with other oily foreheads

**TheFaQQer** · 1 July 2013, 14:50

Get a degree in a technical subject, and then apply after university.

**doodab** · 1 July 2013, 15:12

A CS degree, or a hard degree such as Maths, Physics from a decent uni will see him with a choice of companies and careers and if he still wants to go technical in IT at that point then he can.

Obviously that's a big commitment these days, so perhaps he's not into that idea or he wants a job to build up some savings before going down that route, in which case he's going to need some skills and perseverance and to keep applying for jobs until he gets a lucky break. I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope for that TBH. On the rare occasions in 15 years of contracting I've met a younger person who wasn't hired as a graduate or 2nd jobber they have either been interns or hired because of knowing someone who knows someone.

**DaveB** · 1 July 2013, 15:17

Get a relevent degree and go for a graduate placement with one of the big outsourcers or systems integrators.

Or, sign up with temping agencies like Reed or Computer Futures and go for temp Helldesk jobs to get some experiance.

A quick google for Helpdesk Temp produces a good number of hits and agency names to deal with.

Yes, most big organisations have outsourced tech support to Bob, but a lot of smaller organisations still do it in house and tend to have smaller teams, so wioth a bit of luck you get a wider variety of hands on experiance.

**Scruff** · 1 July 2013, 15:29

IBM have an apprenticeship scheme. I had a young 17 year old apprentice work with me there, until I left end December 2012. He spent 2 years there and has gained invaluable experience and now realised that in order to further his career, he needs to pursue a Degree. He turned out to be a brilliant learner and went from knowing next-to-zip, to working as a respected Backline techie (with a particularly good MS Clustering / SQL log-shipping / failover expertise).

The application process was quite involved and when he was finally offered the apprenticeship, it meant that as a 17 year old, he had to move down from Scotland to Hampshire and start within 2 weeks of the offer being made, which was at a specific location.

Is it a good idea? This all depends on the actual team that they work for, whether or not the Manager that they work for is only using the Apprenticeship scheme to tick the box and the attitude of the Apprentice (it pays dreadfully and if the Appy hears what his colleagues are earning, it can hack them off...).

I would suggest that an A level in IT doesn't give you much knowledge when there are umpteen Graduates out there looking for jobs, unless you have someone who is in the business who knows the kid personally and is prepared to give them a break.

**northernladuk** · 1 July 2013, 15:30

I must admit I am not sure why he never went the degree route tbh. I will have to find out but he is 20 now so I am guessing he didn't like that idea and might be a bit late if he has gotten used to some income from fill in jobs so was hoping a non degree option was available. I can see why everyone is going to need a degree just to get on the job ladder soon.

**TheFaQQer** · 1 July 2013, 15:36

Join the army?

Might be an "easy" way in - branches like the Signals must need technical people.

**DaveB** · 1 July 2013, 15:58

Originally posted by TheFaQQer View Post

Join the army?

Might be an "easy" way in - branches like the Signals must need technical people.

They do, and you'll come out of it with a wad of qualifications under your belt as well, you also end up with SC as a minimum, probably DV and CLAS to boot and a decent crypto backgound as well.

There is a reason there are so many ex-forces types in security related roles that need clearance.

You're also likely to end up some where hot and dusty, being shot at. But, if you can build and operate a secure radio / wired net with a satellite backhaul to the UK under those conditions, and you can stick the military lifestyle, you can probably do it pretty much anywhere.

**northernladuk** · 1 July 2013, 16:07

Originally posted by DaveB View Post

They do, and you'll come out of it with a wad of qualifications under your belt as well, you also end up with SC as a minimum, probably DV and CLAS to boot and a decent crypto backgound as well.

There is a reason there are so many ex-forces types in security related roles that need clearance.

You're also likely to end up some where hot and dusty, being shot at. But, if you can build and operate a secure radio / wired net with a satellite backhaul to the UK under those conditions, and you can stick the military lifestyle, you can probably do it pretty much anywhere.

It's a good idea but the fact he is 20 with only A levels but a couple of hundred hours on Call Of Duty makes me think this isn't going to happen.

How to move from A level in to an IT career....