Student Q&A: Corey

Please note: Upskilled no longer offers the course in Infomation, Digital Media and Technology but the equivalent qualification, ICT30120 - Certificate III in Information Technology is now available for study. To express your interest, contact our team on 1300 009 924.  

While working full-time managing a café, Corey was able to successfully complete the Information, Digital Media and Technology course. Due to the flexibility of studying online, he managed to receive invaluable support from our trainers and has gained relevant skills for future job roles.

In his Q&A, Corey tell us what qualities an aspiring IT professional should have and shares useful advice for those thinking about studying the course. 

Why did you study Information, Digital Media and Technology?

I always have had an interest with computers and operating systems. From a young age I always liked looking through every inch, nook and cranny of a systems operating system and trying out new settings and customisation. 

It wasn’t until I was older that I wondered what parts make a system and what is behind making a system work. 

I chose this course to better my knowledge of what I already knew and wanted to apply what I learnt to help others with their technical needs. As we advance in the future, technology is going to be behind every step of it.

What skills have you gained from the course?

I have learnt a few things I didn’t expect to. Like how to use some basic Windows PowerShell command and a lot of the background stuff. All the underlying steps that need to be taken to upgrading a business’s network and computer system. 

Configuring a new network router and adding sufficient security options to it and determining the differences between operating systems and how they might work better for and against some certain business scenarios. 

I also think the help of WHS added to the course really well since it added a new depth of learning about some of the more behind-the-scene areas of employment.    

How will his qualification assist you when it comes to applying for future job roles?

I guess it all comes down to experience in the end. I plan to do more courses in the future and continue to build on my knowledge and skills but everything I learn can be applied in future roles. 

Whether it be technical support for a company or possibly even building computers for clients. The more I know, the more I can apply with a position I secure.

What would you say are the benefits of online study?

The benefits of online studying is definitely the ability work as fast or as slow as you need to. Personally I already work full-time managing a café. 

I found it super helpful that if I had worked a full day at work, I didn’t need to necessarily stress about needing to study when I had the spare time or needed to relax. It was easy to do it when it suited me. 

I also think that it is super important to have help when you need it too. If I was ever unsure about something in an assignment, I had some really helpful trainers that assisted in the areas I struggled with. They were always quick to email me back and were brief.

What aspects of the course did you enjoy and why?

One of the aspects that I enjoyed with this course was the use of Labs for an assignment. Configuring an online desktop environment and installing Windows through a virtual machine. I found that as a great learning medium to people who may not have tried it before, mainly because nothing can go wrong since the whole machine is online and doesn’t affect real hardware. 

I also liked that the learning material was mainly all video-based. It is good when you’re working full-time to punch in some time to watch some modules between regular work or on the commute to home/work. 

Another aspect I really enjoyed was that the assignments weren’t all text on documents. Some involved the need to produce designed elements and drawings. It was great to have some variety and the course always kept me interested in what was next. 

For someone to succeed in the IT industry, what qualities do you believe an aspiring IT professional should have?

Definitely patience. Speaking from real-life scenarios, sometimes the need for trial and error is an option and working through issues can be time-consuming and a little frustrating when they don’t go as planned. 

You also need to be able to think quickly and have good problem-solving abilities. You may need to work around an issue with alternatives to get it fixed. Also the personal want to always keep learning. 

As technology evolves, the next 20-50 years things will change and the IT professional will need to adapt to changes for their clients.

Do you have any further advice for those interested in the course and/or a career in IT you’d like to share?

I should suggest don’t overwhelm yourself and go for the highest qualification or course you think you can achieve. Try and make sure you are applying for the course that is right for your level of knowledge. 

Always work hard and keep your work detailed and leave no stone unturned. Try and explore all options around scenarios and work out what would be the best option for the client and faster for you personally. 

Also, no question is never too small to ask. The trainers I had were super helpful and I really appreciate all the effort they had put in for me when I needed it.

Want to gain valuable IT skills like Corey?

 Upskilled's Information, Digital Media and Technology course that will provide you training in specific products and software. You will also have the opportunity to build on skills in both computer literacy and interpersonal communications. 

While it has no specific entry requirements, it's recommended that those wanting to study the course have less than 6 months of experience working in the ICT field.

To learn more about the IT industry, visit our industry insights page and have a look at a range of other IT courses we have on offer.