Chris's Blog

In total, there are 4 A+ examinations and study sections, but your only requirement is to get certified in 2 to be thought of as qualified. Because of this, a great number of colleges restrict their course to just 2 areas. But allowing you to learn about all 4 options will give you a far greater perspective of your subject, which you’ll find vital in the working environment.

Passing the A+ exam on its own will mean that you’re able to repair and fix computers and Macs; ones that are most often not part of a network – essentially the domestic or small business sector.

If you’re considering being someone who works for a larger company – in network support, build on A+ with Network+, or follow the Microsoft route – MCP’s, MCSA or MCSE in order to have a wider knowledge of how networks work.

A study programme should always lead to a nationally (or globally) recognised qualification at the finale – not a useless ‘in-house’ printed certificate to hang in your hallway.

The main industry leaders such as Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA each have internationally acknowledged skills programmes. These big-hitters will give some sparkle to your CV.

Get rid of any salesperson that just tells you what course you should do without an in-depth conversation to assess your abilities as well as level of experience. Make sure they can draw from a generous range of products so they’re actually equipped to give you an appropriate solution.

Where you have a strong background, or maybe some live experience (maybe some existing accreditation?) then it could be that your starting level will be very different from a student that is completely new to the industry.

If you’re a student embarking on IT studies anew, it’s often a good idea to start out slowly, kicking off with user-skills and software training first. This can easily be incorporated into any study program.

For the most part, a normal student really has no clue in what direction to head in a computing career, let alone which market they should look at getting trained in.

Consequently, without any know-how of the IT market, how are you equipped to know what some particular IT person spends their day doing? How can you possibly choose what training route would be most appropriate for your success.

Contemplation on many issues is essential if you want to uncover a solution that suits you:

* Your personality can play a starring part – what things get your juices flowing, and what tasks really turn you off.

* Why you want to consider starting in computing – maybe you’d like to achieve a life-long goal like firing your boss and working for yourself maybe.

* What salary and timescale requirements that are important to you?

* Because there are so many ways to train in computing – you’ll need to get a solid grounding on what differentiates them.

* It makes sense to take in what is different for all the training areas.

The best way to avoid the confusing industry jargon, and uncover what’ll really work for you, have an informal chat with an experienced professional; a person who understands the commercial reality whilst covering each accreditation.

Look at the following facts and pay great regard to them if you believe the marketing blurb about a guarantee for your exam looks like a reason to buy:

Patently it’s not free – you are paying for it – the price has simply been included in the whole thing.

We all want to pass first time. Entering examinations in order and paying as you go puts you in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt – you revise thoroughly and are mindful of the investment you’ve made.

Why should you pay your training course provider at the start of the course for exam fees? Find the best deal you can at the time, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance – and do it in a local testing centre – rather than possibly hours away from your area.

Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on examination fees when you didn’t need to? A lot of profit is netted by organisations getting money in early for exam fees – and then cashing in when they’re not all taken.

Also, you should consider what an ‘exam guarantee’ really means. The majority of companies won’t pay again for an exam until you’re able to demonstrate an excellent mock pass rate.

With the average price of Pro-metric and VUE tests in the United Kingdom costing around 112 pounds, it makes sense to pay as you go. There’s no sense in throwing away maybe a thousand pounds extra at the start of your studies. Consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.

(C) S. Edwards 2009. Try Click HERE or IT Certification.

If you think Cisco training might be for you, and you haven’t worked with routers, the chances are your first course should be the CCNA training. This will give you the necessary skills to set up and maintain routers. The world wide web is built up of many routers, and big organisations with various different locations also need routers to allow their networks to talk to each other.

It’s very probable you’ll get a job with an internet service provider or perhaps a national or international corporation that is on many locations but still needs contact. This specialised skill set is highly paid.

You’ll need a specially designed course that will systematically go through everything to ensure that you have comprehensive skills and knowledge prior to commencing your Cisco training.

