The challenges facing HM Forces personnel seeking post-Service redeployment

It is an unfortunate fact that a large proportion of civilian employers fail to recognise that many of the skills and attributes possessed by ex-HM Forces personnel are extremely valuable and transferable. This has always been a challenge facing ex-Services personnel, but in the face of the worst recession in living memory it has become even more acute.

So how should you go about maximising your chances of securing civilian employment?

It is clear that, in the present jobs climate, the competition is intense and, in general, there are more applicants than there are jobs – especially in the traditional redeployment career paths in general management, personnel management, security, HM Constabulary, etc. However, this is not the case in all sectors – there are still areas where there are severe skills shortages, as listed in the table below.

Software development

Testing

Help desk support

Managed services

Telecoms

Mobile phones

Offshore and onshore oil and gas

Civil and structural construction

Infrastructure projects

Offshore and onshore oil and gas

Petrochemicals

Electrical and electronics

Telecoms manufacturing

Hardware manufacturing

Mechanical

Vehicle maintenance

Production plant maintenance

Offshore and onshore oil and gas construction and

commissioning

Security

Marine security

Specialist security companies

Individual personal protection

Bomb disposal Unexploded ordnance clearance

Sports and leisure

Personal trainers

Fitness instructors

Whichever industries or sectors you decide to target, the key issue is to ensure that potential employers understand that your training and skills sets are transferable assets. It is also important to realise that civilian employers will be unfamiliar with HM Forces jargon and its use must be avoided. There are many aspects of your training and experience in the Forces that you take for granted but are important to highlight to prospective employers. For example:

levels of personal fitness attained
hardships endured
staying cool under fire
man management
self-discipline
leadership abilities
multi-tasking ability
teamwork.

It is also vital to understand the importance of a good CV and the necessity of a strategic approach to marketing yourself. You have to stand out from the crowd in order to get interviewed and secure a job.

This is where PrimeCandidate can help you. It offers a highly professional, bespoke online CV writing and posting service. Your CV is the most powerful sales and marketing tool at your disposal when searching for a new job, and should therefore be taken very seriously. PrimeCandidate will give your CV the edge it needs to get noticed. It comprises ex-recruitment and industry professionals with hiring manager status, and is in the best possible position to produce professional CVs and recommend CV posting locations. Social networking sites are fast becoming the resourcing tool of choice for many employers around the world. We can set you up on professional/social networking sites by creating a ‘fit for purpose’ profile page, attach your CV, generate connections and make suggestions for suitable groups to join. In short, we prime today’s job hunters into Prime Candidates for interview and selection!

You can order most of our services online at www.primecandidateuk.com or to speak to us in person about your requirements please call on +44 01423 563750.

See the advertisement on page 74.

Qualify in digital forensics and security: an IT growth industry

Digital forensics and security is one of the fastest-growing areas in the IT industry. Almost all crimes now include an element of digital forensics, since almost all suspects use digital electronic devices. The growing need for companies to comply with the regulations concerning data protection and adequate incident response means that most large organisations now need digital forensic specialists.

Developed in consultation with electronic crime law enforcement specialists, the University of Bedfordshire’s security and forensic courses are taught by experienced staff with strong links to leaders in the digital forensics field (such as 7Safe and CY4OR). Our facilities include a purpose-built, digital forensics and security lab, and you will learn the latest skills for detecting, preserving, analysing and presenting digital evidence.

The Security and Forensics units will introduce you to advanced data recovery and digital forensics analysis. Topics covered include data hiding and data recovery techniques, and forensic examination of mobile devices, networks and the internet. You will also learn about the increasingly popular area of malware analysis.

In terms of employment opportunities, the field of digital forensics is wide ranging and includes career options such as computer security and forensic specialists within law enforcement or specialist consultancies; digital forensics and security specialists in IT departments of larger organisations, and in other careers where computer forensic incident response is in demand.

Furthermore, the Department of Computer Science and Technology has a number of specialist staff within the area of digital forensics and security. You will therefore be exposed to a cutting-edge research environment, and you will have the chance to get involved in the research yourself.

