Network and PC support technicians are constantly in demand in the UK, as companies have come to depend upon their knowledge and ability to fix and repair. Because of the multifaceted levels of technological advances, greater numbers of competent professionals are required to specialise in the various different areas we’ve come to rely on.
Some training providers still use the rather old-fashioned idea of in-centre classes. Quite often pushed as a positive point, following a chat with most students who’ve had to attend a couple, you’ll hear a common theme of many or most of these problems:
* Regular visits to the centre – quite a distance away in more cases than not.
* If you’re working, then Monday to Friday events represent a difficulty in getting time off. You’re usually having to deal with two or three days together to make it worse.
* And don’t overlook lost holiday time. We typically get four weeks vacation allowance. If half of that is used up on workshops, then we haven’t got much left for ourselves.
* Training workshops typically get over subscribed.
* The pace of the class – workshops invariably consist of trainees of varied aptitude, therefore tension can be created between those that want to go quickly as opposed to those with less experience.
* Many trainees speak about the high (and unexpected) costs associated with getting to and from the facility while forking out for food and accommodation becomes prohibitively expensive.
* Study privacy will be of paramount importance to many trainees. Why would you want to give up any job advancement, wage increases or accomplishment in your job while you’re training. If your work discovers you’re putting yourself through accreditation in a different industry, what do you think they’ll do?
* Most of us find it difficult to ask questions in a room full of other trainees – who wants to look like they’re the only one who doesn’t get it?
* If your work takes you away from home, it’s a fact of life that workshops are now difficult to get to – and yet, they’ve been paid for in advance.
The most elegant solution comes from viewing a pre-made lesson – giving you the opportunity of instructor-led coaching whenever you wish. Imagine… With a notebook PC you have the ability to study in the garden, a park, or just outside. And live 24×7 support is only a web-browser click away when challenges strike you. Just watch and re-watch the study modules whenever you need to revise. There’s also no need to write any notes because you’ll always have access to the teaching. The result: Reduced stress and hassle, less cost, and no wasted travelling time.
A expert and specialised consultant (in direct contrast to a salesman) will talk through your current experience level and abilities. There is no other way of establishing your starting level of study. If you have a strong background, or even a touch of real-world experience (maybe some existing accreditation?) then it could be that the level you’ll need to start at will be quite dissimilar from someone with no background whatsoever. Consider starting with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. This can set the scene for your on-going studies and make the learning curve a bit more manageable.
Considering the amount of options that are available, does it really shock us that the majority of students don’t really understand the best career path they should even pursue. Flicking through a list of odd-sounding and meaningless job titles is next to useless. Surely, most of us have no idea what our next-door neighbours do at work each day – so what chance do we have in understanding the intricacies of any specific IT role. Often, the key to unlocking this question in the best manner comes from a thorough talk over several different topics:
* Our personalities play a major role – what gives you a ‘kick’, and what tasks get you down.
* Is it your desire to realise an important goal – for instance, working from home sometime soon?
* How important is salary to you – is it very important, or is day-to-day enjoyment higher up on your list of priorities?
* Some students don’t fully understand the time demanded to gain all the necessary accreditation.
* Our advice is to think deeply about the amount of time and effort you’re going to give to your training.
In all honesty, it’s obvious that the only real way to seek advice on these issues tends to be through a good talk with an experienced advisor that has a background in computing (and chiefly the commercial requirements.)
(C) Jason Kendall. Hop over to LearningLolly.com for logical information on Network+ Training and IT Training Courses.
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