There are four A+ exams and specialised sectors, but you're just expected to achieve certification in two to be thought of as qualified. Because of this, a great number of colleges restrict their course to just 2 areas. But giving you all four options will provide you with a far greater perspective of the subject, which you'll come to realise is essential in professional employment.
Qualifying in CompTIA A+ without additional courses will mean that you're able to repair and fix stand-alone PC's and MAC's; ones that are generally not connected to a network - which means the home or small business market.
If you would like to be someone who works in a multi-faceted environment - in network support, add Network+ to your CompTIA A+, or alternatively look at doing an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft as you'll need a more advanced experience of the way networks work.
Consider the points below very carefully if you've been persuaded that the sales ploy of 'guaranteeing' exams sounds like a benefit to the student:
You'll be charged for it ultimately. It's definitely not free - they've simply charged more for the whole training package.
If it's important to you to get a first time pass, then you should avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, focus on it intently and be ready for the task.
Don't you think it's more sensible to hold on to your money and pay for the exam at the time, not to pay the fees marked up by the training company, and to do it locally - instead of the remote centre that's convenient only to the trainer?
A lot of extra profit is netted by a number of companies that get money upfront for exam fees. Many students don't take them for one reason or another but the company keeps the money. Believe it or not, providers exist who rely on that fact - and that's how they increase their profits.
You should fully understand that re-takes with organisations with an 'Exam Guarantee' are tightly controlled. They will insist that you take pre-tests first until you've proven that you're likely to pass.
VUE and Prometric examinations are in the region of 112 pounds in Great Britain. Why spend so much more on fees for 'exam guarantees' (usually wrapped up in the course package price) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools are actually the key to your success.
The somewhat scary thought of finding your first job is often eased by some training providers because they offer a Job Placement Assistance service. With the huge skills shortage in the UK right now, it's not too important to get too caught up in this feature though. It isn't so complicated as you might think to secure your first job as long as you're correctly trained and certified.
Whatever you do, avoid waiting until you have completed your exams before updating your CV. As soon as you start studying, list what you're working on and get it out there!
Getting your CV considered is more than not being known. A surprising amount of junior jobs are got by trainees (sometimes when they've only just got going.)
Most often, a specialist locally based employment service (who will, of course, be keen to place you to receive their commission) is going to give you a better service than a centralised training company's service. It also stands to reason that they'll know the area and local employers better.
In a nutshell, if you put as much hard work into securing your first job as into studying, you're not likely to experience problems. Some people strangely put hundreds of hours into their learning program and just give up once qualified and seem to expect employers to find them.
Student support is absolutely essential - locate a good company offering 24x7 direct access to instructors, as anything less will not satisfy and will also hamper your progress.
Don't accept certification programs which can only support students with a call-centre messaging system when it's outside of usual working hours. Companies will defend this with all kinds of excuses. Essentially - you need support when you need support - not when it's convenient for them.
Keep your eyes open for colleges that utilise many support facilities across multiple time-zones. Each one should be integrated to enable simple one-stop access together with 24 hours-a-day access, when it's convenient for you, with no fuss.
If you fail to get yourself support round-the-clock, you'll quickly find yourself regretting it. It may be that you don't use it throughout the night, but you may need weekends, early mornings or late evenings.
Commercial qualifications are now, without a doubt, already replacing the traditional routes into IT - why then has this come about?
As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, industry has been required to move to the specialised core-skills learning that the vendors themselves supply - in other words companies such as CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. This usually turns out to involve less time and financial outlay.
Vendor training works through focusing on the particular skills that are needed (alongside an appropriate level of background knowledge,) rather than spending months and years on the background 'padding' that academic courses can get bogged down in - to pad out the syllabus.
Put yourself in the employer's position - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What should you do: Go through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, asking for course details and which vocational skills they have, or choose particular accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and make your short-list from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they'll fit in - rather than establishing whether they can do a specific task.
Qualifying in CompTIA A+ without additional courses will mean that you're able to repair and fix stand-alone PC's and MAC's; ones that are generally not connected to a network - which means the home or small business market.
If you would like to be someone who works in a multi-faceted environment - in network support, add Network+ to your CompTIA A+, or alternatively look at doing an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft as you'll need a more advanced experience of the way networks work.
Consider the points below very carefully if you've been persuaded that the sales ploy of 'guaranteeing' exams sounds like a benefit to the student:
You'll be charged for it ultimately. It's definitely not free - they've simply charged more for the whole training package.
If it's important to you to get a first time pass, then you should avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, focus on it intently and be ready for the task.
Don't you think it's more sensible to hold on to your money and pay for the exam at the time, not to pay the fees marked up by the training company, and to do it locally - instead of the remote centre that's convenient only to the trainer?
A lot of extra profit is netted by a number of companies that get money upfront for exam fees. Many students don't take them for one reason or another but the company keeps the money. Believe it or not, providers exist who rely on that fact - and that's how they increase their profits.
You should fully understand that re-takes with organisations with an 'Exam Guarantee' are tightly controlled. They will insist that you take pre-tests first until you've proven that you're likely to pass.
VUE and Prometric examinations are in the region of 112 pounds in Great Britain. Why spend so much more on fees for 'exam guarantees' (usually wrapped up in the course package price) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools are actually the key to your success.
The somewhat scary thought of finding your first job is often eased by some training providers because they offer a Job Placement Assistance service. With the huge skills shortage in the UK right now, it's not too important to get too caught up in this feature though. It isn't so complicated as you might think to secure your first job as long as you're correctly trained and certified.
Whatever you do, avoid waiting until you have completed your exams before updating your CV. As soon as you start studying, list what you're working on and get it out there!
Getting your CV considered is more than not being known. A surprising amount of junior jobs are got by trainees (sometimes when they've only just got going.)
Most often, a specialist locally based employment service (who will, of course, be keen to place you to receive their commission) is going to give you a better service than a centralised training company's service. It also stands to reason that they'll know the area and local employers better.
In a nutshell, if you put as much hard work into securing your first job as into studying, you're not likely to experience problems. Some people strangely put hundreds of hours into their learning program and just give up once qualified and seem to expect employers to find them.
Student support is absolutely essential - locate a good company offering 24x7 direct access to instructors, as anything less will not satisfy and will also hamper your progress.
Don't accept certification programs which can only support students with a call-centre messaging system when it's outside of usual working hours. Companies will defend this with all kinds of excuses. Essentially - you need support when you need support - not when it's convenient for them.
Keep your eyes open for colleges that utilise many support facilities across multiple time-zones. Each one should be integrated to enable simple one-stop access together with 24 hours-a-day access, when it's convenient for you, with no fuss.
If you fail to get yourself support round-the-clock, you'll quickly find yourself regretting it. It may be that you don't use it throughout the night, but you may need weekends, early mornings or late evenings.
Commercial qualifications are now, without a doubt, already replacing the traditional routes into IT - why then has this come about?
As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, industry has been required to move to the specialised core-skills learning that the vendors themselves supply - in other words companies such as CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. This usually turns out to involve less time and financial outlay.
Vendor training works through focusing on the particular skills that are needed (alongside an appropriate level of background knowledge,) rather than spending months and years on the background 'padding' that academic courses can get bogged down in - to pad out the syllabus.
Put yourself in the employer's position - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What should you do: Go through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, asking for course details and which vocational skills they have, or choose particular accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and make your short-list from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they'll fit in - rather than establishing whether they can do a specific task.
About the Author:
(C) Scott Edwards 2009. Look at HTML Programming or www.Change-My-Career.co.uk/QCMC.html.
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