The University has also recently established a National Centre for Cyberstalking Research (see http://www.beds.ac.uk/nccr) and part of the work of this research centre is to combine technical and psychological research in the area of cybercrime. You will therefore have a wealth of opportunities, and we look forward to seeing you!

See the advertisement on page 41.

Winning the arms race for employment with project management training

Returning to civilian life is a daunting experience and securing new employment is the most stressful element. In the current economic climate it is more important than ever to make yourself an attractive proposition to the widest possible range of potential employers. Quanta’s project management courses can help you do this.

Successful projects are the lifeblood of any business. From engineering and construction through to IT and finance, projects help deliver change and innovation within a company. Even in the current economic environment businesses are looking for employees who can deliver projects that will give them a competitive edge.

As a Service leaver you have many of the qualities needed to deliver successful projects: drive, resilience, integrity, but you may be missing that one essential quality without which you may not even get an interview – an accredited project management qualification.

Quanta offers a wide range of project management courses that can help get your application to the top of the pile and maximise your chance of landing the job

you deserve. We’re an Approved Learning Provider (No. 1201) for the ELC scheme and train over 300 Service leavers every year in courses such as:

PRINCE2®
APMP
Microsoft Project
MSP®
MoR®
Principles of Change Management, and
ITIL®.

Most importantly, we are able to tailor a training bundle that is right for you, combining courses such as PRINCE2® Practitioner and APMP into a single ELCAS claim, which can save you time and money.
If the thought of an exciting career in project management interests you, then why not give us a call on 0800 018 9561, or visit www.quanta.co.uk/mod/resettlement?

See the advertisement on page 45.

3D IT training

Here at BluescreenIT, we have continued to innovate and improve our training provision. We have recently completed a total revamp of the training network, including a host of new, exciting technologies and equipment. Large investments have been made into new premises, high-end equipment and supporting services to ensure that we continue to lead the sector with innovative hands-on training services.

With a complete Cisco backbone to train with, a variety of tin and virtual systems using VMWare, Hyper-V and other exciting technologies, our courses are more hands-on than ever, with comments like ‘slick’, ‘best training ever’ and ‘technical brilliance’ commonplace within our training rooms.

Our accommodation has been upgraded to now include complete networks within each room to train on, including a client, a server, Cisco switches and routers – in each room! This includes secure connectivity back into the training rooms for remote server and network labs, and remotely into our mock exams and simulations network.

What does all this add up to? A complete IT training solution that ensures exposure to real equipment, including official courseware (not just some in-house printed manual) and all supporting services, on-site. As an Authorised Virtual University (VUE) and Prometric examination centre, all exams are taken with us on-site with the official vendor internationally recognised qualification.

BluescreenIT is a preferred and authorised supplier to the CTP and ELCAS. Our packages our perfectly suited to your funding and, as an ISO 9001 quality registered firm, Microsoft gold partner, and CompTIA, Cisco and CheckPoint partner, you can be assured of quality training with us.

To discuss your training needs, please contact BluescreenIT on 01752 724000 or info@bluescreenit.co.uk.

See the advertisement on page 21.

Secure your dream career in IT by utilising your ELC allowance

On average, around 20,000 people leave the Armed Forces each year. For most, returning to civilian life can seem like a daunting experience.

As a member of the Armed Forces, you are used to the rigid structure that is put in place – a level of stability that enables you to know what you will be doing next, and for how long. Unfortunately, the journey into civilian life is often less predictable …

To help with this level of uncertainty, you need a resettlement provider that understands your situation, one that realises you are facing one of the biggest decisions of your life so far, while also allowing you to make best use of the ELC funding available to you.

Too much to ask? Not for Quanta.

With over 14 years’ experience of working within the MoD and with Service leavers, our dedicated ELC team takes time to understand your own wants and needs from a career in IT. Our focus on providing IT training is reflected by the range of IT qualifications that we offer:

ITIL
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)
Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)
CompTIA
Managing Cisco Network Devices.

Furthermore, Quanta is able to create a training programme bundle that is tailored specifically for you – allowing you to make best use of your entitlement to ELC funding. We are one of only a few companies that can offer you approved ELC bundles, providing you with a number of qualifications despite using only one year’s allocation of ELCs.

