There has never been a better time to work in the field of Information Technology.

Whereas computing was a rather elitist occupation twenty years ago, today’s aspiring IT guru's have been ‘brought up’ with computers making them more  immediately employable than 'trainees' of yesteryear.

Typical entry-level candidates will have used PCs at school, at  university or in previous jobs and many will have computers or even networks at home.
 

Most importantly, the best candidates will have enthusiasm for computers because IT work is more than just a job - people do it because they love it.

Available Jobs

The biggest entry-level demand over the last several years has been in the whole area of PC and network support with skills in Microsoft Office and Windows being particularly sought-after.

Typical entry-level roles cover a range of activities including software installation, basic PC hardware upgrades, network administration, user training and help-desk support.

Being an 'all-rounder' is the key to success and the more of these things that you can do, the more marketable you are.

Even if your long-term ambitions lie in the areas of programming, systems design, consultancy or e-commerce, a general technical support role could well provide your foot-in-the-door to an IT career.

Entry-level candidates with some sort of IT 'background' start with a considerable advantage but employment prospects will be improved by formal training.

For the unemployed, there are various Government-funded training schemes available.

Commercial training schools tend to provide longer and more-comprehensive courses with the flexibility to continue training outside of normal working hours when you have secured a job.

Increasingly, employers are interested in qualifications which indicate specific technical competence – For example, the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) or the CLP (Certified Lotus Professional).

Despite the traditional high demand for technical skills, it has always been very difficult to find that first opening on the 'bottom rung' of the IT ladder – But the opportunities are there.

Salary levels depend very much on your individual background but entry-level positions typically command about £14-15,000 in the London area, rising to £25-30,000 after a couple of years.

Surprisingly, there are also a number of short-term contract opportunities at the  junior-level.

Age is not so much of a barrier these days and we have placed many entry-level people changing career direction in their 30’a and 40’s.

At this stage, getting your ‘foot-in-the-door’ is the main priority and any offer of gainful employment should be taken very seriously.

Courses cover the range of Microsoft CISCO and SUN qualifications as well as e-business and various programming languages

JCB Computers provide Microsoft, Novell and CISCO training in Coventry and West London.

Eurofile also provide a telephone and on-site PC support service aimed at small businesses and individuals - Details on: www.eurofilesupport.co.uk