LittleLakeGirl Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Hello All I'd like to pick the brains of any IT experts on the boards regarding in demand for skills in the IT industries. As you may or may not know my OH recently accepted a job offer in Sydney and our 457 Visas have just approved, all good. So, he's all sorted with a job but I'll need to get one and I've been thinking about what I might be able to do over there. Of course I can continue what I'm doing here (general secretarial, P.A. some project work, quality management etc) or I can take the opportunity to try something different. Long story short(ish): I have a background in business & IT, with emphasis more on business and have been well out of the IT game (aside from being unofficial first line tech support wherever I've worked) for more than 10 years. I studied but (for one reason or another and to my detriment) didn't complete at degree level. At the time I didn't think I'd learned an awful lot but ten years of real world experience has gone to prove that actually I did (especially with regard to general business functions, quality management and business systems) so what I'm now looking to do is try and get back into 'the game' with that experience behind me; as such I'm looking for suggestions as to what hard IT skills it would serve me best to learn. I've always had an interest in web technologies and dabbled a little in design but being outside the loop for a while my knowledge isn't what it was, especially as technology has moved on so far. I think I'm probably looking at the software side of things rather than hardware but again, having been out of it for so long I'm not sure what it would serve me best to learn (programming) language wise, and what languages might easily transfer into other languages if need be. Due to work commitments here I'm not heading out to Sydney for a few months and of course I'm realistic about what levels of skill and experience any potential employer might be after but I'm hoping to perhaps start learning now so I may be able to continue once I get there. Thanks in advance for any input you may be able to provide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slean Wolfhead Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 ITIL Foundation at least...that will stand you in good stead to get Project Officer work, which can mean anything from project administration, service desk, support agreements, service level management, project support etc....business administration type stuff based on process management; you sound as if you'd be able to grasp that easily. The hardest thing is getting through the door somewhere as a new migrant without a specialism, once you're inside and can prove your worth barriers are not so important and the hard slog of getting knockbacks from agencies who only have time to glance at a CV seem to melt away. Basically, if you've got aptitude and experience it will shine through, but you need to get in somewhere at any level to show them what you're like. You can study ITIL online and download the coursework from torrent sites...then register for the exam in the UK and do it before you come...it's not very hard. The other thing you could swot up on is Prince2 for project management...they also have a Foundation level that can be done in a few days of classroom study, or again you can download it if you google hard enough. Even if that's not your ambition, an awareness is important because it could make you stand out from others, and again it's a quick hit for your CV rather than trying to learn a programming language in a few months and then expect to beat other applicants for jobs when they've probably got experience as well. I'd build on your existing background and strengthen it with a few qualifications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckleface Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Just adding to the info above - if you do a Prince2 course do it to Practitioner level rather than just the Foundation level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest aqsa Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 I'm on the same boat as well... no degree..lots of experience. I will be 35 tomorrow, so less 5 points. I'm a Systems/Security and Network administrator, currently trying to (re)learn some programming, because until now.. I did C, just for kicks.. and then replaced it with bash. Unfortunately I still need to save a lot of money, because exams/certifications/skill assessment tests/VISA costs.. are too high for my low portuguese wage(~1.5k AUD/monthly). I was thinking on doing: - ITIL Found - Finish my CCNP(1 exam missing for full certification) - Planned C|EH.. but it's too expensive What else could I do? Ty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Hello All I'd like to pick the brains of any IT experts on the boards regarding in demand for skills in the IT industries. As you may or may not know my OH recently accepted a job offer in Sydney and our 457 Visas have just approved, all good. So, he's all sorted with a job but I'll need to get one and I've been thinking about what I might be able to do over there. Of course I can continue what I'm doing here (general secretarial, P.A. some project work, quality management etc) or I can take the opportunity to try something different. Long story short(ish): I have a background in business & IT, with emphasis more on business and have been well out of the IT game (aside from being unofficial first line tech support wherever I've worked) for more than 10 years. I studied but (for one reason or another and to my detriment) didn't complete at degree level. At the time I didn't think