Far too many companies only look at the plaque to hang on your wall, and forget why you’re doing this – which will always be getting the job or career you want. Always begin with where you want to get to – don’t get hung-up on the training vehicle.

It’s a sad testimony to the sales skills of many companies, but the majority of trainees kick-off study that often sounds wonderful in the syllabus guide, but which gets us a career that is of no interest. Just ask several college students for examples.

You need to keep your eye on where you want to go, and create a learning-plan from that – avoid getting them back-to-front. Stay on target and begin studying for something that’ll reward you for many long and fruitful years.

It’s worth seeking guidance from someone who understands the sector you think may suit you, and is able to give you ‘A day in the life of’ synopsis of the job being considered. This really is essential because you need to know if this change is right for you.

The somewhat scary thought of landing your first computer related job is often eased by some training providers because they offer a Job Placement Assistance programme. The honest truth is that it isn’t a complex operation to find the right work – assuming you’re well trained and qualified; employers in this country need your skills.

Having said that, it’s important to have advice and support about your CV and interviews though; additionally, we would recommend any student to update their CV as soon as they start a course – don’t put it off until you’ve qualified.

You’ll often find that you will be offered your first role whilst still on the course (even when you’ve just left first base). If your course details aren’t on your CV – or it’s not getting in front of interviewers, then you aren’t even in the running!

You can usually expect better results from a specialist locally based employment agency than any course provider’s employment division, because they’ll know the local area and commercial needs better.

A common grievance of a number of training course providers is how hard men and women are focused on studying to become certified, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the job they’re qualified for. Don’t give up when the best is yet to come.

One area often overlooked by people thinking about a course is that of ‘training segmentation’. Essentially, this is the way the course is divided up for delivery to you, which makes a huge difference to what you end up with.

Many companies enrol you into a program spread over 1-3 years, and courier the materials in pieces as you complete each exam. This sounds reasonable until you consider the following:

Sometimes the steps or stages offered by the provider doesn’t suit. And what if you don’t finish each and every section inside of their particular timetable?

In a perfect world, you’d get ALL the training materials right at the beginning – meaning you’ll have all of them to return to any point – whenever it suits you. Variations can then be made to the order that you complete each objective where a more intuitive path can be found.

Have a conversation with a professional consultant and they’ll entertain you with many worrying experiences of students who’ve been conned by dodgy salespeople. Make sure you deal with an experienced industry advisor that asks lots of questions to discover the most appropriate thing for you – not for their bank-account! You must establish a starting-point that will suit you.

Don’t forget, if you’ve got any qualifications that are related, then you will often be able to begin at a different level to a trainee with no history to speak of.

If this is going to be your opening crack at studying for an IT examination then you may want to cut your teeth on some basic user skills first.

Author: Scott Edwards. Check out CLICK HERE or Cisco Training.

What do you expect the most superior Microsoft accredited suppliers to offer a client in this country currently? Undoubtedly, the finest Microsoft authorised training routes, supplying a range of courses to take you towards various areas of industry.

Try to consider all the options with an advisor who is on familiar terms with the IT industry, and will help you select the most fruitful career to go with your personal characteristics.

Be sure your training course is tailored to your needs and abilities. The best companies will ensure that your training track is designed for the job you want to get.

We’d hazard a guess that you’re a practical sort of person – a ‘hands-on’ type. Typically, the unfortunate chore of reading reference guides is something you’ll make yourself do if you have to, but it’s not ideal. Consider interactive, multimedia study if learning from books is not your thing.

Long-term memory is enhanced when multiple senses are involved – this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for many years.

Locate a program where you’ll get a host of CD and DVD ROM’s – you’ll learn by watching video tutorials and demonstrations, and be able to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions.

It’s very important to see examples of the study materials provided by each company you’re contemplating. They have to utilise video, demonstrations and various interactive elements.

