If we didn't have a continuous flood of trained PC and network support personnel, commerce in the United Kingdom (along with most other places) would be likely to run into problems. Consequently, there's a constantly increasing requirement for technicians to support both users and the systems they work with. Our desire for such skilled and qualified members of the workforce is growing at an impressive rate, as everywhere we work becomes more and more dependent upon technology.
The market provides a plethora of professional positions up for grabs in IT. Arriving at the correct choice for you can be very difficult.
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.
Generally, the way to deal with this predicament correctly lies in a full talk over several different topics:
* Our personalities play a starring role - what gives you a 'kick', and what are the areas that you really dislike.
* What length of time can you allocate for retraining?
* Where do you stand on salary vs job satisfaction?
* With everything that the IT industry covers, it's obvious you'll need to be able to see what is different.
* You have to understand the differences across all the training areas.
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.
Don't accept anything less than the current Microsoft (or relevant organisation's) authorised exam preparation packages.
Due to the fact that a lot of examining boards for IT tend to be American, it's essential to understand how exam questions will be phrased and formatted. It's no use just going through the right questions - it's essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format.
As you can imagine, it is vital to know that you've thoroughly prepared for your actual certification exam prior to doing it. Rehearsing mock-up tests adds to your knowledge bank and will save a lot of money on thwarted exam entries.
Any advisor who doesn't dig around with lots of question - it's likely they're really a salesperson. If they push a particular product before getting to know your background and whether you have any commercial experience, then you know it's true.
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.
Starting with a foundation module first can be the best way to get up and running on your computer studies, but depends on your skill level.
A sneaky way that training companies make more money is through up-front charges for exams and offering an exam guarantee. It looks impressive, until you think it through:
You'll be charged for it one way or another. It's definitely not free - it's simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole.
The honest truth is that when trainees fund each examination, one after the other, there's a much better chance they'll pass first time - as they'll be conscious of their investment in themselves and so will prepare more thoroughly.
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.
Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on examination fees when there's absolutely nothing that says you have to? Huge profits are made because training colleges are getting money in early for exam fees - and then cashing in when they're not all taken.
Remember, with the majority of Exam Guarantees - they control when and how often you are allowed to have another go. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company's say so.
Prometric and VUE exams are currently clocking in at an average of 112 pounds in this country. What's the point of paying huge 'Exam Guarantee' costs (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when the best course materials, the right level of support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.
Sometimes trainees assume that the tech college or university track is still the most effective. So why are commercial certificates slowly and steadily replacing it?
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).
It's a bit like the TV advert: 'It does what it says on the tin'. All an employer has to do is know where they have gaps, and then advertise for someone with the specific certification. They'll know then that all applicants can do what they need. - 29852
The market provides a plethora of professional positions up for grabs in IT. Arriving at the correct choice for you can be very difficult.
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.
Generally, the way to deal with this predicament correctly lies in a full talk over several different topics:
* Our personalities play a starring role - what gives you a 'kick', and what are the areas that you really dislike.
* What length of time can you allocate for retraining?
* Where do you stand on salary vs job satisfaction?
* With everything that the IT industry covers, it's obvious you'll need to be able to see what is different.
* You have to understand the differences across all the training areas.
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.
Don't accept anything less than the current Microsoft (or relevant organisation's) authorised exam preparation packages.
Due to the fact that a lot of examining boards for IT tend to be American, it's essential to understand how exam questions will be phrased and formatted. It's no use just going through the right questions - it's essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format.
As you can imagine, it is vital to know that you've thoroughly prepared for your actual certification exam prior to doing it. Rehearsing mock-up tests adds to your knowledge bank and will save a lot of money on thwarted exam entries.
Any advisor who doesn't dig around with lots of question - it's likely they're really a salesperson. If they push a particular product before getting to know your background and whether you have any commercial experience, then you know it's true.
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.
Starting with a foundation module first can be the best way to get up and running on your computer studies, but depends on your skill level.
A sneaky way that training companies make more money is through up-front charges for exams and offering an exam guarantee. It looks impressive, until you think it through:
You'll be charged for it one way or another. It's definitely not free - it's simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole.
The honest truth is that when trainees fund each examination, one after the other, there's a much better chance they'll pass first time - as they'll be conscious of their investment in themselves and so will prepare more thoroughly.
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.
Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on examination fees when there's absolutely nothing that says you have to? Huge profits are made because training colleges are getting money in early for exam fees - and then cashing in when they're not all taken.
Remember, with the majority of Exam Guarantees - they control when and how often you are allowed to have another go. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company's say so.
Prometric and VUE exams are currently clocking in at an average of 112 pounds in this country. What's the point of paying huge 'Exam Guarantee' costs (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when the best course materials, the right level of support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.
Sometimes trainees assume that the tech college or university track is still the most effective. So why are commercial certificates slowly and steadily replacing it?
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).
It's a bit like the TV advert: 'It does what it says on the tin'. All an employer has to do is know where they have gaps, and then advertise for someone with the specific certification. They'll know then that all applicants can do what they need. - 29852
About the Author:
(C) Jason Kendall. Hop over to LearningLolly.com for excellent advice on IT Training Courses and Comptia Network Training.
