From Delivery Driver to IT Technician in Under Six Months
When Gelu Bolba parked his job as a delivery driver, he signed up for courses with ITonlinelearning. In less than six months, he was earning three times his previous income and taking on a wide range of exciting roles in his dream job.
“I desperately needed a career change,” says Gelu Bolba, who was fed up battling through London’s busy traffic, day after day, in his job as a delivery driver. “I was required to work long hours and meet huge expectations, but after all my vehicle costs were taken into account, I wasn’t earning very much. I needed a fresh start.”
When it came to picking a new career path, IT was the obvious choice for Gelu. “IT had always been my passion,” he explains. “I had my own PC from the age of six and studied computer programming at school. IT therefore stood out for me as my ideal career.” Gelu signed up for the IT Technician Programme, offered by ITonlinelearning, and quickly started studying for key certifications. Most students take around a year to complete this programme of study, while continuing in their current jobs. Gelu, however, gave up his delivery job and focused entirely on his studies. “I just didn’t stop learning!” he says.
With support from tutors at ITonlinelearning, Gelu made rapid progress. He succeeded in passing;
- CompTIA IT Fundamentals
- CompTIA A+
- MSCA certifications in Windows 10 and Windows 7
Within just a couple of months, he was ready to begin his new career.
Mentors at ITonlinelearning reviewed Gelu’s CV and helped him to improve it, so that he would stand out in the IT jobs market. They then helped him to secure an interview with a renowned IT recruitment and resourcing company that supplies qualified IT professionals for a wide range of projects. The outcome was just what Gelu had hoped for. “Within only two weeks of passing my exams and sending off my completed CV, I had secured my first job in the IT industry,” he exclaims. Since then, Gelu has had the opportunity to work on a succession of rewarding IT contracts in different industries. Most notably, he was engaged by the NHS to help set up desktops and mobile work stations for doctors and nurses at one of the UK’s Nightingale Hospitals at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. He subsequently also worked on a project for the Department for Education, configuring laptops for students, to enable disadvantaged young people to learn from home during lockdowns. “Within six months I was earning around three times what I was earning as a delivery driver, and working more regular business hours,” Gelu says.
Recently, Gelu was engaged to work for a large energy company, helping it to upgrade card reader devices. While working on this project, he began training other IT technicians and a love for IT training was ignited. He has now been offered a role as an IT trainer which will commence when COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed. In the meantime, he is continuing to study with ITonlinelearning and is now working towards achieving the CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ certifications. He hopes to develop cyber security skills and become a cyber security analyst in the future.
Taking courses with ITonlinelearning has undoubtedly paved the way for Gelu to build a rewarding career in the IT industry. Not only did the IT Technician Programme help him develop technical skills; it also helped him build his confidence and communication skills. When asked what advice he has for others who may be considering taking a course with ITonlinelearning, his message is simple: “Just do it!”
Has Gelu’s story has inspired you to pursue a career in IT?
If the answer is yes, then contact our Course and Career Advisors today to get started.