any springboard success stories?

walter the second

Hi there,

I recently did a Springboard course in IT/ Web technologies, doing CSS, javascript, some mySQL etc...etc.... I got a 2:1 in my diploma, 39 years old.

My experience of receiving replies from the many CVs sent out has been far from successful so I've got quite cynical about the whole idea of Springboard. All the ads are like, 'IBM, Microsoft...they want you!'

Maybe it's particularly with the IT side of things but I suspect employers are looking for people with full-on computer science degrees? I couldn't even get a Jobbridge placement doing IT/ Web development. There seemed to be 30 + people going for every job bridge placement I was interested in, anything from 18 years up. Maybe they just want spring chickens, so much for no ageism.... I don't know

Any success stories with SpringBoard? Anyone got a full time IT job due to it? And tips?

I've changed my tac now to sales jobs, which I'm getting interviews for...but sales isn't something that drives me crazy with excitement. But at least it's a job....

henryporter

Better to try looking to small IT companies, maybe in tech support roles to start off with. Also look into software testing - the likes of SQS are always looking for staff and provide training etc.

Heydeldel

Interesting to hear about your experience. I've been accepted on to a Springboard course in DBS. I've no previous computing experience. I trained in the education sector. But lately any career advice I seem to get revolves around IT so I thought I'd give an IT course a go. But hearing how hard the OP is finding getting a job, I'm rethinking!

gandalf

I got a job from my Springboard course but it was mainly because of my previous work experience from 20 years in IT Sales and not the course itself. However if I wasn't doing the course then I wouldn't have had the chat with the placement officer in the college who saw the opportunity and pushed it my way.

Whilst I haven't totally made the direction change I wanted when I started the course I am using some of what I learnt in the course in some of my duties and it has opened the door for me down the line to make a change if I still want to.

I think the advice to try smaller companies makes sense. With larger organisations you get caught out by the HR department's inflexibility in looking for a degree for every job even when it is not really needed. The problem I had when I was applying for sales jobs in larger companies was they were looking for multilingual for every job even if that job was selling to Ireland and the UK only. Because they are getting so many applicants they tend to set the bar way too high. If you have done or are doing your course in a college that has a dedicated careers officer use them, use you own network and use LinkedIn (especially for IT related jobs, most recruitment companies now use it extensively!).

Heydeldel

Great to hear you got work from it.

I'm coming from a very un -IT background and think perhaps I'm chasing the wrong area.

gandalf

Heydeldel wrote: »

Great to hear you got work from it.

I'm coming from a very un -IT background and think perhaps I'm chasing the wrong area.

I wouldn't let that colour your taking up a course or not. I wouldn't expect to come out of the course at the other end and waltz into a job. However things are an awful lot better now that they were this time last year.

If you have experience in education then I am assuming you have taught. IT training is a very big growth area and getting the right people to deliver courses is a very fine balancing act in itself. If you can get on the right course to give you a good grounding in IT this may be an area to look into.

The most important factor in choosing a course is to pick one that actually interests you. There is no point picking something that you think will get you a job but actually doesn't interest you and you find yourself dropping out if it when the going gets tough (on my course our workload over the 1st Semester was the equivalent for a 1st Year Degree Student over the whole of their first year). You definitely should consider it's commercial viability in job hunting afterwards but you should have an interest in learning about the content.

I was approaching 12 months unemployment when I started the course last year and tbh it gave me a new purpose and boast to my confidence. It also allowed me to mix and network with a lot of people I never would have met and I have made some very good new friends out of it. One of the hidden dangers of unemployment is the lack of social interaction that having a day to day job brings and I didn't realise how much I missed this until I started the course last year. Over all I think they are a very good tool to help skill yourself up.

daza2014

I did a Masters through Springboard in Financial Information Systems. I had no I.T, Finance experience whatsoever and got accepted onto the course. I never mentioned anywhere it was "Springboard" on my CV, nor ever mentioned it was Springboard on an application or in an interview. The courses are certified and legit through whichever college or I.T it is associated with. I doubt you have been making the mistake of possibly "downgrading" its value in your CV? I finished last June, got called for Analyst role I applied for. I started a Jobsbridge in a Business Analyst Role in an I.T company. I am by no means boasting here, but I got made permanent 3 months into the Jobsbridge and now on a Salary that I never thought possible coming from absolutely no experience.

