IT Employment·20,091 discussions

Need your guidance… What course to choose?

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Hey everyone,
recently it was launched a program in my country with the aim of requalifying people to the IT field. I am a civil engineer and I decided to quit my job to participate in this program.

The program consists of six months of intensive classroom training and a further three months of internship at a tech company. There is a guarantee that the companies will hire at least 80% of the participants.
The thing is I have no idea which course to choose.

The training offers are as follows:

• Java
• Web front-end (Angular & Javascript/React)
• System Admin
• Networking & Cybersecurity (OP)
• Datawarehouse/BI
• COBOL
• .NET
• Guidewire/Java
• Mambu/Java
• Outsystems
• Appian
• ServiceNow
• Microsoft Power Platform
• Microsoft CRM
• Salesforce
• Cloud (AWS)
• Cloud (Azure)
• SAP HCM Success Factors (EC)
• SAP S/4HANNA Finance; Logistics; PLM

This is a life changing decision… feeling anxious…

Can anyone provide some guidance?

Thanks guys

Topic

Back to said school.

In reply to Need your guidance… What course to choose?

Most schools have guidance counselors so get back to that or your other school to have this discussion.

As to the 80% rate, that’s usually how training companies SELL their training. Be sure you are not falling for a sales pitch on training.

I consider myself a successful coder and electronics designer but my learning spanned decades and wasn’t obtained in any 3 or 6 month retraining course. It was the usual coursework at college and fortunately for me, opportunities on the job. I started as an entry level electronics tech and contributed with design changes and later software efforts.

Again, go meet with the school’s guidance and job counselors.

Thank you for your reply

In reply to Back to said school.

No one is trying to sell me anything. The government is going to pay me to learn tech skills, as there is a big shortage of workers in the IT field, and the companies who offer (and pay) the internships (Deloitte, Accenture, AWS, Microsoft, Cisco, Google, Inetum, Capgemini, etc) employ more than 90% of the trainees who finish the training. This is the third edition of the program.

I plan to work at least 35 more years so I am going to make this move.

Longevity implies thinking about the future.

You are being sold something.

In reply to Thank you for your reply

If this is a pay for training system, you are being sold a product. It doesn’t matter if the gov is paying the bill.

The companies you listed send folk without degrees to the bottom of the list. If you are working on your degree that’s something else and internships are common. But trade/training only rarely gets to the 80% employment rate. I know folk want it to be true and those that sell this product will defend their training school and product.

Here in the US there was and is still a lot of schemes. Some were so outrageous that lawsuits happened and the students got refunds or their loans discharged.

Ok but…

In reply to You are being sold something.

I understand what you are saying. And I appreciate your opinion. Truly.

But what I want right now is to get into the IT field. And this is the best available (and fastest) way to do it. We all have to start somewhere.

My question was/is: “If you were in my position, what technology skill would you choose to start with?” (Considering all your previous knowledge).

My view

In reply to Ok but…

Is as someone that has been around computing since the 1970’s. I’ve seen many things come and go.

But what is IT? Is it the people that run around plugging the mice back in or are you expecting to get a job setting up the SQL server?

It doesn’t matter what I know or have done. It matters to you what your goal is.

If it’s a job in IT then be aware that Work From Home decimated the usual offices with 100’s of workers and the usual IT work that was there.

Yet those that sell training will always tell you what it takes for you to sign up.

You live in a different reality than mine

In reply to My view

You live in a high-income country where there are many opportunities.

I live in a low-income country. Why do you think big tech companies have hubs here? For the same reason that nike and tesla have factories in vietnam and china: cheap skilled labor.

Another red flag.

In reply to You live in a different reality than mine

You can’t image the amount of spam for “IT Training in (insert country here.”

After you complete your training you are not skilled. That happens after a year or more.

I might change that statement if you already hold a degree in Math or a related field.

Back to you. What interests you and which training courses result in the highest employment percent?

Maybe another red flag but…

In reply to Another red flag.

I know that after this training program I won’t be “skilled” in anything but maybe this is the start of something.

I have a master’s degree in structural engineering and it has been of no use to me

Fantastic.

In reply to Maybe another red flag but…

That means you have more than basic maths out of the way.

-> In the US there’s a shortage of structural engineers to sign off on Residential Rooftop Solar Designs. Some of this is automated but not all.

Any interest in Solar?

Reply To: Need your guidance… What course to choose?

In reply to Need your guidance… What course to choose?

I can almost guarantee that hiring 80% of participants is likely to be nothing more than a boast. Best wishes though.

Re: course

In reply to Need your guidance… What course to choose?

I have to agree with Proffitt that it’s best to go and talk with the study advisers of the institute that gives the course.

They know the local situation (for example: why learn 60 year old COBOL if no company in your country uses it any more), you can discuss your background and preferences, they know more of the companies offering an internship (you might have reasons to prefer company X above company Y) and they can tell more about expected developments in the various specialties.

From what you tell, there doesn’t seem to be any reason why you shouldn’t be able to succeed in any of those areas. But probably you thought the same when you started your study in civil engineering, so it’s no guarantee at all.

I just moved into cybersecurity

In reply to Need your guidance… What course to choose?

I just moved from help desk to cybersecurity. Help desk was tough but I learned a lot! Cybersecurity is a lot more fun. I work with Microsoft 365. I’d look at a couple of things
1. Ask what course has the highest hire rate after graduation.
2. Try development before you pick a course. You can get free web development training online to learn the basics. Learn the basics and then if you enjoy coding pick one of those courses. If you don’t, then go with a non-development job

Reply To: Need your guidance… What course to choose?

In reply to I just moved into cybersecurity

Thank you for your advice

Reply To: Need your guidance… What course to choose?

In reply to Need your guidance… What course to choose?

It’s better to learn Java, it will give you a chance to get a good job. Of course it is not so easy but doable.

Reply To: Need your guidance… What course to choose?

In reply to Reply To: Need your guidance… What course to choose?

Thank you for your advice.

Reply To: Need your guidance… What course to choose?

In reply to Need your guidance… What course to choose?

Choosing a course for requalification can indeed be a significant decision. Given your background as a civil engineer and the current demand in the IT field, it’s great that you are considering this opportunity. While I can’t make the decision for you, I can provide some guidance to help you make an informed choice.

First, it’s important to consider your interests and strengths. Think about what aspects of the IT field excite you the most. Are you interested in software development, system administration, data analysis, cybersecurity, or something else? Identifying your interests will help narrow down the options.

Secondly, consider the market demand and job prospects for each course. Look for information on the current and projected growth of each area, as well as the availability of job opportunities in your country. This can give you an idea of the potential career prospects after completing the program.

Additionally, you may want to consider the transferability of skills. Some courses, like Java, web front-end development, and cloud computing, offer skills that are in high demand across various industries. These skills can provide you with more flexibility and a broader range of job opportunities.

Lastly, think about the long-term prospects and future trends in the IT industry. Consider emerging technologies and areas that are expected to grow in the coming years. Courses related to data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence/machine learning are currently in demand and likely to continue growing.

Ultimately, the best course for you will depend on your personal interests, career goals, and the market demand in your country. It might be helpful to research each option further, talk to professionals in the IT field, or even seek advice from the program organizers to gain more insights before making a decision.

Remember, this is an opportunity for growth and learning, and there is always the potential to pivot and explore other areas within the IT field as you gain more experience. Good luck with your decision, and I hope you find a course that aligns with your interests and opens up exciting career opportunities for you!

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