Currently in the UK, commercial institutions could not function efficiently without the help of support workers mending PC's and networks, while making recommendations to users each and every day. Because our society becomes growingly dependent on our PC's, we simultaneously find ourselves increasingly more reliant upon the commercially qualified IT networkers, who ensure the systems function properly.
Potential trainees looking to begin a career in computers and technology often have no idea of what route to follow, or even what market to obtain accreditation for.
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.
To attack this, a discussion is necessary, covering many different aspects:
* Which type of person you are - which things you really enjoy, and on the other side of the coin - what you hate to do.
* Are you aiming to realise a closely held aspiration - for instance, working from home sometime soon?
* Where is the salary on a scale of importance - is it the most important thing, or is job satisfaction a lot higher on the priority-scale?
* With everything that the IT industry covers, it's obvious you'll need to be able to see what is different.
* The level of commitment and effort you'll have available to spend on obtaining your certification.
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.
Mock exams will prove very useful for confidence building - so when it comes to taking the real thing, you don't get phased.
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.
If you've got any live experience or some accreditation, it may be that your starting point of study is not the same as someone new to the industry.
For students starting IT studies and exams as a new venture, it's often a good idea to avoid jumping in at the deep-end, beginning with some basic user skills first. This can be built into most training packages.
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:
Patently it's not free - you're still coughing up for it - the cost has just been rolled into the whole training package.
People who take each progressive exam, funding them one at a time are in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt. They're conscious of their investment and so are more inclined to ensure they are ready.
Sit the exam at a local pro-metric testing centre and don't pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you're ready.
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.
It's also worth noting that 'Exam Guarantees' often aren't worth the paper they're written on. Most companies won't pay for re-takes until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won't fail again.
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.
Commercial qualifications are now, without a doubt, starting to replace the older academic routes into IT - so why is this the case?
Key company training (in industry terminology) is far more specialised and product-specific. The IT sector is aware that specialisation is what's needed to service the demands of a technically advancing marketplace. Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA dominate in this arena.
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.
Potential trainees looking to begin a career in computers and technology often have no idea of what route to follow, or even what market to obtain accreditation for.
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.
To attack this, a discussion is necessary, covering many different aspects:
* Which type of person you are - which things you really enjoy, and on the other side of the coin - what you hate to do.
* Are you aiming to realise a closely held aspiration - for instance, working from home sometime soon?
* Where is the salary on a scale of importance - is it the most important thing, or is job satisfaction a lot higher on the priority-scale?
* With everything that the IT industry covers, it's obvious you'll need to be able to see what is different.
* The level of commitment and effort you'll have available to spend on obtaining your certification.
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.
Mock exams will prove very useful for confidence building - so when it comes to taking the real thing, you don't get phased.
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.
If you've got any live experience or some accreditation, it may be that your starting point of study is not the same as someone new to the industry.
For students starting IT studies and exams as a new venture, it's often a good idea to avoid jumping in at the deep-end, beginning with some basic user skills first. This can be built into most training packages.
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:
Patently it's not free - you're still coughing up for it - the cost has just been rolled into the whole training package.
People who take each progressive exam, funding them one at a time are in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt. They're conscious of their investment and so are more inclined to ensure they are ready.
Sit the exam at a local pro-metric testing centre and don't pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you're ready.
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.
It's also worth noting that 'Exam Guarantees' often aren't worth the paper they're written on. Most companies won't pay for re-takes until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won't fail again.
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.
Commercial qualifications are now, without a doubt, starting to replace the older academic routes into IT - so why is this the case?
Key company training (in industry terminology) is far more specialised and product-specific. The IT sector is aware that specialisation is what's needed to service the demands of a technically advancing marketplace. Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA dominate in this arena.
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.
About the Author:
(C) Jason Kendall. Try LearningLolly.com for excellent information on Computer Training and Networking Certification.
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