I did and was prepared for the hard slog of continuing on the Jobsbridge until the 9 months were up, and feel quite lucky. So, ya here is a Springboard success story, and I guess a Jobsbridge success story too!

Best of luck with it. Keep sending out cv's, connect with recruiters on linkedin, and Jobsbridge is certainly an easier foot in the door and if the company I work for is anything to go by, its about your personality and attitude and willingness to learn as opposed to huge technical skill. If your willing to work hard, theres usually someone in a company that will look out for ya.

doc11

daza, how did others on your masters get on after. My experience of springboard is a few get lucky but getting great jobs is not the norm

daza2014

Most of the people I have talked to from the class since we finished have been getting on quite well, a lot went down the route of Financial Services, from advisory roles in Insurance through to Financial Analyst careers, to getting into managerial roles based on past experiences as well. People came from hugely diverse backgrounds, like Construction workers, accountants etc. It was an intense year to be fair but the modules gave a brillant base of knowledge to bring up in interviews and our course director made us set up linkedin profiles on day one and made us keep a log of all jobs we applied for and helped review CVs for us.

Try look out for Springboard courses that have internships attached. While we ultimately had to source our own work experience (it didnt matter if it was interning, jobsbridge, full time, permanent, temp) just as long as it had some relevancy to the course, our director gave some great advice.

I'm happy to send you more details in private if you want details on the course etc. While location may be an issue if you don't fancy moving, I did it and while tough, it was one year that has obviously put me on the right track in a very unforgiving employment climate

walshyp

Yea I know plenty of people who have.

Its really down to the role yours applying for. Pure Development roles and graduate developement roles are probably the hardest roles to get after a one year springboard.

Apply for service desk jobs. Excellent starting point for anyone in I.T. Some or terrible but with the right company there excellent.

Apply for Database jobs.

Apply for application support jobs.

One thing that set will set you apart from other applicants is to start on your I.T certifications such as Microsoft certs/ Oracle certs/programming certs etc.

Best of luck.

walter the second

daza, that's great news, congratulations. And to you too gandalf.

Just sharing my thoughts with how things are right now... You're living proof of this not being the case daza but my experience with jobbridge is it's a waste of time. So many cvs sent, not even a reply. It's like the mindset is, 'this guy has no self-respect, prepared to work for free for 6 months, so he obviously doesn't care if we don't get back to him.'

I applied for another Springboard course there a few weeks ago, the one on the phone was saying there's very few places left, it would be tight but they might be able to squeeze me in blah blah... She got back to me when I didn't get back to her. They always do. It was the Computing course in DBS which I heard good stories about...but at the end of the day I just couldn't hack being broke for another year, small kids, Christmas coming up etc...

So I've just been hacking away, sending CVs. No, I don't mention Springboard on my CV - just say I did such and such a course.

Could be luck or the economy picking up or both, but all of a sudden in 2 weeks I got a load of interviews. And more than 1 job offer. Starting with Microsoft soon. Delighted, I am. It's related to stuff done in the past, not my Springboard.

My tuppence worth:
- Of course everybody's circumstances are different, but me, having already done 1 Springboard course, I'm glad I resisted the temptation of doing another. The idea was attractive - free from the stress/hassle of looking for a job for a few months, feel like I'm doing something productive, but the job search is always going to come back at you. You're better off getting it over with. Even if the job is not exactly what you're after. New doors can open. But that's just me.

