With all the options available, does it really shock us that a large percentage of newcomers to the industry don’t really understand the best career path they could be successful with.
How likely is it for us to understand the many facets of a particular career when we’ve never done it? We normally don’t know someone who works in that sector anyway.
Ultimately, the right conclusion can only grow from a detailed examination covering many varying key points:
* Our personalities play a starring role – what gives you a ‘kick’, and what are the areas that you really dislike.
* For what reasons you’re stepping into computing – it could be you’re looking to achieve a life-long goal like being self-employed maybe.
* Where do you stand on salary vs job satisfaction?
* Often, trainees don’t consider the work expected to achieve their goals.
* Our advice is to think deeply about the amount of time and effort you’re going to give to your training.
The bottom line is, the only real way of covering these is through an in-depth discussion with an experienced advisor who through years of experience will give you the information required.
The best type of training course package will undoubtedly also include fully authorised exam simulation and preparation packages.
Ensure that the simulated exams aren’t just asking you the right questions on the correct subjects, but ask them in the way that the actual final exam will phrase them. This can really throw some trainees if they’re met with completely different formats and phraseologies.
Ensure that you ask for testing modules in order to test your comprehension whenever you need to. Mock exams help to build your confidence – then you’re much more at ease with the real thing.
A knowledgeable and specialised advisor (in contrast with a salesperson) will talk through your current situation. There is no other way of establishing the starting point for your education.
Of course, if you’ve had any relevant previous certification, then you can sometimes expect to begin at a different level to a trainee with no history to speak of.
If this is going to be your initial effort at IT study then it may be wise to begin with some basic PC skills training first.
It’s not uncommon for companies to offer inclusive exam guarantees – this always means exams have to be paid for upfront, at the very beginning of your studies. Before you jump at guaranteed exams, consider this:
Everybody’s aware that they’re still being charged for it – it’s quite obvious to see that it’s already in the overall figure from the training company. It’s absolutely not free – don’t think these companies are so generous with their money!
Qualifying on the first ‘go’ is what everyone wants to do. Going for exams in order and paying as you go has a marked effect on pass-rates – you prepare appropriately and are mindful of the investment you’ve made.
Go for the best offer you can find at the appropriate time, and avoid college mark-up fees. You’ll then be able to select where you do your exams – which means you can stay local.
Paying upfront for exams (and interest charges if you’re borrowing money) is a false economy. Resist being talked into filling the training company’s account with your hard-earned cash simply to help their cash-flow! A lot bank on the fact that you won’t get to do them all – then they’ll keep the extra money.
The majority of organisations will require you to do mock exams and prohibit you from re-taking an exam until you’ve proven conclusively that you can pass – which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.
Paying maybe a thousand pounds extra on an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is naive – when consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really guarantee success.
We’re often asked why traditional academic studies are now falling behind more commercially accredited qualifications?
As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, industry has had to move to specific, honed-in training that can only be obtained from the actual vendors – for example companies such as Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe. Often this saves time and money for the student.
Essentially, the learning just focuses on what’s actually required. Actually, it’s not quite as pared down as that, but the principle remains that students need to master the precisely demanded skill-sets (including a degree of required background) – without trying to cram in all sorts of other things (as universities often do).
The crux of the matter is this: Recognised IT certifications tell an employer precisely what skills you have – it says what you do in the title: for example, I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Designing Security for a Windows 2003 Network’. Consequently companies can identify exactly what they need and what certifications are required to fulfil that.
(C) Jason Kendall. Go to LearningLolly.com for great information on IT Training Course and Comptia Network+ Certification.
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