IT 'qualification' help from Grapes please!

[OverWyreGrower]

As most of you know, I have been made redundant recently, and am well on with the search for a job.

I have been offered a chance to undertake the Microsoft Office Specialist certification in Excel, Word, Outlook, Powerpoint and Access. There is a charge, but it is less than I have seen elsewhere (£275).

What are people's thoughts on this? I'm highly proficient in all these programmes (except Access, where I'm OK), but have no real qualifications to back this statement up. I do have other academic qualifications, but only 'work-based' experience to show that I can used these programmes.

I could just about afford to pay for these certifications, and since they are online-study, I can spend plenty of time doing them whilst I'm not working, or, if I got a job, could continue them in the evenings. There are about 56-60 hours of study to undertake....

Whadda'ya think??

[Bigmallly]

I envy you OWG, I only scraped the surface of Excel & Access and it was so out of my depth. If you already have the knowledge, you've got to go for it. Good luck, although by the sounds of it, you're not gonna need much.

[SarrissUK]

Go for it OWG Even if employers don't really understand what the qualification means, it shows that you want to further yourself, which is a very positive trait to have.

[rustylady]

If you can afford it and it's being offered by a reputable provider then go for it. "Bits of paper" are extra ammunition when job hunting.

[piskieinboots]

I second (third/fourth?) you going for it.

Bits of paper are more and more in demand and as you have the experience you are already streets ahead of 'youngsters' who have the bit of paper but not the experience.

And I will know where to come when I need a techie and help

[Aberdeenplotter]

if you list proficiency in these applications very prominently amongst your skills in your CV, That would be good enough for me. As a potential employer, without the bitty of paper I might be tempted to ask you to prove your skills in a test at interview time but I'm more of an experience in guy than any piece of paper on any day of the week.

If money is tight, you have to be the judge.

Good luck anyway

[Potstubsdustbins]

My thoughts for what they are worth.

Questions first, are they an accreddited company offering true qualifications. If the answer is yes then I would go for it.

In the world we live in no matter how good you are or how much experience you have the people with the qualifications will always win. Usually because the person who is going to employ you does not know enough about the subject to test your skills and therefore relies on a paper qualification.

Colin

[VirginVegGrower]

As most of you know, I have been made redundant recently, and am well on with the search for a job.

I have been offered a chance to undertake the Microsoft Office Specialist certification in Excel, Word, Outlook, Powerpoint and Access. There is a charge, but it is less than I have seen elsewhere (£275).

What are people's thoughts on this? I'm highly proficient in all these programmes (except Access, where I'm OK), but have no real qualifications to back this statement up. I do have other academic qualifications, but only 'work-based' experience to show that I can used these programmes.

I could just about afford to pay for these certifications, and since they are online-study, I can spend plenty of time doing them whilst I'm not working, or, if I got a job, could continue them in the evenings. There are about 56-60 hours of study to undertake....

Whadda'ya think??

Take the ECDL and its FREE if you are unemployed and on JSA. Go and ask. Gives you the equivalent of RSA in all of the above. Dead easy too!

[Florence Fennel]

I look for that ^^^ qualification on applications to shortlist and our staff can do the qualification for free (Health Service). It's a strange driving licence, but it works!

[cardiffsteve]

Definitely do it.

something new/recent training to add to your CV and shows you are willing to learn new skills.

[mothhawk]

I think the advanced ECDL would be more of an equivalent to the MOS, and that's going to cost about the same. They are both worldwide recognised certificates, so you pays your money and takes your choice.

I've done the advanced ECDL at evening class (it was offered free to try and encourage people to take it - lucky me!) and really enjoyed it. Qualifications on paper are always good in today's employment market.

[VirginVegGrower]

The ECDL is the recognised IT qualification of choice. I worked for HP in resource management. The advanced ECDL is the one I'm talking about. There aren't two. Dead easy and a lot can be done online. Don't pay though - it is free to all unemployed on JSA/just stamp paid. Check it out!

[Chef_uk]

I took the advanced ECDL Intensive 5 day course and the advanced MS Office courses. Led to absolutely naff all in the job market. Thankfully they were paid for as I work in the public sector but still washing tins for a living.

Would I spend a couple of hundred on an IT course? No. Just my opinion though