Not an IT Pro...

Discussion in 'New Members Introduction' started by DrFeelgood, Apr 27, 2010.

  1. DrFeelgood

    DrFeelgood New Member

    5
    0
    10
    ...but certainly a geek ;)

    Evening! I'm Richard, and I'm a doctor in the South East. Over the past few years, I've become interested in computers and have built a few machines and set up a few simple home networks. Now I'm not even looking into getting into IT professionally (as I actually enjoy fiddling with computers, and if I've learned one thing in my life, it's that the quickest way to stop something being fun is to try it as a career..!). So what I am after is a bit of guidance for a route to use Certification purely to satisfy my own curiosity - more as a 'guided curriculum' if you like?

    Well, at least I'm honest! :D
     
    Certifications: None!
  2. drum_dude

    drum_dude Gigabyte Poster

    1,664
    92
    135
    Welcome Richard! Are you a GP?

    Well sounds like the CompTIA A+ route to me! Mike Myers does a great A+ book...more than enough on the subject to be honest! Look it up on amazon when you get a moment!
     
    Certifications: MCP, MCSA 2000 , N+, A+ ,ITIL V2, MCTS, MCITP Lync 2010 & MCSA 2008, Sonus SATP SBC 1k/2k
    WIP: Hopefully Skype for Business and some Exchange stuff...
  3. DrFeelgood

    DrFeelgood New Member

    5
    0
    10
    Thanks! No, I'm an anaesthetist (and if we're honest, we're all nerds :)) Any other routes into this? I've just got this insatiable curiosity for knowing why stuff does stuff :lol:
     
    Certifications: None!
  4. SimonD
    Honorary Member

    SimonD Terabyte Poster

    3,681
    440
    199
    Actually the A+, N+ and some of the Windows client exams (70-270 for XP, 70-620 for Vista and 70-680 for Windows 7) will give you a good idea on the basics and what to look out for on the client side (that's assuming you use Windows clients that is).
     
    Certifications: CNA | CNE | CCNA | MCP | MCP+I | MCSE NT4 | MCSA 2003 | Security+ | MCSA:S 2003 | MCSE:S 2003 | MCTS:SCCM 2007 | MCTS:Win 7 | MCITP:EDA7 | MCITP:SA | MCITP:EA | MCTS:Hyper-V | VCP 4 | ITIL v3 Foundation | VCP 5 DCV | VCP 5 Cloud | VCP6 NV | VCP6 DCV | VCAP 5.5 DCA
  5. DrFeelgood

    DrFeelgood New Member

    5
    0
    10
    Yup - Windows indeed. Many thanks, especially at early-hours-Wednesday! I expect many more qestions will follow....
     
    Certifications: None!
  6. drum_dude

    drum_dude Gigabyte Poster

    1,664
    92
    135
    Richard, seems you got the way forward on your interests! Good stuff dude!

    I'm guessing you have a medical degree as such? I'm real curious to be honest about medicine...but not enough as I'm not that kind of guy to speaclise is something so important as yourself has done! Just a quick question, what is it that makes you different from a GP or surgeon...or vice versa, or any versa? Did you have to do a PHD and how long was your training for the medical profession etc? And finally, did you have to learn Latin?

    Look forward to your reply!

    Cheers!
     
    Certifications: MCP, MCSA 2000 , N+, A+ ,ITIL V2, MCTS, MCITP Lync 2010 & MCSA 2008, Sonus SATP SBC 1k/2k
    WIP: Hopefully Skype for Business and some Exchange stuff...
  7. DrFeelgood

    DrFeelgood New Member

    5
    0
    10
    The training has changed a lot since I went to medical school, but it kind of goes like this...

    1) Do your 'A' levels/IB or whatever is your chosen University entry method, and get a place at medical school.
    2) 5 or 6 years at medical school, when you will leave with MB (bachelor of Medicine) and BS or ChB (bachelor of surgery). The 6th year is at some places where you can do an additional BSc.
    3) Now you can use the title Dr. and then you start working for a living in hospitals as a 'foundation' trainee. This first 2 years (F1 and F2 imaginatively..) is spent in different jobs for a few months each time, where you'll make a decision about what area you'd like to specialise in. During F2, you then apply for training posts in that specialty.
    4) Once you're in, you're then on a 5 or more year training program, when you'll do the appropriate exams in that specialty (MRCGP to be a GP, MRCP for a physician, FRCA for an anaesthetist, MRCS for a surgeon etc etc, in addition to the myriad of other qualifications that you might want to do, including MSc, PhD for the research-interested, and countless others), move around working in small district hospitals and large teaching hospitals to get as broad a range of experience as possible. There are regular appraisals, and dozens of hoops to jump (like every other career!)
    5) Once you've finished the training program, and all signed off, then you get a certificate (!), and can then apply to join the specialist register and apply for consultant jobs.

    That's a VERY brief, 1am version...!
     
    Certifications: None!
  8. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

    19,183
    500
    414
    The A+ is the best place to start!

    Welcome to the forums, Doc! :)
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  9. drum_dude

    drum_dude Gigabyte Poster

    1,664
    92
    135
    Thanks Doc! That is one IMMENSE training schedule!!! Cheers for taking the time to write that out! Some more questions if that is ok? With such a schedule ahead of you, how did you motivate yourself for study and exams? The answer to that question interests me greatly for my own development in IT. Were they times when you thought 'sod this' or was it just down to the fact that you were 100% interested?

    Many thanks in advance! :D
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2010
    Certifications: MCP, MCSA 2000 , N+, A+ ,ITIL V2, MCTS, MCITP Lync 2010 & MCSA 2008, Sonus SATP SBC 1k/2k
    WIP: Hopefully Skype for Business and some Exchange stuff...
  10. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

    11,140
    555
    383
    Hi & welcome to CF :)

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  11. nugget
    Honorary Member

    nugget Junior toady

    7,796
    71
    224
    Hi and welcome to the forum. :biggrin
     
    Certifications: A+ | Network+ | Security+ | MCP (270,271,272,290,620) | MCDST | MCTS:Vista
    WIP: MCSA, 70-622,680,685
  12. BosonJosh

    BosonJosh Gigabyte Poster

    1,326
    28
    89
    Welcome!
     
  13. Kopite_21

    Kopite_21 Gigabyte Poster

    1,309
    64
    130
    Hi DOC, welcome to CF!
     
    Certifications: National Diploma IT Advanced ECDL
    WIP: A+
  14. DrFeelgood

    DrFeelgood New Member

    5
    0
    10
    Thanks Guys :D

    drum_dude - yup, you need a bit of discipline! I'm of the generation that still worked >100 hrs/week when I first qualified, and the infamous weekend shift was a survival exercise of its own (from 8am on Friday to 6pm on Monday - 1 shift, and on-call for all of it...). So you worked that rota, and then studied in your 'spare' time. It was genuinely tough. However, what you quickly learn is ruthless time management (well, learn it or find another job) and excellent discipline, prioritisation and organisation. You literally run your week with a diary and a clock, allocating hours here and there for sleep, gym, study, evening out, whatever. The result of that is that I'm 38, still work 70ish hours a week, and get to the gym 4 times a week, fettle old cars, play with pcs, and still have a family and social life.

    Of course, it helps if you actually enjoy it :D
     
    Certifications: None!
  15. Bluerinse
    Honorary Member

    Bluerinse Exabyte Poster

    8,878
    181
    256
    Now i am impressed. Welcome to CF Doc, and good luck with your IT studies 8)
     
    Certifications: C&G Electronics - MCSA (W2K) MCSE (W2K)

Share This Page

Loading...
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.