Young South Africans, who are indiscriminately seduced by hyped-up "hotshot" IT training courses promising a passport to lucrative career opportunities here or abroad within weeks, are increasingly having their "silicon dreams" shattered.
Unaware of the pitfalls of quick-fix training and instead of joining the well-known IT "brain drain" and boarding planes to earn big bucks, the reality is that many young South Africans are sitting at home with "IT certificates": disillusioned, out-of-pocket and still unemployed.
So says MD of JSE-listed CS Holdings` division CS Education Solutions, Dr Madelise Grobler, who warns young South Africans and their parents to be aware of the realities of the pitfalls in promises of "the world will be your oyster in a week"-type IT training. Grobler is urging IT career seekers to carefully research training options on the market.
Grobler says: "Before youngsters venture into the IT industry with their heads full of silicon dreams and their parents fork out their hard-earned money for training, they must be careful of being lured by unrealistic hype. The IT world has become a favourite option for young school leavers, as it`s commonly assumed that exceptionally lucrative careers can be easily and rapidly accessed. This widely held perception unfortunately sees many people being vulnerable to the promises of hot-shot training companies promising fast training and big bucks in future careers." Grobler says that it is worrying that many matriculants have had bad experiences, as many good opportunities do still exist for young people looking to develop a career in IT. "There is great scope for career growth in IT at present in areas such as help and support functions, Internet training and networking. The IT world is still one of the best places right now to make a living, but it`s crucial that youngsters should approach the opportunities with full awareness and knowledge of the market`s real skills needs."
Skills needs have changed rapidly in IT in South Africa, and worldwide. For instance, says Grobler, youngsters should be aware that there is a skills lake presently of Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MSCE) on the Windows 2000 track. Also, an MCSE should be viewed as a good starting point for IT careerist: not as an one-and-only qualification. "MCSEs on NT4 were in high demand a year ago, but now MCSEs have flooded the market. The MCSE is a good qualification to start with, but consideration must also be given to new technologies in the market: such as webmaster training and in-depth Novell, Lotus, Cisco, Windows and programming diplomas."
Grobler stresses that most sought-after skills qualifications require on-the-job training. "Prospective trainees need to look for companies who will incorporate practical, hands-on learning as well as skills application projects into their training. Companies are not looking only for people with the right certificates, but for people with practical experience who can do the job. For this reason, in-house trainee contracts are also a good option for youngsters looking to build their skills, experience and long-term careers."
According to Grobler potential students must take the time to investigate IT training providers - and ask pertinent questions - before handing over their money and signing up for a course:
Does the training provider properly assess your needs and knowledge? Do they spend time on assessing you as a potential student, or are they more interested in how you are going to pay?
Does the qualification provide students with more than a "piece of paper"? In other words, do the students graduate with practical, usable skills as well as theoretical knowledge?
Is the training company approved by ISET? It will be an added benefit if the training company is a member of an organisation such as the ITA (Information Technology Agency).
Is the training geared to preparing the student for survival in the real world?
Is the training institution reputable, with a scientific approach to training?
Is the organisation well resourced? A "cheap" "fast" training course can mean that shortcuts are taken on training materials, equipment and the time allocated to student training.
Does the training company offer technical as well as business skills training?
"Ideally, students should choose a training company which offers the full scope of skills required by IT companies: from the basics to programming and advanced business skills, such as systems design and analysis, e-supply management, financial management and project management," says Grobler.
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