Category

Success Stories

Mar 23

Doug Crompton

By Success Stories

Doug Crompton

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Course: Cyber Security Traineeship
Placement Date: February 2021
Job Before: Sales Executive
Current role: Support Technician @ CFWN Ltd

Why did you start the Traineeship?

Having 20 years retail management experience I wanted to change, with the expectation getting ever higher and the resources to do it getting tighter. I also wanted to get into a career that was future proof with people turning more and more to online the demand and the need for IT professionals increases., i also felt my existing skills and experience were transferable. I wanted a course I could do to get the qualifications I needed while still working and found this course.

What did you enjoy most about the Traineeship?

The live labs I found really helpful being able to have access to different virtual OS’s really helps you understand how they they work differently. Also the support from the online tutor is great , in fact the support in general is always happy to help.

What's your current role like?

I love my current job I’m working as a technical support engineer, I work for a small local rural Internet provider, I do the IT support, configuring installation of equipment, customer service. I also have previous experience installing burglar alarms and cctv as well as site surveys so I work in the field doing installs, and attending customer premises to solve service issues I’m also being trained to do the site surveys for new installs too. My job is varied and interesting I’m so glad I made the change into IT.

Mar 15

Ryan Bell

By Success Stories

Ryan Bell

linkedin Profile

Course: Coding Traineeship
Placement Date: February 2021
Job Before: Art Consultant
Job Now: Web Developer @ WinMan ERP Software

Why did you start the Traineeship?

After being made redundant from my sales job because of corona virus, I decided to enrol with IT Career Switch to endeavour on a career doing something I’m interested in which is coding.

What did you enjoy most about the Traineeship?

I was very pleased with the resources that I was given. All of the tutors and assistants responded to my queries extremely quickly, so the learning process was enjoyable. The final projects where you get advice from a professional with industry experience was most valuable in taking theory I had learned into a practical application.

What's your current role like?

My current role is a great challenge. I enjoy every day that I work and I’m always learning something new. I’m a full stack .NET web developer that works on an ERP system. I work in an agile environment where I fulfil tasks, to add to the bigger picture. My role encompasses the use of C#, JavaScript, and SQL.

Mar 02

Spencer Terry

By Success Stories

Spencer Terry

linkedin Profile

Course: IT Technician Traineeship
Placement Date: January 2021
Job Before: Conference Manager
Job Now: Technical Support Engineer @ Ctalk

Why did you start the Traineeship?

I had always wanted to be in the IT field but thought that without a degree and previous experience it would never happen, then when the pandemic hit and I lost my job in Hospitality Management, I took it as an opportunity to make a real go at it. After researching into the best route to make such a big career change, I found IT Career Switch who offered not only a full in-depth course with an official certification, but also the support in CV building and applying to jobs. After a few phones speaking with them, I knew it was the right path to take and got started right away.

What did you enjoy most about the Traineeship?

Everything. The structure of the course was great for myself who hasn’t had formal IT training before, it started with the basics and laying a solid foundation of knowledge and then built on it with each subsequent section. The knowledge was then re-enforced by exams throughout, so I knew I was able to apply what I was learning. Finally, the range of topics covered from networking to security, gave me the confidence that I would be able to step into this new career and be able to hold my own.

What's your current role like?

My current role is Technical Support Engineer and it’s everything I imagined and more, everyday I’m learning and developing my skillset in a great team with fantastic support. I get to be hands-on with computer systems and help solve client problems, which is greatly rewarding when I’m able to assist them in getting back up and running. I see myself being here for many years with multiple avenues to be able to go into within the company. I wouldn’t have been able to be where I am today without IT Career Switch and for that I am forever grateful.

Feb 25

Sam Morpeth

By Success Stories

Sam Morpeth

linkedin Profile

Course: Coding Traineeship
Placement Date: February 2021
Job Before: English Teacher
Current role: Junior Web Developer @ ROXOA

Why did you start the Traineeship?

I started the traineeship because I saw IT as a reliable and rewarding career. I also wanted a skill which would allow me to be creative and take initiative on my own projects, but also work collaboratively with other like-minded people.

What did you enjoy most about the Traineeship?

I found the projects the most enjoyable. I liked that I was given some sort of goal and structure to work towards as I’d only ever really created projects for myself. It was great working with my tutor to meet deadlines and complete a project to a specific design.

What's your current role like?

My current role is fantastic. I’m a junior web developer for a local e-commerce site. I work on a variety of different technologies every day and get to work with an incredibly knowledgeable and supportive manager. I enjoy being able to learn different skills and contribute to the ongoing work of the team.

Feb 17

Alec Phillips

By Success Stories

Alec Phillips

linkedin Profile

Course: Cyber Security Traineeship
Placement Date: January 2021
Job Before: Accommodations Administrator
Job Now: ICT Technician @ Westcountry Schools Trust

Why did you start the Traineeship?

I’ve always had a passion for tech and wanted a way into the IT industry. I did my research and came across IT Career Switch’s traineeships. I thought a structured course with support from a tutor would be the best way for me to learn.

What did you enjoy most about the Traineeship?

I enjoyed being able to work at my own pace, and feeling supported when I encountered any issues. My favourite course was Security+ and in particular I enjoyed learning how to address security incidents.

What's your current role like?

My current role is very varied. I get to work with an incredibly wide variety of tech and I assist a range of people. It’s a very rewarding role and there’s a lot to learn, but I am really enjoying it!

Feb 16

Colin Sampson

By Success Stories

Colin Sampson

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Course: Cyber Security Traineeship
Placement Date: January 2021
Job Before: Admin Assistant
Current role: 1st Line Support @ Reflective IT Solutions

Why did you start the Traineeship?

