How to get an entry level job (especially IT)?

[sheepdogdelight]

DS is 18 and just finished A Levels. Disillusioned with study, and doesn't want to go to university. Would consider an apprenticeship but his grades are not good enough for a degree apprenticeship, and Level 4 apprenticeships seem to be few and far between.

Think he wants to work in IT. I've suggested a service desk type job, but there seems to be very little available at entry level locally. (He's looking on major online job sites). He has previously had a couple of part time jobs (cleaner, working in a supermarket) so has some experience but not immediately relevant (he is emphasising the customer service skills gained from the supermarket job).

Anyone suggest another entry level way into IT? Or if he needs to be looking in different places/applying in a different way?

Does he know what he would like to do in IT? Does he have any programming experience?
I wouldn't go for a service desk job or he'll end up in Level 1 support.

Could he have a look at web sites that describe the types of jobs within IT, and try to narrow it down?

Could he look to see if any local companies are offering apprenticeships?
If there are large employers in your area, they may have apprenticeships.Had he considered an apprenticeship through organisations like the Army or Police?

If writing to a company, I think he's better off tailoring the letter to a position he'd like, and to one he's suited.

Could he look at college courses, maybe evening ones, to get some basic training and to show keenness?

Local authorities don't tend to advertise junior roles anywhere but their own websites.

The courses near me are things like City & Guilds, vocational training (plumbing, plastering etc), programming. I've attended some and they are mixed age groups, so he'll be treated like an adult.

Does he know anyone who works in IT, or something like that, who could look out for anything internally?

He could learn to code without going to a class, something like Python, and build a portfolio.

Support engineer in IT can be a good job to have, and maybe a Level 1 could lead to it.

If he is stuck, he could read and work through 'What color is your parachute?' to find if he has aptitude for a certain type of work. (I know, youngsters don't do books - been through this with a young relative recently. Young Relative has a mickey mouse degree he/she regrets doing - my recommendation fell on deaf ears)

The junior / trainee opportunities are very regional. There are huge gaps in this industry around the UK and then pockets full of jobs.

In my experience, graduates tend to get employed. But there are some apprenticeships available

Step 1) check your local college to see if they actually provide an IT apprenticeship.

Step 2) if they do, approach the companies and ask if they'd like to employ an apprentice. (Sometimes the college will do this for you!)

The NHS do apprenticeships but not in every hospital. So if you're lucky enough to be near one that does, go for it!

My local authority did a Level 5 Cyber Security apprenticeship but required travel to London frequently which is 6 hours away.

Not quite what you asked but beware of the adverts/sites that say you'll be guaranteed a job if you do their £££ course. You won't.

Yes very true! And also courses on Reed are not going to help anyone become more employable.

Udemy is good for finding out personal skillset and interests.

Thanks for responses. He doesn't want to be a developer.

He'd potentially like to work in cyber security long term, but jobs seem to suggest you need broad IT experience; hence suggesting that service desk might be a place to start (at least to get an understanding of how IT departments work).

I had spotted the "do £££ course and get a guaranteed job" adverts and figured they were too good to be true. Good to have this confirmed.

Thanks for the tip about local authorities - I'll get him to check there.

I actually work in IT :) But I came in off a graduate scheme (do these even exist any more? so a bit clueless about how you break in, these days). I know in my own organisation once you're in a job, it's relatively easy to move about to different ones.

He'll need some programming skills, I think, or at least some understanding of coding.
Why does he think he'd like to work in cyber security or IT?

I loooove cyber security. Graduate schemes exist but not everywhere in the UK.

It would be great if he was good at Azure!

I started in IT on a Service Desk many moons ago.

Cloud qualifications are hot right now.. Azure, AWS, Google etc but you need a solid base understanding.

Ah yes, that would be helpful information.

He has an AS in Computer Science and it was his favourite subject at school (A Level not offered and he didn't want to change). (As part of this he did do some coding, so he knows how to, just not the area he wants to focus on).

He went on a cyber security summer school last summer and found it fascinating.

I think he doesn't really know enough about IT jobs to make a definite decision, but the only way to find out a bit more is to have an IT job ...