So, if you would like to turn your IT dreams into a successful career, then why not give us a call on 0800 018 9561, or visit www.quanta.co.uk/elc. Quanta also specialises in project management courses, delivered both at its Worcester Training Centre and military bases throughout the UK.

See the advertisement on page 22.

Deverill opens the door to successful careers in IT and project management

IT services, solutions and ELCAS Approved IT training provider, Deverill, offers approved career training to Services personnel. This technical and professional training helps to build skills that will enable them to successfully transition into a new career within IT.

Will Morris left the Royal Navy three years ago, after serving 22 years in Weapons Engineering. He used one of his ELCs to complete a five-day CCNA course with Deverill. ‘It may seem a cliché, but the course was really well presented with an instructor who not only knew the course material inside out, but also had a wealth of industry experience. Plenty of practical work helped to consolidate the theory.’

Having gained valuable industry experience, Will is now aiming to move towards more managerial posts, either in service delivery or project management: ‘I will be looking for guidance from the Deverill team when the time comes to select courses for my remaining ELCs.’

Aiming for a career in project management when he leaves the service in two years’ time, Deverill graduate Graham Smith attended the week-long, intensive Deverill PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner training. ‘I would highly recommend Deverill to anyone looking at attending the PRINCE2 course or any other course,’ he says. ‘The instructors were first class and would always go out of their way to help you achieve a first-time pass. I found Deverill to offer a warm and friendly atmosphere, and the staff were very helpful.’

For more information on training and career support for IT, including Microsoft Certification and professional skills development, please contact education@deverill.co.uk, call us on 01202 785158 or visit http://www.deverill.co.uk/ training/service-leavers.html.

See the advertisement on page 20.

The 30-second interview

Subject: Deborah Chantler, Managing Director, ITS Feda Ltd

We are delighted that this edition features the launch of new IT training services from one of the UK’s most respected providers. With a head office near Guildford and training facilities UK wide, ITS Feda may be new to the ELC scheme but has many years’ experience in the training market. By combining online and classroom-based training, it has been able to announce a whole raft of training and certification packs aimed specifically at Services personnel.

Question: Why has ITS Feda launched IT-specific training for Services personnel?

Answer: With a background as the IT Support division (ITS) of the Further Education Development Authority (FEDA), ITS Feda has an enviable reputation for quality and service. Following a deluge of requests from Services personnel we are proud to now offer Forces-specific training and accreditation.

Question: What areas do you cover?

Answer: Our aim is to provide accreditation for specialist IT skills. A Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), for example, would expect to earn between £35,000 and £50,000 per year.

Question: Aren’t there other suppliers doing the same thing?

Answer: Yes there are. The major difference is that we’re a Microsoft-certified provider. Why risk your future career?

Question: What does the accreditation status mean?

Answer: Microsoft Certified Partners for Learning Solutions earn this elite status by taking their businesses to a level few technology training organisations in the world can match. Gold Certified Partners are held to the highest standards.

Question: Can you prove that certification makes a difference?

Answer: Yes we can. Over the last 12 months the average rating of all our students has been 8.4% above the UK average. We have scored outstanding for:

skill knowledge of trainers
site facilities
ease of accessing online services
simplicity of online learning portal.

Don’t risk your future career – call Andrew @ ITS Feda now on 0870 145 1600 or email mod@itsgroup.org.uk

See the advertisement on page 22.

Desperately seeking high-tech workers …

According to a report on Contractor UK, the website of the UK’s IT contracting community, demand for IT and telecoms workers is set to increase five times faster than the national average over the next ten years. Figures from e-skills, the sector skills council for this industry, show that opportunities in ICT will grow by 2.19% a year (compared with 0.45% for the general workforce), indicating that IT will indeed lead the economic recovery, as government ministers have claimed.

Put another way, these figures mean that the technology industry will need to recruit another half a million workers over the next five years just to meet its requirements. ‘This year alone,’ e-skills states in its latest report, Technology Insights 2011, ‘the IT and telecoms industry will require 110,000 new entrants to keep up with demand.’