I'd learned an awful lot but ten years of real world experience has gone to prove that actually I did (especially with regard to general business functions, quality management and business systems) so what I'm now looking to do is try and get back into 'the game' with that experience behind me; as such I'm looking for suggestions as to what hard IT skills it would serve me best to learn. I've always had an interest in web technologies and dabbled a little in design but being outside the loop for a while my knowledge isn't what it was, especially as technology has moved on so far. I think I'm probably looking at the software side of things rather than hardware but again, having been out of it for so long I'm not sure what it would serve me best to learn (programming) language wise, and what languages might easily transfer into other languages if need be. Due to work commitments here I'm not heading out to Sydney for a few months and of course I'm realistic about what levels of skill and experience any potential employer might be after but I'm hoping to perhaps start learning now so I may be able to continue once I get there. Thanks in advance for any input you may be able to provide. To get a better handle on where you are at, have you ever worked as a professional software developer? If so, using which frameworks, languages etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleLakeGirl Posted October 1, 2012 Author Share Posted October 1, 2012 To get a better handle on where you are at, have you ever worked as a professional software developer? If so, using which frameworks, languages etc? Nope , I think if you go on complete novice software dev wise with a. theoretical knowledge of stuff like usability and interaction and b. good business process experience gained from setting up and improving systems (think processes rather than applications) in small business rather than medium to large enterprise that'd be me. I'm looking at a long term shift in career but building on existing skills, knowledge and interests rather than something that's going to happen in the short term. TBH I think even if I'd finished my degree my software dev skills would have been (almost) no existent as rather than a pure computer science degree much of the focus of the course was business processes (project management, HIC, HR, Quality Management JIT manufacturing etc and how all these things interact and integrate with IT systems). As I say much of this seemed quite dry in a lecture and even a simulated project environment (it felt like we were playing at it) but once I got out into the real world and got a degree of autonomy over my jobs, mostly because no one else wanted to take some of this stuff on, it made sense. As an example of what I have achieved, at my former employer - an engineering firm - Working with an external audit consultant I put into place an ISO9001:2000 accredited QMS, which documented and tweaked existing processes, including computerising some using existing software. Ty, happy birthday for tomorrow! That's two of us at 35 but I definitely think you're much further ahead of me in what you do IT wise, good luck getting to Oz, I guess I'm lucky in that respect because I'm piggybacking (Although I helped my OH loads with the business side his AQF & his NEBS course to get this far so I must've learned something, now to prove it!) Thanks all for your feedback so far, it's been really helpful, especially with regard to the ITIL, as I'd never heard of that (told you I've been out of it a while) last time I looked it was all about ECDL, which I find hugely frustrating because I've been put off applying for local authority jobs over here (UK) as they've asked for it as an essential prerequisite when it's (IMHO) way below my skill level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Software development at a professional level is often quite complex these days and it really helps to have a strong interest in it as there are "a lot" of concepts to absorb compared to the past imo (I've been going 20+ years). From development methods like agile, dozens of software patterns, varied architectural components like windows/web/mobile/cloud etc, database frameworks, software frameworks, testing frameworks and mocking, concepts like continuous delivery etc there is really a lot to learn. Of course you could do it, and some small companies may have more simple roles and of course new graduates cope, but I just advise that you should really want to be reading about this stuff as it is harder to dabble these days. Another option might be to build on your business process experience and transition to an IT Business Analyst. We have demand for BA's with cloud knowledge/experience at the moment and this demand will probably increase in the future with the expansion of use of cloud infrastructure and services across the industry. If you could get some cloud knowledge onto your CV somehow, this might be the new thing that gets you that crossover opportunity due to a shortage of practitioners. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleLakeGirl Posted October 2, 2012 Author Share Posted October 2, 2012 Fish, thanks so much for the suggestions. You've given me lots to mull over! I really appreciate the feedback and I'll let you know what I (eventually) decide. Cheers once again, all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortlepuss Posted October 2, 2012 Share Posted October 2, 2012 I'd second ITIL but I'd also go for SharePoint - even in gloom struck Brisbane there seems to be a demand for skilled practitioners Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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