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[genkischuldich]

You don't have to be American to know how awful the US health care system is and how it lets down many good people. One of the people it's currently screwing over is viridian5, whose photographs and fanfic you've all probably seen at some point. Click here to read more and find out how you can help her. Even a click-thru on her Amazon page will help.

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[ext_254817]

By coincidence, I hosted a meeting with Microsoft this week about IT training! Some useful info including training and experience generally required for different roles here:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/default.aspx

The UK has major skills shortages in the 'middle bit' i.e. technicians, tech support, network managers, as well as the shortfall in programming skills needed for the creative industries. Most of the big name cos (incl Microsoft, CISCO, Apple, Sun) provide training and certification in how to work with their products and, typically, IT professionals these days would aim to build up a portfolio of these which they keep updating. At the very basic level, there's the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) which you could do with your eyes closed and one hand tied behind your back but I gather that the latest Microsoft Office user certificate is becoming more popular with employers (at least Microsoft say it is!). Entry level work would probably include helpdesk support, for which customer service skills would not be wasted. Growth areas include "cloud" management and videoconference/virtualclassroom etc.

Contrary to rumour, and various Channel 4 comedies, the IT tech supports I deal with are all quite personable!

[genkischuldich]

Thanks for all the information! I hope I can do this, or at the very least get a job of some kind.

Funny enough, it seems that it's mainly tech support classifying themselves as irritable and aggressive. :)