Almost half the IT workers needed this year will be sourced from non-tech industries, while 17% will come directly from education (e.g. school leavers and university graduates). Women will continue to be outnumbered, and currently represent less than one-fifth of the tech industry’s total workforce of 1.5 million, which itself suggests that one in 20 UK workers is in IT.

For detailed information about working in IT and telecoms, log on to our website, www.questonline.co.uk, and click through to the relevant articles.

Guaranteed job placement, courtesy of 360 GSP

According to a recent survey, 67% of hiring managers believe that certifications impact the salaries of potential employees. As the IT job market is highly competitive, our training programmes offer a unique blend of leading industrial certifications along with relevant work experience to meet employer expectations. This significantly improves the chances of getting the best possible IT role, as our training division works with a highly qualified team of recruiters to assist candidates in all aspects of their job placement – from work experience to finding a new job – by liaising with potential employers, developing CVs and, not to forget, by offering insight into the interview process, communication and presentation skills.  

Potential candidates are encouraged to attend our Free Networking Events, which give them the opportunity to meet some of our 800-plus testimonials placed in the IT industry.   

360 GSP is one of the leading independent training providers in the UK. Based near Wembley, London, we offer an extensive range of professional certification courses. We are a Cisco, Microsoft Learning Partner, VMware and EMC Academy, offering a full range of courses – from basic IT to expert-level networking and telecommunications. Certifications range from Cisco CCNA, CCNP (Security and Voice) and CCIE to Microsoft MCITP; we also offer VMware VCP ESX 4.1, EMC, Check Point CCSA and CCSE (R71). All certifications are delivered through full hands-on real vendor technologies.    

 For further information, please call us on 020 8672 4151 or email info@360gsp.net.

See the advertisement on page 54

CNet Training gains CTP Preferred Supplier status

Resettlement communications training specialist CNet Training has been awarded Preferred Supplier status to the Career Transition Partnership (CTP). It passed a stringent and detailed application process where course content, processes, quality standards and general ability to deliver were evaluated. This was followed by an on-site inspection at its Suffolk headquarters to ensure the facilities are of suitable standard to meet the needs of the resettlement market.

For some 15 years, CNet Training has been delivering resettlement training across the telecommunications and IP networking arena. This experience benefits Forces personnel greatly, as the paperwork and payment procedures, in addition to knowledge of the resettlement process, are second nature to the CNet resettlement team.

Plus, many of CNet’s instructors are ex-Forces themselves so can really relate to the resettlement delegates. They know and understand the pressures that Service leavers face and can help by sharing their own experiences from within the industry and throughout the resettlement process generally.

Andrew Stevens, CNet Training’s managing director, adds: ‘Gaining CTP Preferred Supplier status is fantastic news for CNet Training and Service leavers alike. The latter can be more confident than ever that the training and support provided by CNet Training meets the strict requirements of the CTP and therefore delivers the perfect mix of training and qualifications at a quality standard that will not only help contribute towards a smooth transition into civilian life, but will also help towards a successful career within the exciting communications industry. CNet’s commitment to quality and continued development and the CTP status adds to its growing list of endorsements and quality recognition, which includes ISO accreditation.’

For further details visit www.cnet-training.com or call 01284 767100.

See the advertisement on page 9 www.questonline.co.uk/may11

Tailored IT training from Blue Screen

Blue Screen IT Ltd is a training company, approved by CTP and ELCAS, that delivers regular technical IT courses in CompTIA, Microsoft, Cisco and other specialist technologies from its Plymouth training centre, using trainers that are IT professionals with industry experience.

The company has provided resettlement and ELC-funded training since 2004, and also delivers bespoke training to Signals regiments in HQ ARRC, SHAPE, PJHQ Northwood, Stafford and HMS Collingwood.

It has built a reputation for practical hands-on training, which – combined with lots of equipment and practical labs – helps delegates to develop good skills. This builds greater competency and confidence in a shorter time than self-study or less practical training – essential at interviews!

The company is registered on the ELCAS and CTP websites, where Service leavers can find a sample of its course packages. Blue Screen is able to design a programme of training to meet the individual’s needs, so packages can be different for each person, leading to a position where their qualifications are attractive to future employers. Training includes published courseware and official exams.

