Should you be interested in training in Cisco, a CCNA is in all probability what you’ll need. A Cisco training course is designed for people who want to learn about routers. Routers are what connect networks of computers to different networks of computers via dedicated lines or the internet.
Routers are linked to networks, therefore it is important to have an understanding of the operation of networks, or you will be out of your depth with the course and not be able to understand the work. Find a training programme that includes basic networking skills (CompTIA is ideal) before you start the CCNA.
You should get a tailored course that will take you through a specific training path to make sure you’ve got the appropriate skills and knowledge prior to getting going with Cisco.
We can all agree: There really is very little evidence of personal job security anymore; there’s really only market and sector security – companies can just let anyone go if it suits the business’ business requirements. Whereas a fast growing sector, with a constant demand for staff (because of an enormous shortage of commercially certified professionals), opens the possibility of true job security.
The Information Technology (IT) skills deficit across Great Britain clocks in at just over 26 percent, according to the 2006 e-Skills study. So, for every four jobs that exist in Information Technology (IT), businesses can only source enough qualified individuals for 3 of the 4. Fully qualified and commercially certified new workers are as a result at a complete premium, and in all likelihood it will stay that way for a long time to come. In reality, seeking in-depth commercial IT training during the coming years is most likely the safest choice of careers you could make.
So, what questions do we need to ask if we’d like to gain the understanding required? Since it’s evident there are some quite excellent opportunities for us to mull over.
A capable and professional consultant (as opposed to a salesman) will cover in some detail your current experience level and abilities. This is vital for working out the point at which you need to start your studies. Don’t forget, if you’ve had any relevant qualifications that are related, then you may be able to begin at a different level to someone who is new to the field. Commencing with a basic PC skills course first can be the best way to get up and running on your IT training, but really depends on your level of familiarity with computers.
We need to make this very clear: It’s essential to obtain proper 24×7 round-the-clock support from professional instructors. You’ll severely regret it if you don’t. Be wary of any training providers which use ‘out-of-hours’ call-centres – with your call-back scheduled for the next ‘working’ day. It’s not a lot of help when you’ve got study issues and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.
The very best programs tend to use an online access round-the-clock facility pulling in several support offices across the globe. You will be provided with an easy to use environment that accesses the most appropriate office no matter what time of day it is: Support when it’s needed. Never compromise when you’re looking for the right support service. The majority of students that give up, would have had a different experience if they’d got the right support package in the first place.
People attracted to this sort of work are often very practical, and don’t really enjoy classrooms, and endless reading of dry academic textbooks. If this could be you, use multimedia, interactive learning, where you can learn everything on-screen. Research into the way we learn shows that memory is aided when all our senses are involved, and we get practically involved in what we’re studying.
Fully interactive motion videos featuring instructor demo’s and practice lab’s beat books hands-down. And you’ll actually enjoy doing them. Every company that you look at must be pushed to demo some simple examples of the type of training materials they provide. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and interactive areas to practice in.
Purely on-line training should be avoided. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where available, so that you have access at all times – and not be totally reliant on your internet connection always being ‘up’ and available.
Many trainees are under the impression that the state educational system is the way they should go. So why then is commercial certification becoming more in demand? With an ever-increasing technical demand on resources, the IT sector has moved to specific, honed-in training that can only be obtained from the actual vendors – namely companies such as CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. This usually turns out to involve less time and financial outlay. Clearly, a reasonable amount of relevant additional information has to be taught, but core specialisation in the required areas gives a commercially trained person a distinct advantage.
Assuming a company is aware what areas they need covered, then all they have to do is advertise for the exact skill-set required to meet that need. Vendor-based syllabuses are set to exacting standards and can’t change from one establishment to the next (as academic syllabuses often do).
Always expect an accredited exam preparation programme included in the package you choose. Sometimes people can find themselves confused by practicing questions for their exams that are not from the authorised examining boards. Often, the question formats and phraseology is startlingly different and it’s important to prepare yourself for this. Clearly, it’s very crucial to be confident that you are completely prepared for the real exam before embarking on it. Practicing ‘mock’ tests helps build your confidence and will avoid you getting frustrated with failed exams.
The sometimes daunting task of landing your first job is often made easier by training colleges, through a Job Placement Assistance facility. Don’t get overly impressed with this service – it’s easy for training companies to make too much of it. In reality, the massive skills shortage in this country is why employers will be interested in you.
Ideally you should have advice and support about your CV and interviews though; and we’d recommend all students to update their CV as soon as training commences – don’t wait until you’ve graduated or passed any exams. Quite frequently, you will get your first role while you’re still a student (sometimes when you’ve only just got going). If your course details aren’t on your CV – or it’s not getting in front of interviewers, then you’re not even going to be known about! If you’d like to keep travelling time and costs to a minimum, then you may well find that an independent and specialised local employment service could be of more use than some national concern, due to the fact that they’re far more likely to be familiar with what’s available near you.
A slight grievance of a number of training companies is how much trainees are prepared to study to get top marks in their exams, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the job they’ve qualified for. Get out there and hustle – you might find it’s fun.
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