Qualifications

[ChristopherB]

Okay so as most of you know, no one wants to employ anyone that doesn't have a piece of paper saying "Piet can do the work".

So what I mean by this is, I'm considering getting some sort of certificate or something via part time study. However, I can't really seem to find any good "College" that can assist me.

I was thinking of studying something like:
- Information Technology.

It seems to cover most of what a person needs. The building blocks as I say. Lets face it many people can program in C, C++, Java, Perl, Python and whatever, but what helps you to land your first job, so that you can start your career.

Would it be the Information technology Qualification or a Qualification in Programming itself?

Feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[stricken]

I have no official qualification. What I do have is a blog with all the projects / experiments / code i have ever worked on, most with screen shots, some with downloadable binaries / code / samples . I am with my third employer now and never has "having a qualification" been an issue. As they see it, being able to demonstrate my ability far surpasses some piece of paper.

thats my 2 cents worth.

 

[ChristopherB]

hmmm, that is a really good idea! If I may ask, what sort of projects do you do yourself? Like I enjoy creating business based software.
Do you focus more on the visual or backbone of projects? GUI applications or console scripts?

 

[Hamster]

Your first job in IT/Programming is usually not the high paying one and if you'll probably move on for a pay jump after two years.

I would recommended going through a recruitment agency, because even though they are a bunch of wolves, they do make it easier.

1st prize is to study a 3 year course at a university in Information Technology. Its not all just programming out there. But whatever you do, do not go for a programming only course through someone like CTI etc. You WILL stand out for all the wrong reasons. Very few guys get it right to have a prosperous career in IT without a 3 year degree/diploma.

 

[stevenv]

The problem is you have to find someone who is willing to hire you on a gamble. Not having any experience and/or qualifications is a major risk to any employer, especially in IT. If I were you I would start looking for a job (probably see a few recruitment agencies and see what their thoughts on your situation are) but at the same time and more importantly, start working on some projects of your own and decide what you're going to study and get on with it. Start approaching friends, family etc., anyone that has a small business and see if you can develop some software for them. Unfortunately you may not be able to request a payment arrangment up front, don't think people would sign a contract or agreement based on you saying "don't worry, I can do it." The advantage of doing this is that it is more real world than many things you can come up with on your own. This can be used as part of a "portfolio" you can present to prospective employers (provided it's good enough). Your best bet for studying is probably through some university (e.g. UNISA) but if considering applications might already be closed, look for some short courses that cover the type of work you want to be doing but don't throw all your money into one of these or get pulled in by the hype and promises of employment, rather invest in getting a degree but don't waste time if you can't start that right now.

 

[DigitalSoldier]

Okay so as most of you know, no one wants to employ anyone that doesn't have a piece of paper saying "Piet can do the work".

So what I mean by this is, I'm considering getting some sort of certificate or something via part time study. However, I can't really seem to find any good "College" that can assist me.

I was thinking of studying something like:
- Information Technology.

It seems to cover most of what a person needs. The building blocks as I say. Lets face it many people can program in C, C++, Java, Perl, Python and whatever, but what helps you to land your first job, so that you can start your career.

Would it be the Information technology Qualification or a Qualification in Programming itself?

Feedback would be greatly appreciated!

UNISA. Part time and you get a recognized degree just remember as have been mentioned its not all programming.

Edit: I forgot, you can do shot certificate courses through UNISA and the registration datum for those are still open afaik.

http://cs-cert.unisa.ac.za/courses.htm

 

[greggpb]

I always laugh at these, anyone can program... but its true... then again anyone can build a building from a shack to a 7 floor mansion, do you need engineers to build a shack ? do you need engineers to build a mansion. ? at the end of the day who would you want to build you house ? and ask youself home many bricklayers get promoted on just doing the work..

Get a real degree from a uni. otherwise you are pretty much wasting your time and will be come one of those middle of the road developers or land up in IT support

*sorry about the rant..

 

[ChristopherB]

Everyone has given some vital information, and thank you for that.

However, I do like the mind set of stricken, simply because I think we have the same mentality, we don't need a lecturer to show us and feed us with a spoon when we can and want to learn on our own.

Yet again, the world of today understands and accepts a degree, diploma etc as a first choice...

I'm currently doing some personal projects in Python, and I absolutely love Python.
I won't mind getting in as a Junior Python programmer and working my way up.

I am friends with a lecturer at CPUT, and he told me that, "it's not the skill in a certain language that makes a good programmer, it's what you understand of computers that determines your capabilities."

All languages are pretty much the same, the syntax might be different, but in the end they all do the same thing and work with the same methods.

So to my understanding I must rather get some sort of qualification that confirms that I understand the "logic" behind a computer.

 

[greggpb]

Everyone has given some vital information, and thank you for that.

However, I do like the mind set of stricken, simply because I think we have the same mentality, we don't need a lecturer to show us and feed us with a spoon when we can and want to learn on our own.

Yes But you do need a lecturer and syllabus to force you to learn the stuff that isn't fun, but still necessary. The problem is that being new to the world of programming a person doesn't know where to focus their energy. so they start coding and then solve all the problems with a I'll do it when i get there mentality..

Yet again, the world of today understands and accepts a degree, diploma etc as a first choice...

I'm currently doing some personal projects in Python, and I absolutely love Python.
I won't mind getting in as a Junior Python programmer and working my way up.


I am friends with a lecturer at CPUT, and he told me that, "it's not the skill in a certain language that makes a good programmer, it's what you understand of computers that determines your capabilities."

Your mate is spot on, most of these little programing certificates won't got in heap vs stack memory management, or Cpu register's as an example. so there are thing you will never learn because you are never confronted by them.

All languages are pretty much the same, the syntax might be different, but in the end they all do the same thing and work with the same methods.

So to my understanding I must rather get some sort of qualification that confirms that I understand the "logic" behind a computer.

almost any computer language can get a computer to do X. Computer languages are differentiated on a different set of criteria that what the can get a compute to do.

 

[ChristopherB]

Thanks greggpb,

With all honesty I really want to get a diploma and a degree, masters etc.

I'm just being shunted to perform from the misses, and she's not willing to wait 2 years or 3 years or even 4 years for me to get my ducks in a row, so that's why I'm looking at all possible routes to be able to work and study at the same time.