kelvin

I’d really appreciate some career advice from some of you guys if possible – I know that quite a few people on here are in the position that I’d (one day) like to be in so any hints, tips or otherwise on how to get there would be hugely appreciated!

I apologise in advance if any of what follows sounds totally random – this certainly isn’t the snap decision it might sound like…

To cut a long story short, I’m in my final year of a law degree but have decided that a legal career isn’t for me – practical experience in the field, coupled with serious thoughts about whether or not I really want to take the risks associated with further training (mainly financial) have made me realise that my heart isn’t in what I’m doing anymore.

An area of growing interest for me over recent years (although strictly as a hobby), has been IT. I began designing Web Sites for people a few years ago, and have been steadily increasing my skills and improving as time has progressed. On the hardware front, I’ve also put together numerous PC’s for friends, family, and colleagues. None of it is cutting edge, jaw dropping, complex IT stuff I admit, but I love it – to the point where I’d like to pursue it as a future career.

What I do appreciate, is that Web Design and “chucking parts together” isn’t enough to earn a living – I need to broaden my skills and get to a point where I’m doing things that aren’t quite so “normal”. I don’t have a problem with this, on the contrary I’m actually genuinely excited about it but to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure where to start. I’d really like (and enjoy) to get to grips with the networking/server side of things if possible and have been considering some of the “official” courses available like MCSE/MCSA. The trouble is (like anything), you need formal experience to start, of which I have none.

How do you get your “foot in the door” with things like this? Am I completely mad?

I’d appreciate any advice you could offer – apologies for the length of this post!

Kelvin.

jonc

I like you had an interest in computers and decided to turn it into a career. I started in an IT support call centre, an outsourced partner to Microsoft. Did their training and got my first MCP in Windows95 soon after Windows 95 was released. Moved around the firm getting skill in other areas, network and comms, Apple Mac, Office apps, AST hardware. Stayed there for about 18 months and decided to go contracting, blagged my way through interviews and gained more skills. Did a few more MCPs and MCSE. Contracted for just over 2 years before the IT job market went down the pan, Aisan market crashed and loads of banks cut costs by getting rid of contractors. Now I'm responsible for global desktop build and deployment, application packaging and infrastructure support.

Qualifications will help you get your foot in the door, but I have found that employers look for experience more than qualifications, MCSE have lost their "kudos" as everyone has them now from doing "boot camp" courses. Theres no need to aim too high for an IT role, IT is a fast moving industry and is easy to work your way up. Easier to get your foot in the door with a "basic" IT role, eg, helpdesk, call centre etc and let the firm train you up. Its also easier to move into your prefered field of IT. You'll find it difficult to get into a more "intermediate" role, eg desktop/2nd line support, with no experience despite having all the qualifications in the world.

GCollier

I graduated with a degree in physics but have been in IT for the last 14 years. I got my foot in the door via the graduate recruitment program of Sema group - a large UK/French IT firm which was taken over some years ago - but have changed jobs a number of times since and done both contract and permanent work. I currently work in the City and develop trading systems for a large fund manager.

Your law degree won't make it impossible to make a career in IT and after you have some experience it won't make that much of a difference, though some companies still insist on either a computing or other numerate degree. It will make it harder to get that first job though as any employer is going to have to make a bigger training committment to get you up to speed.

Although IT has undoubtedly been good to me so far and allowed me to realise some ambitions I had since my teens (e.g. walking into a porsche dealer and ordering a brand new 911 for cash), I'm not sure I'd really recommend the industry to someone graduating today. If you have skills in the right field and financial experience you can still earn good money - 6 figure packages as a permie, 700ish a day as a contractor, but I'm just not convinced that the longterm future is this rosy. I may just be cynical, but IT expenditure is usually viewed as a sink/overhead of a firm's money, and theres a continued drive to cut costs in this field, outsource, coupled with the need to constantly ensure your skills are up to date and you remain employable. If I had my time again I would choose a proper 'profession' such as law or medicine, in the knowledge of good prospects for all of my career.

If you're dead set on an IT career and are ambitious as you hint at on your post then I'd look at some of the big consultancies such as Accenture. They're more than willing to take graduates with non-IT related degrees, will offer you rapid carees advancement if you are capable and work hard (think 70k+ 5-6 years after joining), are despite what some people may say a very solid name to have on your CV....and if you find the techie side of IT isn't your thing after all offer scope to move your career into other areas.

Gary.

imi

I think Gary is spot on with his advice there.

