Were it not for a steady stream of qualified PC and network support workers, business in the United Kingdom (and indeed in most countries) could well be brought to its knees. We have a constantly increasing requirement for technically able people to support both the systems and the users themselves. The world’s need for such skilled and qualified members of the workforce is growing at an impressive rate, as everywhere we work becomes progressively more dependent upon technology.
Consider the following points and pay great regard to them if you believe that over-used sales technique about ‘guaranteeing’ exams sounds like a benefit to the student:
It’s very clear we’re still being charged for it – it’s obviously been added into the overall price charged by the training company. Certainly, it’s not a freebie (it’s just marketing companies think we’ll fall for anything they say!)
If you want to get a first time pass, then the most successful route is to pay for one exam at a time, give it the necessary attention and give the task sufficient application.
Shouldn’t you be looking to hold on to your money and pay for the exam at the time, instead of paying a premium to a training company, and to do it locally – rather than in some remote centre?
Buying a course that includes payments for exams (plus interest – if you’re financing your study) is insane. Why fill a company’s coffers with extra money of yours simply to help their cash-flow! There are those who hope that you won’t get to do them all – so they get to keep the extra funds.
Many training companies will require you to do mock exams and with-hold subsequent exam entries from you until you’ve completely proven that you’re likely to pass – so an ‘Exam Guarantee’ comes with many clauses in reality.
Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is short-sighted – when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is actually the key to your success.
Starting with the understanding that we have to find the area of most interest first and foremost, before we’re able to chew over which career training ticks the right boxes, how can we choose the right path?
Because with no commercial skills in IT, how should we possibly understand what a particular job actually consists of?
Often, the key to unlocking this question properly stems from a full discussion of several areas:
* Personalities play a starring part – what gives you a ‘kick’, and what are the activities that ruin your day.
* Are you driven to get certified for a certain reason – for instance, are you pushing to work based from home (self-employment?)?
* The income needs you may have?
* Always think in-depth about the time expected to achieve their goals.
* Taking a cold, hard look into the effort, commitment and time you can give.
In all honesty, it’s obvious that the only real way to gain help on these issues tends to be through a good talk with an advisor or professional that has years of experience in IT (as well as the commercial needs.)
Getting into your first IT role sometimes feels easier to handle if you’re offered a Job Placement Assistance service. However sometimes too much is made of this feature, as it is genuinely quite straightforward for a well trained and motivated person to get a job in the IT industry – as there is such a shortage of skilled employees.
Bring your CV up to date as soon as possible however – you should get plenty of help from your training provider on this. Don’t procrastinate and leave it until you’ve qualified.
You may not have got to the stage where you’ve qualified when you will be offered your first junior support job; however this isn’t going to happen if interviewers don’t get sight of your CV.
Generally, a specialist locally based employment agency – who make their money when they’ve found you a job – is going to give you a better service than a sector of a centralised training facility. In addition, they will no doubt be familiar with the local area and commercial needs.
A slight aggravation of some course providers is how much people are focused on studying to get qualified, but how un-prepared that student is to get the job they’re acquired skills for. Don’t give up when the best is yet to come.
Make sure you don’t get caught-up, as many people do, on the training process. Training is not an end in itself; this is about employment. Focus on the end-goal.
It’s possible, for example, to find immense satisfaction in a year of study but end up spending 10 or 20 years in something completely unrewarding, as an upshot of not doing some quality research when it was needed – at the start.
Get to grips with the income level you aspire to and whether you’re an ambitious person or not. This can often control which particular certifications will be required and what’ll be expected of you in your new role.
As a precursor to beginning a training course, trainees are advised to discuss individual job needs with an experienced industry professional, to ensure the learning path covers all that is required.
(C) 2009 – S. Edwards. Pop to Distance Learning Course or CLICK HERE.
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