Avoiding training that is delivered purely online is generally a good idea. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where possible, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you – you don’t want to be reliant on your broadband being ‘up’ 100 percent of the time.

Many people question why qualifications from colleges and universities are being replaced by more commercially accredited qualifications?

With 3 and 4 year academic degree costs increasing year on year, alongside the IT sector’s recognition that accreditation-based training most often has much more commercial relevance, we have seen a large rise in Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA authorised training programmes that create knowledgeable employees at a fraction of the cost and time involved.

Many degrees, as a example, can often get caught up in too much background study – and a syllabus that’s too generalised. This prevents a student from getting enough core and in-depth understanding on a specific area.

It’s a bit like the TV advert: ‘It does what it says on the label’. Companies need only to know what areas need to be serviced, and then request applicants with the correct exam numbers. That way they can be sure they’re interviewing applicants who can do the job.

Don’t get hung-up, as a lot of students can, on the certification itself. Training is not an end in itself; this is about employment. Begin and continue with the end in mind.

Don’t let yourself become part of that group that choose a course that sounds really ‘interesting’ and ‘fun’ – only to end up with a qualification for an unrewarding career path.

Spend some time thinking about earning potential and the level of your ambition. Sometimes, this affects what precise exams you’ll need to attain and what you can expect to give industry in return.

We’d recommend you take advice from an experienced professional before embarking on a learning course, so you’re sure from the outset that the specific package will give the skills for the job being sought.

The somewhat scary thought of securing your first computer related job is often made easier by some training providers because they offer a Job Placement Assistance facility. The honest truth is that it isn’t so complicated as you might think to land your first job – as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.

CV and Interview advice and support may be available (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). Ensure you bring your CV right up to date right away – don’t leave it till you pass the exams!

It’s not unusual to find that you will get your initial position whilst still on the course (even when you’ve just left first base). If your CV doesn’t show your latest training profile (and it hasn’t been posted on jobsites) then you’re not even going to be known about!

Normally you’ll get quicker service from an independent and specialised local recruitment consultancy than you’ll get from a training course provider’s centralised service, because they’ll know local industry and the area better.

Do ensure you don’t put hundreds of hours of effort into your studies, then call a halt and leave it in the hands of the gods to secure your first position. Stop procrastinating and get on with the job. Put as much energy and enthusiasm into securing a good job as you did to get trained.

(C) 2009 S. Edwards. Pop to SQL Training Courses or www.databasetraining4.co.uk.

Matching your computer course or training to the working world is vital in this day and age. However, it’s equally relevant to select a course that will suit you, that fits your character and ability level.

You can choose from user skills courses, or take a career track and specialise. Easy to follow courses will help you to realise your dreams.

By reducing overhead structures, training companies now exist with contemporary courses that have great quality training and assistance for much lower prices than those asked for by traditional establishments.

Getting your first commercial position can feel more straightforward with the help of a Job Placement Assistance facility. But don’t place too much emphasis on it – it’s easy for their marketing department to overplay it. In reality, the still growing need for IT personnel in this country is what will make you attractive to employers.

Advice and support about getting interviews and your CV should be offered (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). Be sure to you polish up your CV straight away – not when you’re ready to start work!

You might not even have taken your exams when you land your first junior support job; however this can’t and won’t happen if interviewers don’t get sight of your CV.

If you’d like to get employment in your home town, then you’ll often find that an independent and specialised local employment service might serve you better than a centralised service, as they’re going to be familiar with the local job scene.

Just ensure you don’t invest a great deal of time on your training course, just to give up and leave it in the hands of the gods to sort out your employment. Stand up for yourself and make your own enquiries. Channel as much focus into getting the right position as it took to get qualified.

Authorised exam preparation packages are crucial – and must be sought from your training supplier.

Be sure that the practice exams aren’t just asking you the right questions in the right areas, but also asking them in the way the real exams will pose them. This completely unsettles people if they’re met with completely different formats and phraseologies.

