I Want to Work in IT – but I don't have a computing degree!
This is not a problem: there are many one-year “conversion courses” designed to give graduates from any degree subject an intensive grounding in programming and other IT skills. A few of these are listed below. All kinds of first degree disciplines may be combined with these skills to give you an advantage in career areas such as finance, media, library/information work and law.
Now you wear more computing power on your wrist than NASA had available for the whole Apollo project. |
If you don't want to do a postgraduate course, there are a few employers who will train you on-the-job, although graduates in business, science, maths and engineering may be most in demand here. There are also opportunities within IT companies in non-technical roles such as sales, marketing and customer service.
To test your suitability for a technical role in computing teach yourself some VB.Net, Java or Javascript if you haven't done much programming - it would make the first months of an MSc course much easier, and also give you a good idea of your suitability for the course - if you find it easy, you will probably find the course relatively easy, and vice versa. You can download Java for free from Sun www.java.com/en and there are lots of free introductions to Java programming on the web, or if you preferred an easier introduction, you could try Javascript to get you started and give you some of the syntax www.w3schools.com/JS/js_intro.asp
Employers
- Accenture http://careers3.accenture.com/Careers/UK Accenture accepts people from all degree disciplines and only asks for a genuine interest in IT and its application to business
- CHP Consulting www.chp.co.uk recruit graduates with a 2:1 or above, in any discipline, and As and Bs at A-Level - or the equivalent
- Hewlett-Packard www8.hp.com/uk/en/jobsathp/students-graduates/programs/graduate-opportunities.html no technical experience required
- IBM www-05.ibm.com/employment/uk For most of our vacancies, any degree discipline is acceptable, because this is a graduate training scheme that can be tailored to your needs
- Logica www.logica-graduates.co.uk We typically look for a 2.1 degree (expected or obtained) in IT, Computer Science, Software Engineering or similar; Maths, Physics or a similar numerate subject or Business or Management Studies (with an element of IT) If they can demonstrate an excellent understanding of business technology, we’ll consider applicants with degrees in other subjects.
- Metaswitch Networks www.metaswitch.com/careers/grads "We are looking for an exceptional academic record, ideally all A grades at A-level or equivalent, and a good degree in any discipline”
- Microsoft http://careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/gb/gradhome.aspx sales, marketing and technical roles
- RM www.rmgraduates.com recruit graduates in any discipline
Conversion Courses
There are many courses in IT designed for graduates in other subjects: those listed below are a selection, mostly in the south of England , that may be of interest to Kent graduates. This list does not imply any recommendation of these courses. Other courses can be found by searching the postgraduate databases on Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk/links/PGDbase or Hobsons www.postgrad.hobsons.com
- University of Kent MSc Computer Science www.cs.kent.ac.uk/teaching/pg This course prepares graduates from any discipline for a career in computing, or a career involving the application of computing to their original discipline
- Canterbury Christ Church University www.canterbury.ac.uk/business-sciences/computing/index.asp MSc Information Systems
- Oxford Brookes University http://cms.brookes.ac.uk/computing/courses.php?id=58 MSc in Computing. C onversion course (for non-computing graduates) focusing on software design and development
- University of Bedfordshire www.beds.ac.uk/departments/computing/courses/postgraduate A range of computing programmes for graduates with various levels of computing knowledge
Teaching There are a number of “subject knowledge booster courses” and conversion courses for graduates interested in teaching a “shortage subject” (including ICT) but who do not have a relevant degree. Details and a searchable database of these courses can be found at the Teaching Agency site www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching
Useful websites
- Main Computing Careers page
- Prospects IT Sector Briefing www.prospects.ac.uk/links/infotechsb
- Target Jobs http://targetjobs.co.uk/it-and-telecoms
- Arts Humanities Net www.arts-humanities.net aims to support and advance the use and understanding of digital tools and methods for research and teaching in the arts and humanities. The site includes links to "expert centres"
- Interface 2011 www.interface2012.org.uk is an International Symposium for Humanities and Technology taking place at the end of July. Even if you are not able to attend the event the site may give some ideas for bringing together these two areas
- The Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations http://digitalhumanities.org/about promotes and supports digital research and teaching across all arts and humanities disciplines - their site gives some examples of the areas in which their members are working.
- The National Archives have recently advertised a vacancy for a Systems Analyst http://bit.ly/jvZ5t0
I was having trouble with my computer. So I called Richard, the 11-year-old next door whose bedroom looks like Mission Control, and asked him to come over. Richard clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem. As he was walking away, I called after him, "So, what was wrong?" I didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless inquired, "An ID ten T error? What's that? In case I need to fix it again." Richard grinned.... Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error before? "No," I replied. "Write it down," he said, "and I think you'll figure it out." So I wrote it down: I D 1 0 T |
Last fully updated 2012