Routes into IT/computing

[jeffrey_1991 10]

After completing my Bachelor's in English and History in 2012 I am now trying to find my way in the world and have now decided to try and get into a career in IT/computing as I am quite interested in this area of work. I also feel that it is a sector that is experiencing continuous growth and is 'future proof' if you understand what I mean so I have a far better chance of forging a career in it.

 

I unfortunately have very little knowledge of computer science. I am very willing to learn however and put in all of the hard work that will be necessary to get a good grounding in the area.

 

My question is firstly, is it worth me doing? I am wondering whether employers will look upon me unfavourably as I will not have as much experience as BSC computer science graduates.

 

And secondly, if so, where should I begin? Are postgrad degrees worth the paper they are written on? Does Sheffield Hallam/Sheffield University offer conversion courses and if so, is this worth doing?

 

Thanks in advance!

[DaFoot 10]

Computing/IT is a massive arena. What area are you interested in?

Eg.

Management, programming, design, testing, architecture, hardware, support, databases etc etc.

Each of those areas are very broad, I'm in software development for example, mostly in Java (a language) web stuff. Within the Java world there are plenty of specialisations... You get the idea.

[Phanerothyme 12]

If you've got an english degree, especially if you've done any linguistics, you should get into real-time natural speech analysis and synthesis.

 

It's still a comparatively new field, and there are heuristic discoveries to be made!

[pepsiperfect 10]

dude I became an advanced business application architect without a degree

I have since gone back and got my BSC applied computing.

It depends how financially stable you are.

You need to get your foot in the door.

I got a job as a trainee.

Finding people with the skills I have, is like finding rockin horse droppings.

I am skilled in Progress software 4gl - evolved into OpenEdge ABL

[geared 300]

My mum teaches computing at an FE college (not in Sheffield tho) it's B-tec not A-level but she finds that quite alot of her students find work pretty well as the skills they are taught are the sort of things that are wanted by industry (stuff like C and C# programming).

 

She's actually going to do abit of work experience over the summer and all the skills required for the job are what she teaches at college.

[JoshyJD 10]

Hi,

 

I'm doing a computing degree at university, and it's a relaxing degree to take really. If you are unsure what computing road to take (programming, statistics, engineer, desktop support etc) just do an overall computing degree and then pick the road you enjoyed.

[pepsiperfect 10]

ALL advise that you need a degree to be in the IT world are TOTALLY incorrect. You simply require your foot in the door.

I were at 21 in the IT field. With an average salary of 21,000 p/a back in 2001.

I did not have a degree, I had level 1/2 qualifications - GCSEs. But I got my foot in the door and built from there.

I specialised. I gained Progress 4GL skills. The product is now OpenEdge ABL.

I totally recommend the product and career path

[steveroberts 10]

After completing my Bachelor's in English and History in 2012 I am now trying to find my way in the world and have now decided to try and get into a career in IT/computing as I am quite interested in this area of work. I also feel that it is a sector that is experiencing continuous growth and is 'future proof' if you understand what I mean so I have a far better chance of forging a career in it.

 

I unfortunately have very little knowledge of computer science. I am very willing to learn however and put in all of the hard work that will be necessary to get a good grounding in the area.

 

My question is firstly, is it worth me doing? I am wondering whether employers will look upon me unfavourably as I will not have as much experience as BSC computer science graduates.

 

And secondly, if so, where should I begin? Are postgrad degrees worth the paper they are written on? Does Sheffield Hallam/Sheffield University offer conversion courses and if so, is this worth doing?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Firstly an employer is not going to take you on without the necessary programming knowledge and the ability to demonstrate your capability.

 

Secondly, learning to program is, in fact, not rocket science. If you have a logical mind and are good at solving logical problems (Sudoku springs to mind) then all you need to understand is the programming language and how it is scripted. This is something you could teach yourself.

 

Thirdly, from my experience of software businesses (in a past life I've been Sales Director for a couple), it is less about the actual programming, more about how you innovate using the tools available to you.

 

If you can afford to 'retrain' then it is an option, but as pointed out above, you can be a good programmer without having the formal education (I know many who do not even have basic 'o' levels).

 

Finally, there is an element of supply and demand for a career in IT...plenty of opportunity but plenty of people wanting to do it. Question is, can you stand out from the crowd?

 

Whatever you choose to do, the very best of luck.

[Grayham 10]

Firstly an employer is not going to take you on without the necessary programming knowledge and the ability to demonstrate your capability.

 

Secondly, learning to program is, in fact, not rocket science. If you have a logical mind and are good at solving logical problems (Sudoku springs to mind) then all you need to understand is the programming language and how it is scripted. This is something you could teach yourself.

 

Thirdly, from my experience of software businesses (in a past life I've been Sales Director for a couple), it is less about the actual programming, more about how you innovate using the tools available to you.

 

If you can afford to 'retrain' then it is an option, but as pointed out above, you can be a good programmer without having the formal education (I know many who do not even have basic 'o' levels).

 

Finally, there is an element of supply and demand for a career in IT...plenty of opportunity but plenty of people wanting to do it. Question is, can you stand out from the crowd?

 

Whatever you choose to do, the very best of luck.

 

100% on the money!! totaly agree with this

[sanman 10]

As a future employer the first question I would ask is why you chose to take degrees in English and History if you want to have a career in IT?