The exams don’t need to be taken at the exam suite at Blue Screen IT. Often delegates want a little time to practise their skills before taking the exam, so they will liaise with Blue Screen administration to book an exam wherever and whenever they want. A free re-sit of the training is offered if a delegate feels that he or she isn’t yet ready for the exam.
For further information, contact Neil Johnson on 0845 49 00 465, email info@bluescreenit.co.uk or visit www.bluescreenit.co.uk.

See the advertisement on page 21.

Published December 2010

Investment and growth at the University of Bedfordshire’s Department of Computer Science and Technology

The University of Bedfordshire has invested £1 million in new facilities to support the growth of its Computer Science and Technology department. The department has seen its most popular undergraduate courses receive accreditation from the UK computing industry’s professional body, the British Computer Society (BCS).
It received this accreditation for four of its BSc (Hons) courses this October, with another receiving a conditional accreditation. The courses are:

Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
Computer Games Development
Computer Networking
Computer Science
Computer Security and Forensics (conditional).

Students on these courses who graduate between 2011 and 2014 are therefore eligible for Chartered IT Professional status when they join the BCS. This is a prestigious qualification and is seen as a badge of excellence. Says Senior Lecturer Dr Paul Sant, ‘This award is important as, on successful completion of one of these courses, a graduate will belong to the BCS and be exempt from professional exams for life.’ In addition to the accreditation, the department has launched the first of a series of degrees aimed at the engineering field, with its Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degrees.

There has never been a better time for prospective students to consider a career in computer science or engineering at the University of Bedfordshire. This is a view shared by Professor Carsten Maple, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) and former Head of the Computer Science and Technology department, as the university embarks on the expansion of its computer science and engineering provision: ‘Science and technology-based courses are seen as strategically important in pulling the economy out of recession. The good news is that the courses we offer will allow students to develop the necessary skills and capabilities that employers are crying out for. Students will learn to innovatively resolve real-world engineering and science problems, and develop key transferable skills, including communication and teamworking.’

The new undergraduate courses are BEng (Hons) Computer Systems Engineering and BEng (Hons) Telecommunications and Network Engineering, as well as the proposal for a new BEng in Electronic Engineering. There are also a number of new postgraduate courses – for example, the MSc Information Systems and eGovernment, which may prove enticing to those working in the public sector. Work has also started on the development of additional engineering courses at postgraduate level with a proposed new MSc in Embedded Systems.

Industry agrees that computer science and engineering is the future, and the university recently received a £500,000 investment in a new engineering lab, which has also seen sponsorship by leading industry companies Rhode & Schwarz and National Instruments. Further industry sponsorship has helped to fund two new specialist laboratories, one in Computer Graphics and the other in Digital Forensics.

The message is clear: if you are considering retraining for a career in computer science or engineering, and want to use state-of-the-art facilities, come to the University of Bedfordshire to study.

Undergraduate queries, contact Dr Marc Conrad, email: Marc.Conrad@beds.ac.uk or Tel: 01582 743018. Postgraduate queries, contact Dr Paul Sant, email: Paul.Sant@beds.ac.uk or Tel: 01582 743705

See the advertisement on page 21.

Published December 2010

Climb the Cisco career ladder with Commsupport

It has always been thought that IT training of any sort, and above all Cisco training, had to come at a premium. Many IT training companies took advantage of this fact, leading to a shortage of skilled Cisco-trained people in the market.

When Commsupport started in 2007 our aim was to make quality Cisco training more affordable for anyone wanting to climb the Cisco career ladder, therefore we decided that, to achieve this, the cost of training had to come right down. We’ve always said that if the budget airlines can fly you for £1 across Europe in a £30 million aircraft then we could run training courses for £100s rather than £1000s.

Even though our training is affordable we have never compromised on quality and have in fact pioneered many firsts in the Cisco networking training world. We were the first training company to provide a complete hands-on lab per student with no sharing, the first to introduce the concept of ‘Break-Fix’ fault-finding sessions into our courses, the first to create our own in-house custom video tutorials to accompany our in-house classroom courses, and the first to hold live online instructor-led ‘webinars’ for our students, to complement our classroom courses and thus assist our students’ revision and high success rate in passing the exams.

