Hi!

LizzeyDripping · #1 12-May-2008, 10:09 AM

Hi all

Oh dear - I joined because I am looking for a career shift and wanted to find out about doing the Skillstrain C# course prior to getting into development as a career. So I have posted to this effect. From now looking at some of the other threads I am guessing this will make me very unpopular!

In my defence - I have spent the last two months genning up on what qualifications and / or training I will need to become a c# .NET developer and frankly this info is virtually impossible to come by unless you already know what you are doing! I want to retrain, from scratch, and although I see everywhere that A+ is the place to start, I already know about hardware and (sorry if I am very dumb) can't see how this helps me learn programming. I have no inclination to waste my time and (hard earned!) money on the wrong thing and I have been unable to find any local colleges or unis running introduction to c# courses.

So I thought that asking people who actually have experience of this was the way forward. I hope that I have not caused too much offence to people as the general consensus on the forum is that I must in some way have a vested interest to even mention it. I don't - I need some advice and as I mentioned above, there doesn't seem to be much help out there...

Anyway, that's me - I currently manage domain name portfolios for blue chip companies and provide first line IT support within my company. Please be nice to me - I just want some guidance!

Notes_Bloke · #2 12-May-2008, 10:21 AM

Hi & welcome to CF

NB

dmarsh26 · #3 12-May-2008, 10:30 AM

To get a programming gig the main requirement is that you can program, certs are not required, certainly not the A+. A lot of the advice on here is aimed at entry level support personel.

Most people get either a BSc or a HND in computer science to start their programming careers, others just code a lot as a hobby or migrate from other fields like maths/physics/engineering.

**hbroomhall** · #4 12-May-2008, 10:33 AM

Hi and welcome to CF!

If you truly want to do programming then, no, A+ isn't really a pre-requisite!

As a way of (cheaply) getting a feel of what C# is like you could always download the Microsoft C# Express edition, which is free, and buying a book on it. There is even a 'dummies' book on it, although I have no idea if it is any good.

Harry.

dmarsh26 · #5 12-May-2008, 10:47 AM

Try this :-

http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9780596514822/
http://www.microsoft.com/express/vcsharp/

I'd look closely again at local colleges or possibly self study, professional training really is a very expensive way to learn programming fundamentals. In the end no one can really teach you how to program, you have to learn it by applying yourself and putting the work in.

**BosonMichael** · #6 12-May-2008, 02:33 PM

You are correct; the A+ would not be useful to someone who wants to start out in programming. To get started in programming, the path is clear: learn to program!

Welcome!

**nugget** · #7 12-May-2008, 02:41 PM

Hi and welcome to the forum.

LizzeyDripping · #8 12-May-2008, 03:48 PM

Hi to you all! And thanks, you have been very nice!

I actually do think self-study is the way forward for me rather than a training course - I have had to learn by experience how to manage our small business network and I am self taught on HTML which (though i say it myself) I have used very successfully to build websites - but obviously they are a little limited and I enjoy the programming side of things so much I just want to know more. If I can also get paid for it - major bonus!

It is also GREAT to know that I am not being a thicko by not seeing why the A+ would help me progress, thanks for the feedback! This always seemed to appear on the "career path" scenarios I have seen online and I just couldn't see why - made me terrified I was missing something really fundamental about the whole process. I worry too much!

The main problem was knowing where to start - so I am going to go and download C# Express and buy myself some books and take it from there. Just dive in, right?!

Many thanks guys - think I'll like it here!