To consider a MSc Computer Science conversion course

[Rubbermaid]

I’ve worked in the NHS for ten years but there is no possibility of progression for me unless I gain some additional qualifications.

I’m interested in computer programming and have enrolled on an online web development course that seems very good and should take me about a year to complete, at which point I’d then start the MSc.

Does this sound like a good idea to those of you who know about this stuff? On the course info they say their students go on to be software/web developers, IT consultants, systems analysts, operations researchers to name a few. Does this mean they are ready to go into these careers straight from the course or would they need to undertake further specific training?

I really want to learn new skills (and believe I’m capable of doing so) and go on to a completely new career in IT - does this seem like a good way to do it?

And finally, I’m a single parent and my child will be three when I finish the MSc. I would prefer to work part-time until she starts school a year later - is this a realistic possibility or are most jobs in this field (especially for someone junior) full-time?

Would be really grateful for any advice, thank you

I wouldn’t get downhearted - the consensus on this thread is that neither the web development or the MSc is a silly idea, and op said the web dev was a good way of getting back into study.
TBH, if she’s not posted on mumsnet and just executed this plan it would very likely to work out.

I agree, I’ve never had a problem finding a job in over 15 years in IT and always getting hassled by recruiters for jobs.

It’s hardly castles in the air stuff - op’s found good options - no training is every going to be perfect.

Looking at the synopsis for your MSc it seems to be a mixture of things, which is good from the point of view of exposing you to different things but bad from the idea of leaving you not an expert in any!

For example, if you want to be a developer, there is a lot of time spent on project mgt - which while useful knowledge for anyone working in IT is not really essential - and if you want to be an IT project manager, you would probably be better taking a PRINCE 2 course, for example.

There are also some disciplines (e.g. business analysis, testing) that aren't really covered by the MSc - it's worth thinking about whether these might be areas that you might be interested in - they are good fields to get into if you don't want to be a developer but want to work in IT.

I work in IT and my experience is that people who apply for developer jobs have lots of coding experience even if they've never had an IT job - they've taught themselves at least one language and contributed to OpenSource communities, for example. I've not been involved in recruiting for a couple of years, but we were also starting to see that it's much harder to get into entry level jobs. For example, my company offers a graduate trainee position. 10 years ago this would go to a graduate straight out of uni with no job experience. These days it goes to graduates who have 3-4 years of specific IT experience, looking to broaden their horizons/move into a different area.

I don't want this to sound if I am putting you off! But I do think you should spend some time thinking about what you would like your future career to be, and the best route to get you there.

Thanks again everyone, this has been really useful and I’m very grateful for your input.

I’m not downhearted, I think I am going to do the MSc, and the web development course in the year leading up to it. Some of it might not be completely necessary but I’d still rather do it than not.

It’s been very interesting to hear about all your various paths into your careers, and I’m pretty sure I’ll end up in a good job one way or another!

Sorry cross posted with RedSky - yes that’s good advice, I will definitely think about that!

If you have lots of coding experience you don't necessarily need the qualifications - DH fell in to programming having had a background in physics and robotics, and now earns a very good salary as a senior developer in a well known central London company.

He's never taken a computer qualification in his life, but has worked on several websites (he's no good at design, but can do fancy things with back end programming) and written a very popular open source programming tool, so he could showcase what he could do that way.

For the record, his job is a lot more flexible than my NHS one!

I'm a recruiting IT manager and have been in IT for 30 years. I interview a lot of people, but mainly contractors, so I expect them to have very specific knowledge and experience.

I would say that your experience in healthcare would be a huge plus to any IT organisation which has healthcare clients - in many fields such as programming, business analysis (particularly business analysis!), solutions architecture etc.

It's a gamble taking on a permanent employee, so to take you on I'd need to be really sure you were able to bring value and for me that would be the combination of your industry-specific knowledge plus your new IT skill-set. An MSc wouldn't really sway me, that would just tell me you have some theoretical knowledge, but I'd want to see examples of real-life problem solving/delivery.

In addition, CyberSecurity is in huge demand at the moment, and particularly women. I'm finding that a lot of large organisations are trying to improve the diversity in their IT and leadership teams (not because they care sadly but because it's proven to improve profits) and so I would definitely take a look at that. It's quite challenging and technical but rewarding.

I was going to say, based on my experience, that a degree isn't really the most practical preparation for an IT career. My experience of an undergraduate degree is that about 75% of the curriculum was of no direct benefit to a career in IT. (And the other 25% could easily have been picked up in other ways.)

Having said that, the curriculum posted above looks much more practical/vocational than mine was. My lecturers literally sneered at the idea that anyone on their courses would want to do anything as mundane as corporate IT for a career.

My degree was a very long time ago, so my experience may be out-of-date.

One thing I heard said early in my career which I agree with, is that IT is a craft, not a profession. People learn by doing, and you are hired according to experience with particular tools, languages and industries. Unlike law or medecine where the body of knowledge involved is fairly static, in IT what you need to know can evolve rapidly in a short space of time, as technology changes.

In general, if you want a career in IT, if you can find your way in by taking a vocational qualification, then widen your skills and experience on the job, I think that for many that would be the best option.

For those who can't get a start, then I suppose a degree qualification is a (expensive and time-consuming) way to get a foot in the door.

I think your web development course is a good start, see if you can get work just from that, then expand your skill-set once in an IT job. (Disclaimer: I have no idea how easy it is to get web development work, not my area.)