Training Providers Help Please!!

[JonnyMX]

Originally Posted by JamieKitsonUK

Thanks for your comment beaumontdvd will keep that in mind.

Hey JohnnyMX,

I gained:

# Key Skills Level II
# NVQ for IT professionals - Level III

OK.
Actually, a level 3 NVQ is quite good, especially if you haven't got much academically going for you.
So I think you're putting yourself down a bit.


@ everybody else:
I don't know what it's like in the US, but here in the UK degrees are a bit hit and miss.
Many jobs ask for a 'degree or equivalent' which is pretty meaningless. It just sifts out some of the rabble.
It's down to the company to decide what equivalent they are prepared to accept.

However, in some of the higher level jobs, especially the government and some public sector, when they say degree, they mean a degree. It just wouldn't be acceptable to employ riff-raff.

[BosonMichael]

Originally Posted by SimonD

Michael, I have seen jobs request people with degrees, after a short time the same job is re-advertised without the requirement for a degree because the calibre of those people applying that had a degree just wasn't good enough.

I don't mean to belittle the degree but to all intents and purposes all a degree does is show that you know how to put structured documents together and are able to get drunk at the drop of a hat (not my words by the way but my brother who has an masters degree). The reason I actually asked my brother about a degree was because I was tempted to go back to school and get one, his advice was not to bother.

There are other ways to achieve the required level of education (I am not talking degrees here) than getting a degree (CITP, ILM etc are going to suit better with regards to management positions than a degree in my opinion (as it happens my brothers degree and masters have NOTHING to do with IT at all (industrial archeology)).

That doesn't at all address my assertion that the lack of a degree CAN prevent you from getting SOME jobs. Regardless of how you or I feel about degrees, and regardless for how well or poorly a degree prepares you for real-world work, some employers want candidates with degrees for certain jobs. That is their perception, right or wrong.

[JamieKitsonUK]

Originally Posted by BosonMichael

That doesn't at all address my assertion that the lack of a degree CAN prevent you from getting SOME jobs.

Can you please be specific on the "SOME jobs" part so i can have clear understanding. Im guessing you dont mean "Spar" or is it "Wallmart" America.

Cheers


BTW...

I do respect and take in what you are saying so please do not hesitate to answer my question :-)

[BosonMichael]

Originally Posted by JamieKitsonUK

Can you please be specific on the "SOME jobs" part so i can have clear understanding. Im guessing you dont mean "Spar" or is it "Wallmart" America.

Cheers


BTW...

I do respect and take in what you are saying so please do not hesitate to answer my question :-)

Like I already said earlier, IT supervisory and management roles often (but not always) require degrees. The higher you go, the more apt you are to encounter those requirements from employers.

Do I think you need a degree to do a good job? Or to be a team lead? Or to be a manager? No, I don't. I think you CAN be a good manager or lead or supervisor even without a degree. But what I think doesn't matter... the perception of many managers is that a degree is desirable (or even required) for these kind of jobs.

A degree DOES show that you can follow a long-term course of study through to completion (despite the partying and whatnot). Therefore, even though I don't think that you HAVE to have a degree to succeed in IT or to manage other techs, if I were hiring for a supervisory role, I would STILL give the edge to a candidate with a degree over a candidate without a degree (provided experience levels and personality are relatively equal).

[JamieKitsonUK]

Many thanks BosonMichael.....

Ive taken in your wise words and i think i will start with my Certs ASAP due to (hopefully) the success in the matter of months instead of years...sadly this is the motivation i need (quick and promissing success).

I have some reading materials for 70-290 and will book next week :-)

Oh and im also going to use measureup.com

Can i just say a big thank you to everyone who helped me out :-)


All answers have helped me soooo much and have put working overtime brain at rest!!


THANK YOU!!

[BosonMichael]

Originally Posted by JamieKitsonUK

Many thanks BosonMichael.....

Ive taken in your wise words and i think i will start with my Certs ASAP due to (hopefully) the success in the matter of months instead of years...sadly this is the motivation i need (quick and promissing success).

Most success doesn't come quickly. It's a slow, steady process unless you simply get lucky.

Originally Posted by JamieKitsonUK

Oh and im also going to use measureup.com

Although they are a competitor to Boson, at least they are legit.

Glad to be of service.

[volatile]

Originally Posted by SimonD

I am sorry but I disagree with



I turn 40 in a couple of weeks, I left school at 16 and joined the army, I left school with very little in the way of scholastic qualifications and I haven't returned to college or university since. I don't have a degree or even higher education certificates. I have had the opportunity of turning down employment in large investment banks where I could have gone in 1 step below AVP (with the opportunity of getting AVP within 5 years) with a complete lack of formal education, having a (or more to the point not) degree does not mean it will either hold you back or push you forward in a career, that is down to the individual concerned.

I have known people with degrees who I wouldn't trust with a dog, let alone the management of a team of IT bods, I have also known people like me (with nothing beyond high school) who have excelled and gone right up the career ladder.

Hence the word "may". No situation is the same. Some people may experience this a few times...some may not. I've experienced both. I progressed in one company without a degree....and now I can't progress because of a lack of a master's degree. Not everyone will be as fortunate as you and not everyone will be unfortunate. Again, that is why I used the word "may".

Edit: To clarify I work at a much higher level and with more responsibility than my level would indicate. However, since I don't have the requisite number of years of experience and don't have the proper degree I can't progress quicker. Eventually, as I get the years of experience, that are stated as the requirements for a certain level, it will be easier to push me forward. However, with where I am at now I can't speed up the process like I would like. Prior to this, I made jumps in my level quickly.

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by SimonD

I don't mean to belittle the degree but to all intents and purposes all a degree does is show that you know how to put structured documents together and are able to get drunk at the drop of a hat (not my words by the way but my brother who has an masters degree). The reason I actually asked my brother about a degree was because I was tempted to go back to school and get one, his advice was not to bother.

Probably best to comment on a degree if you have actually done one yourself.

It doesn’t sound like your bro made the most of his degree or went to a crap university. I’m not going to turn this thread into a debate about getting a degree in IT or not but this kinda thing is always raised by someone who doesn’t have a degree.

If a degree is so worthless then why bring it up?

[SimonD]

Originally Posted by Sparky

Probably best to comment on a degree if you have actually done one yourself.

It doesn’t sound like your bro made the most of his degree or went to a crap university. I’m not going to turn this thread into a debate about getting a degree in IT or not but this kinda thing is always raised by someone who doesn’t have a degree.

If a degree is so worthless then why bring it up?

I didn't.

As far as my bro went, I already said that his degree has nothing to do with the IT field, tbh at the time he was in Uni he didn't even know he was going into IT. As far as where.. he got his from Northampton, I don't know whether it's a good or bad Uni. What I do know is that his advice was not to waste my time getting one.

I can only comment on what was advised to me by someone who does have one!