Could any IT support people recommend best qualification for a career changer?

[arabik]

I graduated 10 years ago in Languages but have been working since then as a corporate PA/Team Administrator. However, I'm really bored with it and want to career change into PC/Network Support.

Could anyone already working in the industry or anyone who's made the career change themselves tell me what they think is the best qualification to get from an employer's perspective?

I can't afford to stop working so am thinking of enrolling on a year long evening course at my local college. There's a Cisco course called "IT Essentials" which they seem to think would be best for me (assembling, configuring, installing and troubleshooting hardware and software).

I know experience is paramount but I'm not likely to be able to get even a Junior Helpdesk role am I without the slightest qualification?

Any advice appreciated as frankly the number and range of companies and courses out there is baffling!!

[Catso]

Experience is the best qualification, but unfortunately it 's difficult to get that without a qualification.

The manufacturers (EG Cisco, Microsoft) 'vocational' qualifications are probably amongst the most highly rated, but don't carry that much weight without some corresponding experience.

If you're starting from scratch, then the course you describe is probably a good start. But you should then try and get at least part of the Microsoft MCSE or Cisco CCNP qualification. Have a look at the MS & Cisco websites to see what they are all about.