Free Google Certificate Courses

BKelly21 · 19-11-2021 5:13pm

My son was midway through the "step into tech" course Microsoft has to offer, when he discovered this one.

He wouldn't be too bad with computers (certainly would be head and shoulders above me) but he said, and I quote "Microsoft one is bloody rocket science compared to this" - as he started this one last Saturday, and is now on week 4/6

My question though is, is the Microsoft one a lot more challenging because the certificate is more widely recognised in the industry, and hence more likely to lead to a job opportunity for him, or will the Google one be equally as useful?

Not trying to put you on the spot here, (as I know you are involved in this project professionally)?

He has a job here within the family business already, but if he's insistent on getting an IT qualification, far be it from me to stand in his way.

Sorry for the questions. Thanks in advance for your help.

jethrothe2nd · 19-11-2021 6:02pm

Hi Bkelly - no apologies needed. I can't really comment on the Microsoft one as I don't know what the content is like but they seem to generally have the same purpose. Certainly for the Google ones they are aimed at people with little or even no experience in the subject matter so it starts with the basics. The Microsoft ones perhaps assume a certain level of knowledge.

In general, in both cases I would classify them as stepping stones rather than something that will result in an immediate job (although that is also dependent on the individual and their background as well).

Oranage2 · 20-11-2021 4:34am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118192440#Comment_118192440

I'm doing the same course as your son and it definitely gets more challenging. The second course 'bits and bytes' has a lot of technical information and the third course has much longer units.

Just an update, I recently got a help desk job. Not exactly IT support but definitely a stepping stone. I'm not sure how much doing the cert helped in the interview as the interviewer didn't even bat an eyelid when I mentioned it but I definitely think it helped me when I was asked a networking question. During the training I also had some idea about the technical jargon because of the course but the trainer told us what's what anyway.

A midpoint conclusion, definitely not a waste of time as it showed I had an active interest in IT, but the course is more designed to entice your interest in IT rather than having you fully ready for the job.

Pussyhands · 20-11-2021 3:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118195147#Comment_118195147

You're talking about a microsoft course? Are they free too? Any link?

Oranage2 · 20-11-2021 8:44pm

It was the it support with Google

HorseRadish · 29-11-2021 10:57pm

Tipping away on the Project Management course...are these once completed worth sticking on the CV as I might look at others once done :)

jimmyendless · 08-12-2021 3:50pm

Hey @jethrothe2nd , you guys doing data analytics on the users of the courses and care to share any cool screenshots of dashboards or whatever, GDPR allowing?