Commsupport is ELCAS approved (approved provider number 3306) and CTP registered, which means you can now get more Cisco training for your allowance.
Visit our website at www.commsupport.co.uk; email anthony@commsupport.co.uk or
call 0800 88 24 7 26.

See the advertisement on page 22.

Published December 2010

This is how we do IT

Forces personnel undergoing resettlement with JBC Training in Coventry are enjoying some well-deserved exam success and getting their IT careers off to a flying start at the same time. A recent group of 11 personnel achieved a massive haul between them of 28 industry certifications during seven weeks of full-time training. All of them gained Windows 7 certification and four of them qualified as a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA).

Not only have they been gaining industry certifications, they have also learned practical skills and acquired knowledge that is essential for a successful career as an IT professional. Alongside their IT training, JBC has shown the guys how to secure employment offers ready for when they leave the Forces: they wasted no time in putting this into action and several had confirmed job offers before finishing the course, one of which was as a system administrator earning over £60K a year.

Anyone leaving the Armed Forces should think about working in the IT industry, even if they have little prior IT experience. There are opportunities at all levels within IT, from entry-level support roles to system administrator and managerial positions. JBC specialises in the areas of IT infrastructure, networking and IT security. Having a military background and security clearance is a major boost to your employment prospects in the IT industry because many of today’s crucial IT systems in both the commercial and public sectors require the IT staff who control them to be security cleared.

Any current or past member of the Armed Forces is welcome to visit JBC Training to find out more about the training on offer and a career in IT. Call JBC on 024 7671 9720 or go to www.jbctraining.co.uk to arrange a visit.

See the advertisement on page 22.

Published December 2010

‘Social security’ for IT buffs?

Demand for social media consultants is rising sharply in the UK, according to PeoplePerHour.com. According to this online resource and freelance jobs marketplace for self-employed professionals, postings for Facebook advisers, YouTube experts and Twitter gurus who can advise businesses on how to make better use of social media services to boost sales and marketing have leapt by more than 300% this year, as businesses aim to enhance their social media presence.
Notes PeoplePerHour.com founder, Xenios Thrasyvoulou, ‘We’re seeing increasing demand for social media experts to oversee the Twitter feeds and Facebook pages of a very wide variety of companies. It’s a profession that’s likely to continue to grow.’

UK businesses are currently lagging behind firms in the USA when it comes to social media (in a related survey, 29% of UK companies polled – almost a third – said that they do not currently have any in-house staff dedicated to social media marketing). However, the situation is said to be improving fast, and Linus Gregoriadis, research director of Econsultancy (the leading source of independent advice and insight on digital marketing and ecommerce), comments that ‘2010 has been a year in which companies have tried to become more focused in their social media marketing activity’. He adds that companies are using Facebook and Twitter for a range of business functions, including marketing, sales, customer service and product development, so it seems this is an area that is full of potential for those who can offer the right skills to UK plc.

To find out more about working in the world of computing and IT, take a look at our feature on page 18.

Published December 2010

Climb the Cisco career ladder with Commsupport

Commsupport is ELCAS approved (approved provider number 3306) and CTP registered, which means you can now get more Cisco training for your allowance.

Visit our website at www.commsupport.co.uk; email anthony@commsupport.co.uk or call 0800 88 24 7 26.

See the advertisement on page 49.

Published September 2010

IT training with the individual in mind

Blue Screen IT Ltd is a training company, approved by CTP and ELCAS, that delivers regular technical IT courses in CompTIA, Microsoft, Cisco and other specialist technologies from its training centre based in Plymouth, using trainers who are IT professionals with industry experience.

The company has been providing resettlement and ELC-funded training since 2004, and also delivers training to HQ ARRC in Germany, SHAPE in Belgium and PJHQ in Northwood. It has built a reputation for practical hands-on training, which – combined with lots of equipment and practical labs – helps delegates develop skills while on the course. Blue Screen believes this builds greater competency and confidence in a shorter time than self-study, or less practical or PowerPoint-based training. Training includes published courseware and official exams.