- I don't buy the line - 'Springboard gives people the skills to get jobs in IT development/programming, where there's a massive shortage of people'. Some Springboard people will, but I'd be surprised if it's more than 5%. The reality reads more like - 'Employers are having difficulty finding developers with high honours degrees from Ireland's universities.' Like what Paddy Cosgrave of Web Summit fame said some weeks ago - they're only taking developers with first class degrees from UCD, or second class up from Trinity. It's much more the exception than the norm that employers take on a one year Springboard person to replace a person with 4 years experience.

- It's easier to get a real job than an internship! Maybe because people who apply for internships are thinking, 'Of course one of these companies will pick me. I'm offering to work for free!', lots of people are thinking that same way, so the employer has so many great people to pick from. Sort of ironic, but maybe less people are applying for real jobs than internships so real jobs right now are easier to get.

walter the second

walshyp wrote: »

Yea I know plenty of people who have.

Its really down to the role yours applying for. Pure Development roles and graduate developement roles are probably the hardest roles to get after a one year springboard.

Apply for service desk jobs. Excellent starting point for anyone in I.T. Some or terrible but with the right company there excellent.

Apply for Database jobs.

Apply for application support jobs.

One thing that set will set you apart from other applicants is to start on your I.T certifications such as Microsoft certs/ Oracle certs/programming certs etc.

Best of luck.

One of the interviews I went for was a job involving database/ risk analysis. Failed miserably on the technical questions. For those going to similar interviews: know your primary and foreign keys!

eoinp11

daza2014 wrote: »

Most of the people I have talked to from the class since we finished have been getting on quite well, a lot went down the route of Financial Services, from advisory roles in Insurance through to Financial Analyst careers, to getting into managerial roles based on past experiences as well. People came from hugely diverse backgrounds, like Construction workers, accountants etc. It was an intense year to be fair but the modules gave a brillant base of knowledge to bring up in interviews and our course director made us set up linkedin profiles on day one and made us keep a log of all jobs we applied for and helped review CVs for us.

Try look out for Springboard courses that have internships attached. While we ultimately had to source our own work experience (it didnt matter if it was interning, jobsbridge, full time, permanent, temp) just as long as it had some relevancy to the course, our director gave some great advice.

I'm happy to send you more details in private if you want details on the course etc. While location may be an issue if you don't fancy moving, I did it and while tough, it was one year that has obviously put me on the right track in a very unforgiving employment climate

Hey Daza, can i ask what college you did yours in?

Any advice welcome from people regarding DIT vs NCI vs DBS for HDip in computer science vai ICT/springboard.

Is there any perceivable difference in doing a part time course other than the hours it is held? NCI have offered a free fee place for HDIp but it is evenings and weekends, i'd prefer regular full time, but if it is not a "weakened" course then i'd consider it!

How has your prospects/ employment gone since you last posted? Any updates advice?

starlit

Springboard is a mixed bag but its no different to having gone on to do a hdip or Masters. Regarding interviews you need to just keep applying to jobs if not successful look at the CV and are you applying to the right jobs. Regarding Springboard i'd be in favour of ones that have an internship looks better on CV and appeal to interviewers but its the same story not heard many to get jobs after. Its just a lot tougher and more competition regardless of what qualification you have. Selling yourself and what have you got no other candidate has what makes you stand out?

eoinp11

doovdela wrote: »

Springboard is a mixed bag but its no different to having gone on to do a hdip or Masters. Regarding interviews you need to just keep applying to jobs if not successful look at the CV and are you applying to the right jobs. Regarding Springboard i'd be in favour of ones that have an internship looks better on CV and appeal to interviewers but its the same story not heard many to get jobs after. Its just a lot tougher and more competition regardless of what qualification you have. Selling yourself and what have you got no other candidate has what makes you stand out?

Yea i feel you. Would that include with a masters you think? I figured there be some competition, but it is really sounding like it is a tough venture getting a job! Strange because there is so much talk of how much demand there is.

