Looking at getting into ICT

[Nomsa22]

I am 33 years old and now looking at getting into ICT to be a technician or website designer. Anyone got any tips please?

If you're looking for a course to do, just make sure it is a respected accreditation. The BCS courses are well respected by employers: www.bcs.org/qualifications-and-certifications/.

You can do Microsoft training for free online, though you may need to pay to sit the exam and get the certificate at the end of the course: www.microsoft.com/en-us/flexibility/training-and-certification-solutions

There are lots of entry level IT support jobs. Find some you like the sound of and see what skills/certifications they are asking for. As well as generic job sites like Indeed, look at sector specific sites, such as jobs.ac.uk for jobs in university IT departments.

You don't need a degree. But if you have no experience, it will be easier to get into IT Support (where there is a desperate shortage of staff) than website design (where there is probably an oversupply of creative types with the necessary skills and you'd need to build a portfolio by doing freebies first). But you could do both - one as a day job and the other as a longer term hobby/aspiration.

Also, if you have an interest in cyber security, there is even more demand.

Check out the apprenticeship route too. There is no upper age limit: skillsforlife.campaign.gov.uk/courses/apprenticeships/

My ds learned coding online for free using various online courses while working and now works as a software engineer. He did no qualifications in this (has a degree in a science Subject) but worked hard in his own time. His first job was in a junior position as still training but now earns a very good salary.

If you want I can ask what he learnt then or what would be most useful now in terms of jobs.

Thank you very helpful 😊