Always have some simulated exam questions in order to test your knowledge at any point. Practice exams help to build your confidence – so you’re much more at ease with the real thing.

So many training providers only concern themselves with gaining a certificate, and forget what you actually need – which will always be getting the job or career you want. You should always begin with the end in mind – don’t get hung-up on the training vehicle.

You could be training for only a year and end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don’t make the mistake of taking what may be an ‘interesting’ course only to waste your life away with a job you hate!

Get to grips with how much you want to earn and how ambitious you are. Often, this changes what precise certifications you will need and what’ll be expected of you in your new role.

Seek advice from an experienced industry advisor, even if you have to pay – it’s considerably cheaper and safer to find out at the beginning if a chosen track will suit, rather than find out following two years of study that you aren’t going to enjoy the job you’ve chosen and now need to go back to square one.

Sometimes, people don’t understand what IT is about. It is stimulating, innovative, and puts you at the fore-front of developments in technology affecting everyones lives in the 21st century.

Society largely thinks that the revolution in technology that’s been a familiar part of our recent lives is slowing down. All indicators point in the opposite direction. Terrific advances are ahead of us, and the internet particularly will be the biggest thing to affect the way we live.

And it’s worth remembering that typical remuneration in the IT industry throughout this country is noticeably greater than in other market sectors, which means you will more than likely gain considerably more in the IT sector, than you could reasonably hope to achieve elsewhere.

The search for professionally qualified and skilled IT workers is assured for quite some time to come, because of the ongoing expansion in IT dependency in commerce and the huge shortage that remains.

Author: Scott Edwards. Navigate to A+ Training or Programming Training Courses.

Computer and network support workers are more and more sought after in the United Kingdom, as businesses are becoming more reliant upon their knowledge and skills. The world’s hunger for the above mentioned people is growing at an impressive rate, as everything becomes more and more computer dependent.

Now, why is it better to gain commercially accredited qualifications and not the usual academic qualifications taught at schools and Further Education colleges?

With fees and living expenses for university students spiralling out of control, and the industry’s growing opinion that key company training often has more relevance in the commercial field, there’s been a great increase in Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe certified training programmes that educate students for considerably less.

In a nutshell, only that which is required is learned. It isn’t quite as lean as that might sound, but the principle remains that students need to cover the precise skills needed (including a degree of required background) – without trying to cram in everything else (as universities often do).

In simple terms: Recognised IT certifications provide exactly what an employer needs – it says what you do in the title: as an example – I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Windows XP Administration and Configuration’. So an employer can look at their needs and what certifications are required to perform the job.

Getting into your first IT role is often made easier with the help of a Job Placement Assistance program. Because of the massive need for more IT skills in the United Kingdom at the moment, it’s not too important to make too much of this option though. It isn’t so complicated as you might think to get employment once you’re properly qualified.

Nevertheless, don’t wait till you have passed your final exams before bringing your CV up to date. The day you start training, mark down what you’re doing and place it on jobsites!

Quite frequently, you will get your first role while you’re still a student (sometimes when you’ve only just got going). If your CV doesn’t show your latest training profile (and it hasn’t been posted on jobsites) then you’re not even going to be known about!

Most often, an independent and specialised local employment service (who will, of course, be keen to place you to receive their commission) will be more pro-active than a recruitment division from a training organisation. In addition, they will no doubt be familiar with the local industry and employment needs.

Please ensure you don’t spend hundreds of hours on your training and studies, and then do nothing more and imagine someone else is miraculously going to land you a job. Get off your backside and get on with the job. Channel as much energy and enthusiasm into getting the right position as it took to pass the exams.

All programs you’re considering really needs to work up to a nationally (or globally) recognised certification as an end-goal – not a useless ‘in-house’ diploma – fit only for filing away and forgetting.

If your certification doesn’t come from a big-hitter like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco or CompTIA, then it’s likely it will be commercially useless – because it won’t give an employer any directly-useable skills.