Yea, i am favouring internships/placements. Offered part time Hdip + work exp in NCI (offer about to expire on the 9th, don't know if i should accept it or hold off to hear about the DIT Hdip + work exp !) Tough choice!

starlit

A Masters or a hdip is no different a starting point if you have a degree might make you look more employable but you need to show proof with examples in an interview you have these skills. I've been to a fair number of interviews and they have all been different they might ask similar questions but what's required of you can vary. Some might need you to do a presentation or an exam. The computing courses, if you apply for IT jobs you be aswell to keep tabs of what's happening in the IT sector and practice coding, have a few projects of your own to showcase online or have a portfolio. A lot of the IT jobs unless in Technical support you get away without needing certs but you may need to further your career in IT with specialised IT certs and coding exams etc. A lot of the IT jobs require you do a coding exam depending if its software industry you are aiming for. What are your career aspirations really is what to take into account and does the course you are interested meet the needs you want from a course?

Ya there are a lot of IT jobs on demand but not enough people to meet the demand a lot of companies are hiring from outside of Ireland especially those that have a foreign language they might have the upper hand if they tick employers boxes. They both have work-experience well I suppose go with your gut feeling that's what I usually do when it comes to picking out courses that I think are the right ones for me. It depends on the numbers as well will determine if the course go ahead. It could be 2 weeks to a month before you hear back after application it can vary.

DK man

Bump!

Interesting OP. Wonder how he got on.

I have been accepted on to a Springboard IT course and one of the lead lecturers said that the big companies do recruit from the programme but that you need to get a 1:1 award to be in the running. I am doing it more for interest and curiosity and education is always easy to carry.

OMM 0000

I would hire someone from a springboard course if their cover letter and interview showed me they are genuinely interested in the topic and have an aptitude for it. But I have no interest in hiring someone from these courses if their reason for doing it is "because I heard the money in IT is good".

So make sure you have a portfolio of work and sell yourself.

OMM 0000

OMM 0000 wrote: »

I would hire someone from a springboard course if their cover letter and interview showed me they are genuinely interested in the topic and have an aptitude for it. But I have no interest in hiring someone from these courses if their reason for doing it is "because I heard the money in IT is good".

So make sure you have a portfolio of work and sell yourself.

Do you also challenge your doctor or dentist the same way if they entered the profession just for the money?

So what if someone switched to IT because the money is good if they are reasonably able for it. Probation allows you let them go if they are totally hopeless.

If there is such a shortage of people in IT, shouldn't you be relieved you are getting applications at all rather than expect someone perform cartwheels for you in portfolios and interviews.

OMM 0000

salonfire wrote: »

Do you also challenge your doctor or dentist the same way if they entered the profession just for the money?

So what if someone switched to IT because the money is good if they are reasonably able for it. Probation allows you let them go if they are totally hopeless.

If there is such a shortage of people in IT, shouldn't you be relieved you are getting applications at all rather than expect someone perform cartwheels for you in portfolios and interviews.

As we have discussed many times previously, you have no understanding of IT.

People who don't have an aptitude for it, and dislike it, i.e. the people doing it for the money, are never good.

For example, in software development, no qualification is necessary if you have a passion for programming. But a person with a springboard qualification who scraped by and hated it? Useless.

You've made an absolute fool of yourself in the past when talking about IT, so this is the only response I'm giving you. Here's an example from the past: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057981623&page=3 (start reading from #43)

OMM 0000

OMM 0000 wrote: »

People who don't have an aptitude for it, and dislike it, i.e. the people doing it for the money, are never good.

Strange then how so many people are working in IT from other backgrounds. I guess they are lucky enough to avoid hiring managers such as you.

The out of work builder who did switch to IT during the recession was slightly more motivated by the money to feed his family I'm willing to bet; moreso than his belief in himself as the next Bill Gates.