The company is registered on the ELCAS and CTP websites, where Service leavers can find a sample of its course packages. Blue Screen is able to design a programme of training to meet the individual’s needs, so packages can be different for each person and tailored to the individual, to get them into a position where their training and qualifications are attractive to future employers.

Exams are included in its military packages, but don’t need to be taken at the exam suite at Blue Screen. Often delegates want a little time to practise their craft before taking an exam, so will liaise with Blue Screen admin to book an exam wherever and whenever they want. A free re-sit of the training is offered if the delegate doesn’t feel ready for the exam.

For further information, contact Neil Johnson on 0845 49 00 465, email info@bluescreenit.co.uk or visit Blue Screen’s website at: http://www.bluescreenit.co.uk.

See the advertisement on page 22.

Published September 2010

IT sector recruitment still solid

According to a report published by ComputerWeekly.com in August, the number of job vacancies in the IT sector has increased by the fastest rate in three years, rising for the fourth consecutive quarter, according to recruitment sites JobAdsWatch.co.uk and CWJobs.co.uk.

In the second quarter of this year, demand for Linux skills increased by 8%, overtaking Unix for the first time, while skills in Java, SQL, C, C#, .Net and ASP continue to be the most sought after. Website director at CWJobs, Richard Nott, comments, ‘We were all aware that the IT sector will be affected by public-sector cutbacks, but it is encouraging to see that overall job postings are continuing to increase.’

For more information on careers in IT and computing, take a look at our feature on page 20.

Published September 2010

IT top 10 shows web developers in demand

According to research recently published by IT recruiter IntaPeople, web developers dominate a list of the most in-demand IT jobs of 2010. The study, which took into account the most frequently advertised IT positions for the first six months of this year, reveals that the top 10 IT roles are as follows:

C#/ASP.NET developer
Java J2EE developer
PHP developer
business analyst
data administrator
software engineer
test analyst
SharePoint developer
SQL developer
head of IT.

Comments Phil Handley, operations director at IntaPeople, ‘Given the enduring popularity of C# and Java among UK businesses, the top of the list is not a massive surprise. The large volume of senior appointments is possibly the biggest revelation, and indicates that firms are willing to make grand-scale changes to put themselves on a firm footing as the economy picks up.’

For more information on careers in IT and computing, take a look at our feature on page 20.

Published September 2010

IT training from the experts

Training and IT consultancy company Blue Screen IT Ltd is a CTP preferred supplier and ELCAS authorised provider, number 1841. It delivers regular technical IT courses from its training centre based in Plymouth; it also delivers training to HQ ARRC in Germany, SHAPE in Belgium and PJHQ in Northwood.

The company is a Microsoft Gold Partner and holds other partnerships with training vendors such as CompTIA, Cisco, Check Point and EC-Council, as well as providing a wide range of technical IT courses for the military and civilian market.

Blue Screen has been providing resettlement and ELC-funded training since 2004. It has built a reputation for practical hands-on training, which, combined with its wide range of equipment and many practical labs, helps delegates develop skills while on its courses. Blue Screen believes that this builds greater competency and confidence in a shorter time than self-study, or less practical or PowerPoint-based training.

Its training includes published courseware, and exams that delegates can take at Blue Screen’s exam suite whenever they like. Free refresher courses are also offered. Its trainers are IT professionals and are seconded to their IT consultancy division when not teaching. The consultancy specialises in advanced network infrastructure, network and data security, virtualisation and compliance. This keeps the consultants up to date and fresh for their training deployments. Almost half the technical team is composed of ex-Service personnel, so they understand what the delegates are going through.

For further information, contact Neil Johnson on 0845 49 00 465, email info@bluescreenit.co.uk or visit the website at http://www.bluescreenit.co.uk.
See advertisement on page 19

Published June 2010

Upgrade or start your IT career, earning up to 62k per annum

Established for over 13 years, Southstep Training (ELC 3229) is dedicated to providing the most up-to-date courses in today’s market in an easy and simple format that allows our students to learn in a comfortable environment such as one of our training centres or from their own home. We supply over 1,000 different IT training courses, all with similar infrastructure that is not dependent on the difficulty of the course.

