Karl cruises into IT

Former Royal Navy Engineer, Karl Briggs, chose Computeach when he needed help retraining.

He made the decision that to get ahead upon leaving the Navy, he needed to learn new skills.

He heard about Computeach from somebody else that had left the Navy and started their successful new life in IT. "I didn't know very much about computers but I knew IT was an exciting industry to work in with great long term career prospects."

After speaking with a careers adviser it was clear which career path would suit Karl. "I chose a website design course, as I had always been creative and believed the web design would offer me an interesting future career."

Computeach courses are designed so that students may study at their own pace around existing commitments. Karl chose to enrol with Computeach because the distance learning format suited his needs.

The support of experienced tutors is only a phone call or email away and the facilities for students include an impressive state-of-the-art-training block, Parkinson House.

Computeach also benefits from the company's own IT recruitment division, Computeach Careers, helping the students to get their first job in IT. The company also provides students with training in vital job-seeking skills and makes introductions to employers wherever possible.

"Computeach Careers gave me tips on how best to prepare for interviews, what to say when answering questions as well as the questions I should be asking".

Before he had even finished his IT course, Karl secured a job with Cheshire Police as a Communications Of?cer. He is responsible for communications and troubleshooting their IT systems.

Although many of our students secure employment on the strength of the quali?cations they gain, we are seeing more cases, like Karl's, where their training launches them into a new IT career before completing their course.

"The networking qualifications I had already passed helped me to secure this job, but my employers liked the idea that I would continue to study in my spare time to advance my IT skills".

Karl, who now plans to move up the IT career ladder with the police, has some advice for anyone else thinking of changing to a career in IT. "You need motivation and determination," he says. "I now have more responsibility, money and free time. I enjoy life more."