feedthegoat

As I have been out of work for a while now, last week I inquired at my local Jobcentre about going on a course to get an ECDL to further enhance my chances of getting a job, however the advisor who I spoke to more or less told me it was a waste of time and that it wouldn't get me anywhere and that I would need to get an SL2 before I'd even be considered to do the course.

What I want to know is does anyone know what an SL2 actually is? As if I can obtain it I'll ask someone else at the Jobcentre about going on this course.

Gregg Carter

If you're looking to get into/back into some form of IT then i wouldn't bother with the ECDL. Don't know anybody in the industry with any real knowledge of the subject that takes it seriously.

The Rafalution

eh, its not a waste of time. dont know what an SL2 is though

The Rafalution

oh yeah, if you are in IT not worth much.

coisty

Got a degree in an IT related subject and still couldn't get a job. The market is flooded.

feedthegoat

I'm not in IT at all, I've only ever done retail work and want to change career as there are barely any retail jobs in my area except Xmas temps and part-time jobs, and feel that working within a computer environment may be better (data entry or anything along those sort of lines).

I have also been told that places like the local councils and hospitals will only take on admin staff that have an ECDL is this right?

Gav Stone

Avoid the ECDl. It will be full of irrelevant things you don't need for any job you may do, along with things you are currently doing now on a computer.

Neil Purvis

Wouldn’t bother with it. We used to run it at our workplace and it was a load of rubbish. Don’t know any employer who takes it seriously.

feedthegoat

Cheers for the info chaps, think I might give this a miss then and look into doing something else.

The Rafalution

many large firms use EDCL as a benchmark for admin applicants, especially if they dont have prior experience or other IT quals. I think it would be worth it, though have you tried temp agencies? should be able to get some data entry through them.