I started the traineeship because I had progressed as far as I could in my previous role as a rehab assistant in the NHS.

What did you enjoy most about the Traineeship?

I liked that I could learn at my own speed without the fear of holding people back. Also having a personal tutor was of great benefit as I could contact him at any time.

What's your current role like?

My current role is very customer facing at the moment. The company is focused on continual training and very soon I will be dealing with customer IT issues.
Feb 10

Thomas Walley

By Success Stories

Thomas Walley

linkedin Profile

Course: Cyber Security Traineeship
Placement Date: January 2021
Job Before: Casino Manager
Job Now: Broadband Tech Expert @ Sky

Why did you start the Traineeship?

I started the traineeship because I wanted to start a career in IT, but I didn’t have any experience.

What did you enjoy most about the Traineeship?

The part of the course I enjoyed the most was working on different virtual machines on Live Labs

What's your current role like?

My current role is better than I could have hoped for when starting a new career. The salary is good and there are excellent benefits, like the company van and free Sky TV/ Broadband. There is also lots of training in the new role, so I’m gaining valuable knowledge and experience.

Feb 03

Fraser Scarlett

By Success Stories

Fraser Scarlett

linkedin Profile

Course: Cyber Security Traineeship
Placement Date: January 2021
Job Before: Kitchen Assistant
Current role: IT Analyst @ Computer Geeks

Why did you start the Traineeship?

I started the Traineeship in order to get the best possible start for my career. ITCareerSwitch helped me earn the qualification needed for the best entry level IT positions.

What did you enjoy most about the Traineeship?

I was able to pursue the Traineeship at my own pace. This allowed me to juggle both the training and my work life effectively.

What's your current role like?

In my current role I troubleshoot technical issues for a wide variety of clients over the phone. I’m part of a supportive and knowledgeable team and am encouraged to pursue further qualifications!
Feb 02

Alan Lee

By Success Stories

Alan Lee

linkedin Profile

Course: Cyber Security Traineeship
Placement Date: January 2021
Job Before: Operations Manager
Job Now: Technical Support Assistant @ A Productions LTD

Why did you start the Traineeship?

Towards the end of last year, I was looking for a career change. Having worked in the events industry for 8 years, I felt like it’s time for a change. Having looked back at my trajectory so far, in particular having done Maths to a high level, I felt like my problem solving and reasoning skills developed there could be put to good use in IT, which is a rapidly growing industry that’s hugely in demand right now (especially during the current pandemic). Then I went online and searched for IT traineeships, and found IT Career Switch. Having looked at the contents of the IT Technician + Cybersecurity traineeship course, I thought that’s exactly what I was looking for.

What did you enjoy most about the Traineeship?

The traineeship combines theoretical concepts with a bit of hands-on training via virtual machines. Also even though some of the videos in the course are quite long, they provided me with the content that I needed to further my own research on the subjects. Further, the tests at the end of the modules allowed me to test my knowledge and ensure that I have a thorough understanding of the materials in the course. In addition, the team from IT Career Switch were always ready to help. Leigh in particular provided me with some invaluable advice (like the best way to face the internal exam and also the official exams from COMPTIA). And Clive helped me immensely in preparing for interviews and looking for jobs that fit my criteria.

What's your current role like?

I’m currently Technical Support Assistant at A Productions, a dynamic, well established company specialising in animation production in Bristol. Some of my current duties include the following (with potential for more over the coming months):

Monitoring regular backups of files
Updating / Improving / streamlining backup systems
Monitoring on-site storage
Configuring and monitoring render machines, making sure that they’re working properly
Auditing hardware in-house
Configuring correct permissions of files and folders on all our servers and backup devices
Deploying PCs and any required peripherals to new starters
Deploying necessary updates and installations on servers
Troubleshooting hardware and software issues from users
Researching possible improvements to current systems
Liaising with external IT support if necessary

I was able to put to good use some of the skills that I learnt from the Traineeship, especially file/folder permissions and sharing, backups, server manager, remote access, between other concepts. Whilst demanding in itself, the job allows me a good work-life balance, and gives me enough time to keep studying IT and particularly the Cybersecurity part of the training.

Jan 28

Ed Smith

By Success Stories

Ed Smith

linkedin Profile

Course: IT Technician Traineeship
Placement Date: December 2020
Job Before: Translator
Current role: 1st Line Support @ CDW LTD

Why did you start the Traineeship?

I had taken my then career path (freelance translation) about as far as I was ever likely to. I craved new challenges. I had been interested in IT since my childhood when we had an early personal computer. I had always used IT in my job and I was the first port of call for family and friends wanting computer help and advice. I knew the IT industry was a good industry to work in and so the Traineeship seemed a natural step for me. The courses IT Career Switch were offering looked like an excellent staging post to begin a new career in the industry.

What did you enjoy most about the Traineeship?

I enjoyed the broad yet quite deep coverage of all kinds of IT aspects, as well as the good support I received. I perhaps found the hardware and OS stuff most interesting, but I learned the most from the networking components. The video courses were flexible and for me an excellent way to study, as I could fit them around my existing job. 

What's your current role like?

I am working in a Helpdesk role. I am still in training, but my new role promises to be varied and interesting, with plenty of challenges and knowledge needed in both the hardware and software spheres. It looks like I will need a fair bit of what I learned from the ITCS courses in my new role; the courses provided a really good foundation for my further development, and the material in the courses on domains and Active Directory should prove especially useful.