If you are ambitious then you can get a nice earner from IT. IF not, then finding a custi job paying 20-30K shouldnt be too much of a problem if thats what makes you happy.

For the high earner jobs, be prepared for stiff competition and that certain X-factor

kelvin

My apologies for the delay in responding - it's been a long weekend...

Thanks ever so much for the comments (particularly GCollier - i'll take a look at Accenture, thanks ), I really do appreciate the insight you've been able to offer.

I'm convinced this is the route I want to take, and am more than willing to do whatever it takes - I just wanted to get some reassurance first that I wasn't trying to achieve the impossible! Experience seems to be the key and i'm certainly not afraid to start low and work my way up. I think the satisfaction of doing something I enjoy will more than make up for the irritation of doing something relatively menial.

Thanks again guys - so much

K.

Brendan Hughes

Kelvin

You can also offer yourself as a trainee to the big legal firms, whether Clifford Chance, Baker & McKenzie, Price Waterhouse Whatever, or publishers like Sweet&Maxwell,* to work in their IT dept.

I studied law, wasn't interested in a legal career, wanted to get to Russia. I wrote around and got a job at KPMG Moscow for a few months.

It's a suggestion.

Brendan

*Some names may not be up to date.

SJ_Skyline

One thing also to bear in mind with regard to some of the big Accentures and PWCs of the world is that with some (those two in particular) there is a snob factor regarding degrees and getting your foot in the door. Typically they won't touch anybody with less than a 2:1.

I work for one of their competitors and whilst I agree with most of what has been written here, I think the salaries Gary mentions are a little on the high side, maybe thats just my outfit, maybe not. There is a definate shift in IT where more of the "doing" is offshored and the key skills become business winning, requirment articulation and general "brains on sticks" consultancy. The result of this I believe is that the UK IT sector will continue to downsize over the short term as it re-invents itself more as consultancy with a strong technical slant. Long term... who knows? Onshoreing as a USP?

In your situation I would ensure that I get the best degree possible whilst at the same time bombard every employer you can think of with applications, be choosy to begin with but ultimately I would cast caution to the wind. IMHO it is a lot easier to find a new job when you are already in one!!

Best of luck

MrDBM

echoing the thoughts above really... I would seriously look towards large corporations for your first position. I work for the largest aerospace and defence company in the UK and the opportunities are pretty amazing.

You'll easily be able to get you foot in the door with your qualifications, that's the hard bit. But as they say, once you're in, you're in! You can then move around, the IBM's CSC's etc. are so big they are almost like mini labour markets.

I came out of Uni with IT and business, and I've done pretty much everything aside from spot-welding a nuclear sub... try www.baesystems.com and PM me if you need contact info.

Cold Turkey

some excellent advice here ... finding the right balance between good salary and a rewarding career is difficult although sometimes in IT they come together ... after many years of hard work

I'd agree that the salaries Gary mentions are at the higher end of the scale ... developing trading systems for investment banks is a specialised area and often requires a numerate degree and financial experience aswell as cutting edge developer skills.

If you want a rewarding career with good training, travel opportunities and progression then the big consultancies mentioned above or a big multi national like BAE would be your best bet. They'll pay a good salary aswell and generally look after you very well.

If you want the *big* financial rewards then the City is the place to aim for. You would probably need to start as 1st line on a helpdesksomewhere and work your way up learning everything you can as you go. Big outsourcing companies like CSC or EDS could be a good bet. Be prepared to put lots of work in during your own time and maybe to have to retrain or reskill every once in a while to stay at the top of the pile. Don't get stuck in a rut and move on when you have outgrown a company. I never had a permie job for more than 2 years. Then when you have the technical skills go contracting. I did 6 years ago and have never regretted it. Rates have varied between 400 - 600 / day ... and are back at the lower end of that scale again.

I got into networking 16 years ago starting with a cabling company installing computer network cabling. Progressed into installing and configuring network equipment and eventually servers (Novell). Then jumped onto the Cisco bandwagon just as it started rolling and got a job in the City. Started to specialise in IT Security just as the Internet took off. As Gary says ... IT has been good to me

Also agree with comments about outsourcing and possible continued downturn in the industry ... I have 10 yrs excellent technical experience behind me and Project Management is the next logical step for me ... good technical project managers are worth their weight ...

edited to add: a boot camp MCSE is worthless without experience ... don't waste your money !!

kelvin

Thanks again for the replies guys

Apologies for the such a short response but i'm currently at work and haven't had a chance to properly go through the above yet. Just wanted you all to know that I really do appreciate the comments and suggestions

I'll post a proper reply later

Kelvin.