ANOTHER advice request

werfie

werfie

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Somehow I never get my questions answered by searching through previous threads...

Long Version:
I started studying Diploma in IT through UNISA as I didn't have any previous qualifications and wanted to just get something behind my name. Have been working for a big software company for about 10 years. I eventually gave up on the UNISA qualification, because of financial reasons and I quite frankly don't understand what that 4 year qualification is supposed to teach you.

At the beginning of the year I was thrown into the deep end and my boss told me that she thinks I should do something more challenging and I started on a nice big new C# project, from scratch. They were also willing to pay for any training. I attended a 1 week Intro to C# course and it was a disaster. We ended up with a developer of 5 years in the class and the lecturer felt the need to present the course at that level as not to bore that attendee. So I ended up learning very little after a week as the concepts were to advanced for me (and the rest of the class apart from that one attendee). So with time pressing on, it was me and professor Google. So I struggled on and kinda clued up myself... It is now 8 months down the line, project is on track and looking great, everyone is super impressed, so very lucky for me, that route worked out. :)

My boss has now come to me and told me that she is making a decent sum of money available in the new Financial Year for me to go on training for whatever I feel the need to.

My question is, where/which courses can I go and attend that will be worth something? I love my company and don't plan on leaving soon, but also something that has some value on a CV.

It should preferably be shortish courses, as I have to attend these during work hours and so, because I suck at after hours learning.

C#/.Net etc type courses would be best, I think... or suggestions?

Any advice will be appreciated.

TL;DR
Where can I go for Beginner (8 months experience) C# training, that will be worth something on a CV and in practice?
 
werfie said:
Long Version:
I started studying Diploma in IT through UNISA as I didn't have any previous qualifications and wanted to just get something behind my name. Have been working for a big software company for about 10 years. I eventually gave up on the UNISA qualification, because of financial reasons and I quite frankly don't understand what that 4 year qualification is supposed to teach you.
Click to expand...

Do unisa..
 
werfie said:
Somehow I never get my questions answered by searching through previous threads...

Long Version:
I started studying Diploma in IT through UNISA as I didn't have any previous qualifications and wanted to just get something behind my name. Have been working for a big software company for about 10 years. I eventually gave up on the UNISA qualification, because of financial reasons and I quite frankly don't understand what that 4 year qualification is supposed to teach you.
Click to expand...

I don't understand that part at all. How do you not understand what it is supposed to teach you?
NDip IT or BSc Informatics/Computing would probably be the best course.
 
^^vampire^^ said:
I don't understand that part at all. How do you not understand what it is supposed to teach you?
NDip IT or BSc Informatics/Computing would probably be the best course.
Click to expand...

I can understand how this would benefit someone just after school, but I started with this after I was 28 and worked for a company for about 9 odd years. It was a long list of 6 month long courses that touched on a whole range of general stuff with 1 exam. I almost got the impression the purpose of this is purely to make you decide what to specialise in after 3 years. I spent thousands of rands in once semester on Windows basics and how to write in English.

All I mean with this is that I don't think it's a fit for me after actually already having the job you hope to get when you study for these types of qualifications. I now wish to further my skills in that area and I am looking for something that will give me real world skills in the area I am working in now.
 
GhostSixFour said:
Do unisa..
Click to expand...

If I understand you correctly, you are suggesting that I finish my Unisa course with the money the company is making available?

Problem with this is that a Diploma in IT isn't going to improve my skills as a C# developer much. As I said to vampire, I already have the job, and I am going on quite well. So I don't need to get "some qualification". I need something that will improve my C# skills specifically. The diploma I was busy with through Unisa was so general, it felt like the purpose with that was to make you choose which career path you wanted to follow (web programming, mobile apps, networking, IT management, etc) and it gave you a qualification that looks good when you apply for a job.

What I need now is something that will improve my C# abilities in order for me to perform better in the job I already have.
 
werfie said:
I can understand how this would benefit someone just after school, but I started with this after I was 28 and worked for a company for about 9 odd years. It was a long list of 6 month long courses that touched on a whole range of general stuff with 1 exam. I almost got the impression the purpose of this is purely to make you decide what to specialise in after 3 years. I spent thousands of rands in once semester on Windows basics and how to write in English.