You should look for an authorised exam preparation system included in the package you choose.

Avoid depending on non-official exam preparation systems. The terminology of their questions is often somewhat different – and often this creates real issues when the proper exam time arrives.

Ensure that you verify whether you’re learning enough through tests and mock ups of exams prior to taking the actual exam.

(C) S. Edwards 2009. Pop to CLICK HERE or Microsoft Training.

Well Done! As you’re looking at this it’s likely you’re thinking about retraining for a new career – that means you’ve already taken one more step than the majority. Less of us than you’d think are content with our jobs, but most just moan and do nothing about it. You could be a member of the few who decide to make the change.

We’d recommend that before you start any individual training program, you run through some things with a mentor who knows the industry and can give you advice. They can assess your personality and assist in finding the right role for you:

* Do you like to work collaborating with people? Would you prefer to work with a small team or with a lot of new people? Perhaps working alone in a task-based situation would be more your thing?

* What do you need from the market sector you work in? (Things do change – look at the building trade, or banks for example.)

* Is it important that this should be the last time you’ll need to re-qualify?

* Are you happy that retraining in your chosen sector will offer you employment opportunities, and offer the chance to allow you to work until retirement?

Look at the IT sector, that’s our recommendation – it’s one of the few sectors of industry still growing in this country and overseas. In addition, salaries and benefits exceed most other industries.

One useful service that several companies offer is a Job Placement Assistance program. The service is put in place to steer you into your first IT role. The fact of the matter is it’s not as difficult as you may be led to believe to secure a job – as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.

However, what is relevant is to have help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews though; and we’d encourage all students to get their CV updated as soon as training commences – don’t delay until you’ve graduated or passed any exams.

Getting onto the ‘maybe’ pile of CV’s is better than being rejected. A surprising amount of junior support jobs are got by people who are still at an early stage in their studies.

Actually, a specialist locally based employment service (who will get paid commission to place you) will perform better than any division of a training company. In addition, they will no doubt know the local area and commercial needs.

A constant frustration of various course providers is how hard people are prepared to study to get qualified, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the job they have studied for. Have confidence – the IT industry needs YOU.

IT has become one of the most electrifying and revolutionary industries you could be involved with. To be working on the cutting-edge of technology puts you at the fore-front of developments that will impact the whole world for generations to come.

We’re only just beginning to comprehend how this will truly impact our way of life. The way we interact with the world will be inordinately affected by computers and the web.

A standard IT employee in Great Britain has been shown to get a lot more than equivalent professionals in another industry. Standard IT remuneration packages are hard to beat nationally.

Excitingly, there is no end in sight for IT sector growth throughout this country. The sector is continuing to expand quickly, and as we have a significant shortage of skilled professionals, it’s not showing any signs that there’ll be any kind of easing off for the significant future.

Students looking to build an IT career often don’t know what path is best, or even which market to get certified in.

As with no commercial background in the IT industry, how could any of us know what anyone doing a particular job actually does?

Usually, the way to come at this quandary correctly comes from an in-depth chat, covering several different topics:

* The type of personality you have as well as your interests – the sort of work-centred jobs you enjoy or dislike.

* What sort of time-frame do you want for your training?

* Where do you stand on job satisfaction vs salary?

* Often, trainees don’t consider the work needed to gain all the necessary accreditation.

* You have to understand what differentiates each individual training area.

The best way to avoid the barrage of jargon, and reveal the best path to success, have an informal chat with an experienced professional; a person who will cover the commercial realities and truth as well as each certification.

Be careful that the exams that you’re considering will be recognised by employers and are the most recent versions. Training companies own certificates are generally useless.

From an employer’s perspective, only the major heavyweights such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco (for instance) will make the right impression. Anything less won’t make the grade.

Copyright 2009 Scott Edwards. Hop over to MCSE Courses or www.comptiacertification.co.uk.