I'm struggling at getting IT contracts at the moment and looking for another qualification.

I'm fancying moving into more project management work so considering doing PRINCE2 but I may be better doing ITIL as it's more relevant to what I currently do.

Any recommendations?

Does anybody have the coursework knocking about that they don't need anymore as I'm broke...

I know a couple of people who've done Prince II. Like any qualification it doesn't really prove much except that you've bummed through a test in some way, experience is more important. However, sometimes a qualification is what it takes to get an interview and ultimately a contract/job.

 

ITIL looks unbelievably boring to me, but OK if you want to spend your life documenting business processes I suppose ...

Problem is I've got over 15 years experience but been self employed for quite a while and can't seem to get many interviews or get back into contracting as I'm competing with school leavers with MCSE's prepared to do the work for £8ph :(

Hardly had any work in 6 months now and the Z will have to go soon :(

I think I'm short of a couple of recognised qualifications to get my CV looked at properly.

It's about £1500 to do Prince II, takes 4 or 5 days I think.

I am a Prince 2 practitioner - it is good qualification to have on your CV.

The exam is a 3 hour written paper that you have to re sit every five years.

 

ITIL is just a way of working an IT dept. - useful to know if you work in that environment, frustrating if you don't as it actually seems to work quite well. The higher levels are good if you are running a service dept.

 

Ivan

I was on a PRINCE 2 course for a few days until the company pulled me out and made me redundant :mad: Still have the workbook and accompanying text book - yours for the price of postage if you like. It's a good qualification to have on your CV as it opens doors but nothing is better than experience. If I recall correctly you can work through the book yourself and just pay to take the exam - should save you a few quid.

I was on a PRINCE 2 course for a few days until the company pulled me out and made me redundant :mad: Still have the workbook and accompanying text book - yours for the price of postage if you like. It's a good qualification to have on your CV as it opens doors but nothing is better than experience. If I recall correctly you can work through the book yourself and just pay to take the exam - should save you a few quid.

 

Yes you can just do the exam :)

I looked at doing a course but like Andy said it's about £1500 :rolleyes:

 

That would be great :)

I'll PM you my details.

Thanks a lot mate :bow:

Chris, as a consultant with experience in testing, B.A, and Software implementation i'm also considering going down the same route at the moment, as i can't seem to command the same rates i'm used to! (just starting to look again after a couple of months off)

 

I'm in the same boat now with my testing experience as everyone wants ISEB before they'll even look at you!

 

...I think that it might be a case of biting the bullet and off-setting the cost of the course as 'training' .....Costly month ahead!!

I think there's just too many people in IT these days and the rates seem to have dropped massively.

I've got a mate working at HBOS who's on a decent rate but everything else I'm getting offered is pathetic.

Some of it is basic work but £8ph FFS by the time I'd paid my expenses and tax out of that I could earn more in McDonalds!

I got one interview for a senior system admin / IT manager contract at Richmond council which I was told was £25ph only to find the agency had said I'd do it for £14ph but the employer said I was still about 50% more expensive than everyone else he'd interviewed.

They said the role might go permanent in 6 months on £14K!

I told him I'd do it if he trebled the salary and left LOL

 

I used to work for local small to medium sized businesses on £60ph but I dropped a lot of contracts for a permanent IT manager position at my accountants who were a very big practice in Leeds.

As well as a very good salary I was to start an IT division supplying accounts systems and support for their clients with a 40% profit share and 3000 clients of which a huge number were interested in the service.

It went great for 9 months until the company announced they were being bought out and I was made redundant minus my clients :(

Chris -

 

Just bunged the books in the post to you - should be with you in a few days. Good luck with the course and subsequent job hunting!

 

All the best,

 

Dan

 

PS - just PM's you as well.

i know this may be a shot in the dark m8 but id consider getting you cv into our office in leeds dlapiper.com.................our whole national network is managed via leeds its huge.........i will get you a contact tomorrow if you want

I have 2 computer based courses which will be enough to get you through the ISEB and the ISEB plus security modules if you want? PM me and I will email them to you...

i know this may be a shot in the dark m8 but id consider getting you cv into our office in leeds dlapiper.com.................our whole national network is managed via leeds its huge.........i will get you a contact tomorrow if you want

 

Yes that sounds good mate. I've worked for Eversheds in the past who are a big legal firm :)

Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!

 

Sorry, bit of Alan Partridge there :rofl:

 

Thanks a lot mate, the books arrived first thing this morning :bow: :bow: :bow:

Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!, Dan!

 

Sorry, bit of Alan Partridge there :rofl:

 

Thanks a lot mate, the books arrived first thing this morning :bow: :bow: :bow:

 

That was quick ...! :) Good luck with it.

 

Funny you should mention Eversheds - my wife worked for them for some years in their Birmingham office. Good firm that!

 

Cheers,

 

Dan

contact at our leeds office is phil nundy m8