does anybody know where this would be possible, and is it possible in English?
any serious help would be greatly appreciated.
Kind thanks in advance
AFC
Hi all, due to my current job skills not being required here i am looking to retrain (from the very beginning) in IT here in Zurich,
Wow. Where to start.. lets play 20 questions!
Which field of IT.. Programming (name your language), Hardware (design, embedded systems, building, break/fix) IT support (Linux/Windows/Mac/Server/Deskside/Backroom), Technical pre/post Sales, Information Systems Side of IT.. Analyst, Tester, Consultancy, Process analysis.. Management side. Project management / co-ordination)
CK
Many batchelors here are taught in German. If you have a batchelor already, then you may be able to pursue a masters in IT, often they are taught in English. Try ETHZ.CH for some info.
I imagine "from the very beginning" translates as: "I dont really have a clue what I want to do". Best thing to aim for would be a basic helpdesk role, bithout fluency in German and some previous experience the chances of being hired here would be slim to none.
This may not be much help (someone already in CH and already familiar with the IT scene could tell more), but if you already have the aptitude for it and know some fundamentals of the specific niche you're interested in, an instructional course intended to prepare students for passing a set of certification exams could be useful: By learning the course material and passing the exams, you would gain an additional measure of knowledge as well as a first 'credential' that might land you that first job.
I think most folks put more stock in knowledge, aptitude and experience than in certifications, but I've seen the latter gain an entry-level foot in the IT door where the former was all but non-existent. After that, it's really up to you which direction you want to go ( i.e., you won't be married to your certification's technology).
Those courses aren't cheap (especially in CH, I'm sure), but they can be useful to someone in your situation who can afford them. Not knowing whether any are offered in English, or how basic your 'basic German' is, I can't comment on how much of a language obstacle you might face.
Think very carefully about this career move.
Speak to some people with 10+ years experience in the field.
Some will still be utterly engaged and like what they do. Others will have got bored. Which category will you find yourself in?
Richdog, agreed.
If I was starting from scratch I would be learning how to install, configure, write/modify templates and troubleshoot Microsoft's Sharepoint. Then charge CHF800/day to look after someones ugly mess of a sharepoint deployment.
No formal education required, just show that you have some skills at the interview. Perhaps do a deployment for a non-profit or local business. Get a referral.
Quickest way from rags to riches.
CK
My biggest disappointment in IT was having got an IT-related Masters degree, worked in a well known IT Services firm and then moved on to a job in a top tier investment bank . . . I found that some guys were earning more than me having simply done a Windows in 21 days or bootcamp. Pah!
Sharepoint
***SHUDDER***
Sharepoint is the new xls.
Hi AFC,
I have an I.T background, and like you I only have basic German. I'm finding it difficult to even get an interview here without fluency in German, so just to let you know that you should probably concentrate just as hard on your language skills as learning your new trade. Without the language your options become very narrow.
I think of it as the new Microsoft Access.
I know some old codgers making good money looking after access databases or doing the modifications to port them to something serious like sql/oracle
CK
You can make good money looking after an Access database? The world is upside down.
Big and varied field to get into. If you are going into it be prepared to take a lot of crap for a very long time. It's a thankless job, lots of stress and half the people you deal with you will want to kill (thats just me, I am a grumpy git).
Like anything, you need to learn the basics first.
Get a hold of the CompTia A+ book and learn what goes on inside the box.
When you finish that get a hold of the CompTia Server + to see the file, data, mail and print side of things.
Then get the CompTia Network + to see how everything is connected together.
Once you finish that get a hold of the CompTia Security +.
CompTia is good as it is vendor neutral.
Thats 4 books to go through. You will now have a decent grounding in PC's, Servers, Networks and the security side of things.
Thats when the real fun starts!!!!
Don't waste money on a course when you can buy the book and learn it yourself at your own pace. You have the internet at your disposal, use it.
Come back when you have finished all that and I will tell you why you should become a plumber or an electrician
Hi, munster2010
Thanks for your advice on moving forward.
Can we swap jobs please, i was a plumber for 20 years.
I know what recieving shit is like!
AFC
Bloody hell, times are bad if the plumbers are thinking about getting into IT!!! Sorry to hear that things are on the downside for you.
I'll be very honest with you. It takes ages to get anywhere in this game. Outsourcing has killed a lot of jobs. A lot of companies sent their IT off to India. No need for in house helpdesks any more. Application development and database are all done with cheapness and plenty quickness by Raj in Bangalore. It is very rare and hard to find a decent job in IT in this current market unless you are pretty high up the ladder and very specialised in what you do. I specialise in Infrastructure, I run pretty big upgrade projects where I wear 5 to 6 different hats... project manager, project planner, team leader, head technical suport and general dogs body. The advantage I have is that I can do it all in 3 different languages. If I didnt have those languages I would be in a load of trouble.
I have run 3 major proects in the past 3 years in 3 different countries. There is hardly any work in the UK or Ireland so I tapped into the multi lingual IT market on mainland Europe. And why pay for 3 guys when you can get 1 to do the lot for you.
It is dog eat dog out there at the moment, I have never seen it this bad. The dot com bubble was a slight blip in comparison to this.
Thanks for the tip.
Not really my experience the last three months in terms of oportunities in Switzerland. I have had endless interviews with a wide range of firms, some more interested and interesting than others. There is work out there if you have the skills. By the way, I only speak english, with a little German.
There is lots of money in shit.
You should go into plumbing in Switzerland, because the "plumbing engineers" seem so slow and not particularly good for the lemgth of training and so called qualifications they have to have.
What area of IT? OP is not even in IT yet. If you do not have mad skillz then you is f'd
I am still sticking with what I said, it is a mare out there. Switzerland might be ok if you have a niche kind of skill. All you have to do is look on Jobserve to get an idea of what is about. Get on any UK or US based IT forum and you will see that it is not as rosey at it seems. A lot of people are out of work, or in crappy jobs but just thankfull that they have one.
Australia seems to be picking up though. Might go there next.
Project management and information systems management, more on the strategic (non-technical) side. Yes it takes years to get these kinds of skills to be able to leverage in IT, so my comments were not specifically for the OP. Moreso that Switzerland is quite bouyant for higher skilled staff in IT. One of the reasons is due to the difficulty companies have been having getting non-EU permits, so if you have the right skills and are in country with appropriate work permits then there is no reason not to be able to find work right now. Just my experience with things, others experiences may of course be completely different.
The US and UK is very hard right now as is most of the EU.
Australia is going all guns blazing but again difficult to be permitted to work unless you have some specific roads into the market.