Online training
Most of the training material is based online; the learning material has been broken down so that it is easier to learn via training simulations, interactive labs, reading materials and practical tasks.
We offer three streams of support that all students will receive; this is designed to assist our students if they encounter any problems while undertaking the courses.
1. Online/email support: this is to help students with basic questions on course enquiries and login problems, plus supplying mock exams and assisting with booking official examinations.
2. Personal tutor free phone support: this is the personal dedicated tutor (PDT), assigned to each of our students; they help with course content and technical queries.
3. 24/7 Gold Partnership free phone support: this is our UK-based telephone support service, available 24/7. It assists with technical queries, so students can carry on learning without interruption at any time.
The majority of our training packages are inclusive of official examinations for the specific qualifications. We will provide mock exam papers and feedback, to enable the maximum chance of a student passing first time – however, if the student does not pass first time, many of our packages also include free resits.
If there is a particular course you are interested that does not appear to be available, please contact us, as there is a good chance that we will be able to provide it.

Classroom training
Our classroom training is provided in training centres in the UK, by our qualified tutors. We offer students a comprehensive understanding of PC hardware, software, configuring/troubleshooting and networking, e.g. using the exchange server, active directory, providing preventative maintenance, administering security, etc.

In addition to the classroom training, you will receive all our online training for your chosen course plus extra personal support throughout your training. All our classroom packages include examinations plus resits.

For more information visit www.Southstep.co.uk, or call 0800 599 99 98.

See the advertisement on page 18

Published June 2010

Microsoft, Cisco and CompTIA training boosts job prospects

According to a report on website ComputerworldUK, it really does pay for high-tech workers to be certified. The report, which refers to research conducted by Dice Learning, highlights ten IT certifications that stand out in terms of delivering higher salaries.

Evan Lesser, director of Dice Learning, which offers technical training and information about certifications and career advancement, confirms, ‘When you combine in-demand skill sets and proven salary impact, specific certifications become valuable to individual technology professionals.’

Dice Learning studied responses from some 17,000 high-tech professionals to determine which technical skills and IT certifications deliver more compensation and help workers command higher salaries (e.g. those certified as Project Management Professionals could demand more pay on the job and such workers seeking employment might find more positions open to them).

Other certifications that were found to help IT professionals increase their compensation are vendor-specific. Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs), Microsoft Certified Systems Administrators (MCSAs) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSEs) all feature on the list, underlining that high-tech workers who have certification that shows they are adept in Microsoft systems and associated skills will be in demand.

Those IT professionals trained as Cisco Certified Network Associates (CCNAs) are also seeing higher remuneration, according to this research. And, offered by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), Network+ certification is also in demand. In addition, security certifications such as Security+ from CompTIA and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) also command higher salaries. And process skills could also spell higher pay, the research highlights: ITIL certification, for example, demonstrates that IT professionals have studied best practices and can apply them to an employer’s IT service management system.

To find out more about careers in computing and IT, and the types of certification mentioned in this story, turn to our feature on page 16.

Published June 2010

Computing & IT - Despatches

The challenges facing HM Forces personnel seeking post-Service redeployment

Qualify in digital forensics and security: an IT growth industry

Winning the arms race for employment with project management training

3D IT training

Secure your dream career in IT by utilising your ELC allowance

Deverill opens the door to successful careers in IT and project management

The 30-second interview

Desperately seeking high-tech workers …

Guaranteed job placement, courtesy of 360 GSP

CNet Training gains CTP Preferred Supplier status

Tailored IT training from Blue Screen

Investment and growth at the University of Bedfordshire’s Department of Computer Science and Technology

Climb the Cisco career ladder with Commsupport

This is how we do IT

‘Social security’ for IT buffs?

Climb the Cisco career ladder with Commsupport

IT training with the individual in mind

IT sector recruitment still solid

IT top 10 shows web developers in demand

IT training from the experts

Upgrade or start your IT career, earning up to 62k per annum

Microsoft, Cisco and CompTIA training boosts job prospects