All I mean with this is that I don't think it's a fit for me after actually already having the job you hope to get when you study for these types of qualifications. I now wish to further my skills in that area and I am looking for something that will give me real world skills in the area I am working in now.
Click to expand...

I'm almost 37 and will be completing my BSc @ UNISA this semester =D Oh yes, and I have been working at the same company for 16 years now :o

What a degree will do for you is equip you with irreplaceable skills. A degree pushes your limits and opens up your mind. There are so many reasons why I am a better developer today than what I was 10 years ago.
 
Syzygy78 said:
I'm almost 37 and will be completing my BSc @ UNISA this semester =D Oh yes, and I have been working at the same company for 16 years now :o

What a degree will do for you is equip you with irreplaceable skills. A degree pushes your limits and opens up your mind. There are so many reasons why I am a better developer today than what I was 10 years ago.
Click to expand...

Well done!!!

Well let me put it this way... I kinda know that a degree is something you should have, that is why I started with it in the first place, and I think I may want to complete that at some stage, finances permitting.

Unfortunately the NDip IT I was doing won't really make an immediate notable change to my C# skills which is what my company is after I guess.
 
you work for a big software company for 10 years and cannot see the importance of a degree over a direct language course and had to attend an intro to c# course? And then there was a 5 year dev in the class and was taught at his level and you the 10 year dev couldn't follow?

the degree is about learning fundamental principles and theories, including analysis, design, development and all supporting activities, not just, oh looky I can code a console app that will do x.

take the money and finish your degree. any company will value a degree on yoour cv as opposed a short course qualification.
 
D3x! said:
you work for a big software company for 10 years and cannot see the importance of a degree over a direct language course and had to attend an intro to c# course? And then there was a 5 year dev in the class and was taught at his level and you the 10 year dev couldn't follow?

the degree is about learning fundamental principles and theories, including analysis, design, development and all supporting activities, not just, oh looky I can code a console app that will do x.

take the money and finish your degree. any company will value a degree on yoour cv as opposed a short course qualification.
Click to expand...

Let me clarify. I worked for the company for 10 years (in various departments), not as a developer for 10 years. Developer only for about a 1.5 years now, whereof last 8 months were on c#.

I understand your point with the degree - it makes sense. I will run the idea past them. But even while finishing that up, I am in the middle of a c# project, so the immediate requirement is to enhance my c# skill which will obviously benefit the project.
 
werfie said:
Well done!!!

Well let me put it this way... I kinda know that a degree is something you should have, that is why I started with it in the first place, and I think I may want to complete that at some stage, finances permitting.

Unfortunately the NDip IT I was doing won't really make an immediate notable change to my C# skills which is what my company is after I guess.
Click to expand...

Thank you =D

How about you have a two pronged approach? Focus on enhancing your immediate c# skills and look long term and work towards your degree? If you really want it, you can do it.

Register at the end of the month with UNISA to continue your degree next year from around Jan/Feb. That leaves you 6 months to enhance your c# knowledge/skills etc.

Oh yes, a degree also unlocks international opportunities.
 
Syzygy78 said:
Thank you =D

How about you have a two pronged approach? Focus on enhancing your immediate c# skills and look long term and work towards your degree? If you really want it, you can do it.

Register at the end of the month with UNISA to continue your degree next year from around Jan/Feb. That leaves you 6 months to enhance your c# knowledge/skills etc.

Oh yes, a degree also unlocks international opportunities.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this sounds like the best idea methinks.

I think I didn't word my OP very well. I fully understand the importance of a degree, and I intend to finish mine. But that aside, I want to enhance my c# skills and want to attend a couple of courses.

My actual question was, who knows of a couple of decent places where I can attend some short courses on C# with companies that aren't fly-by nights.
 
werfie said:
Thanks, do you do them through MS or third parties. If third parties, can I accept they should all be ok to do this through?
Click to expand...


Look at MS site they normally list all the certified training centers. Make sure they're certified.
 
I also suggest finishing your N.Dip. Theory may seem boring but it does help instead of being a code monkey.
 
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