Discussions on IT Training 2009
Well Done! As you’re reading this article you’re probably toying with the idea of getting re-qualified for a new job – so you’ve already done more than most. Only one in ten of us are pleased to go to work each day, but most just moan and do nothing about it. You could join a select group who take responsibility for their future.
We’d strongly advise that prior to beginning any individual training program, you discuss your plans with a person who has knowledge of the industry and can give you advice. They can assess your personality and help you sort out a role to fit you:
* Is working with other people your thing? Are you better with new people or those you know well? Or are you better with things that you can get on with on your own?
* Building and Banking are struggling right now, so think carefully about the sector that will be best for you?
* Should this be the only time you will need more qualifications?
* Are you worried with regard to your chances of getting another job, and being gainfully employed all the way until retirement?
We would advise you to find out more about the IT industry – there are greater numbers of roles than people to do them, plus it’s a rare career choice where the industry is on the grow. Contrary to what some people believe, IT isn’t all techie people staring at their computers every day (if you like the sound of that though, they do exist.) The vast majority of roles are occupied by average folk who like receiving larger than average salaries.
Bearing in mind so much discussion on the area of computing technology nowadays, how can we appreciate what in particular to look for?
One fatal mistake that many potential students make is to concentrate on the course itself, and take their eye off the desired end-result. Schools have thousands of students that chose an ‘interesting’ course – instead of the program that would surely get them the job they want. It’s unfortunate, but the majority of trainees kick-off study that often sounds magnificent in the syllabus guide, but which gets us a career that is of no interest. Talk to many college leavers and you’ll see where we’re coming from.
Spend some time thinking about what you want to earn and what level of ambition fits you. This will influence which particular exams will be required and how much effort you’ll have to give in return. As a precursor to beginning a learning program, it makes sense to talk through specific career requirements with an experienced professional, in order to be sure the retraining programme covers all the bases.
Watch out that all accreditations you’re studying for are commercially relevant and are the most recent versions. ‘In-house’ certificates are often meaningless. From a commercial standpoint, only the top companies like Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or Adobe (for instance) will get you short-listed. Anything less won’t make the grade.
We need to make this very clear: Always get full 24×7 professional support from mentors and instructors. You’ll severely regret it if you don’t follow this rule rigidly. Never buy training that only supports students via a message system after 6-9pm in the evening and during weekends. Companies will give you every excuse in the book why you don’t need this. The simple fact of the matter is – you want support at the appropriate time – not when it suits them.
Top training companies incorporate three or four individual support centres around the globe in several time-zones. An online system provides an interactive interface to seamlessly link them all together, at any time you choose, there is always help at hand, without any problems or delays. Search out a training provider that gives this level of learning support. Because only round-the-clock 24×7 support gives you the confidence to make it.
Students who consider this area of study often have a very practical outlook on work, and won’t enjoy sitting at a desk in class, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If you identify with this, opt for more involving, interactive learning materials, with on-screen demonstrations and labs. Studies have consistently verified that connecting physically with our study, is much more conducive to long-term memory.
The latest home-based training features self-contained CD or DVD materials. Instructor-led tutorials will mean you’ll learn your subject by way of their teaching and demonstrations. Then it’s time to test your knowledge by interacting with the software and practicing yourself. Always insist on a demonstration of the study materials from your training provider. The package should contain expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and lab’s for you to practice your skills in.
Purely on-line training should be avoided. 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 – ISP quality varies, so you don’t want to be totally reliant on a good broadband connection all the time.
It’s quite a normal occurrence for students not to check on a vitally important element – the way their training provider segments the courseware sections, and into what particular chunks. Many companies enrol you into some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and courier the materials in pieces as you complete each section or exam. On the surface this seems reasonable – until you consider the following: What if you find the order insisted on by the company won’t suit you. It may be difficult to get through each and every section at the speed required?
The ideal solution is to have all your study materials packed off to your home before you even start; every single thing! Thus avoiding any future problems that could impede the reaching of your goals.
Charging for exams with the course fee then including an exam guarantee is common for a good many training companies. Consider the facts:
Of course it’s not free – you are paying for it – it’s just been wrapped up in the price of the package. If it’s important to you to qualify first ‘go’, evidence suggests you must avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, give it the priority it deserves and apply yourself as required.
Hold on to your money and pay for the exam at the time, and avoid college mark-up fees. In addition, it’s then your choice where to sit the exam – so you can choose somewhere closer to home. A surprising number of so-called credible training providers make big margins by getting paid for exam fees early and banking on the fact that many won’t be taken. Most companies will insist on pre-tests and not allow you to re-take an exam until you’ve completely proven that you’re likely to pass – which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.
Splashing out often many hundreds of pounds extra on ‘Exam Guarantees’ is naive – when consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.
The world of information technology is one of the more thrilling and changing industries that you could be a part of. Being up close and personal with technology puts you at the fore-front of developments shaping life over the next few decades. We’re only just starting to get a feel for how technology will define our world. Computers and the Internet will massively change the way we see and interrelate with the rest of the world over the years to come.
If earning a good living is way up on your list of priorities, then you will welcome the news that the average salary of a typical IT worker is a lot greater than salaries in other market sectors. There is a significant national demand for trained and qualified IT technicians. It follows that with the constant growth in the marketplace, it looks like this will be the case for the significant future.
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