Choosing MCSE Courses - Options - By: Jason Kendall

Are you toying with the idea of doing an MCSE? If the answer's 'yes', there's a good chance that you'll fall into one of two camps: You're currently an IT professional and you'd like to consolidate your skill-set with a qualification such as MCSE. Alternatively you could be completely new to the IT environment, and you've discovered that there's a growing demand for certified networking professionals.

During your research, you'll come across training providers that lower their out-goings by failing to provide the latest Microsoft version. Stay away from training companies like these as you'll have problems when it comes to exams. If you are studying an out-of-date syllabus, it will be hard to pass. A training provider's focus must be centred on the absolute best they can for their trainees, and they should care greatly about what they do. Studying for a career isn't just about passing exams - the procedure must also be geared towards assisting you in working on the best action plan for your future.

Now, why might we choose commercial certification instead of the usual academic qualifications gained through tech' colleges and universities? As we require increasingly more effective technological know-how, industry has of necessity moved to specific, honed-in training that the vendors themselves supply - namely companies like Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA. Frequently this is at a far reduced cost both money and time wise. Of course, an appropriate portion of closely linked information needs to be covered, but essential specialisation in the areas needed gives a vendor educated person a huge edge.

Just like the advert used to say: 'It does what it says on the label'. All an employer has to do is know where they have gaps, and then match up the appropriate exam numbers as a requirement. Then they're assured that a potential employee can do exactly what's required.

The classroom style of learning we remember from school, utilising reference manuals and books, is often a huge slog for most of us. If all this is ringing some familiar bells, check out study materials which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts. Many years of research has constantly shown that getting into our studies physically, is proven to produce longer-lasting and deeper memory retention.

Locate a program where you'll receive a library of CD and DVD ROM's - you'll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, with the facility to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions. All companies must be able to demonstrate some simple examples of their training materials. You should hope for instructor-led videos and a wide selection of interactive elements.

Choose disc based courseware (On CD or DVD) every time. You can then avoid all the difficulties of broadband 'downtime' or slow-speeds.

We can see a glut of jobs and positions available in computing. Arriving at the correct choice for you often proves challenging. How likely is it for us to understand what is involved in a particular job when it's an alien environment to us? Most likely we don't know someone who is in that area at all. Ultimately, a well-informed resolution will only come via a methodical analysis of many changing criteria:

* What nature of individual you are - what kind of jobs you enjoy, and on the other side of the coin - what you hate to do.

* What is the time-frame for the retraining?

* Have you thought about salary vs job satisfaction?

* With so many ways to train in Information Technology - it's wise to gain some background information on what differentiates them.

* Having a good look at the level of commitment, time and effort that you can put aside.

In actuality, your only option to investigate these areas will be via a meeting with a professional that has experience of the IT industry (and chiefly it's commercial needs.)

Consider the following facts in detail if you're inclined to think the marketing blurb about 'guaranteeing' exams sounds like a benefit to the student:

Certainly it isn't free - you are paying for it - the cost has just been rolled into the whole training package. It's everybody's ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Entering examinations one at a time and funding them one at a time has a marked effect on pass-rates - you take it seriously and are mindful of the investment you've made.

Sit the exam as locally as possible and hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take it. Considerable numbers of so-called credible training companies make a great deal of profit by getting in the money for exam fees early then hoping that you won't take them all. Pay heed to the fact that, with most 'Exam Guarantees' - the company decides when you are allowed to do a re-take. They'll only allow a re-take once completely satisfied.

Shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds on an 'Exam Guarantee' is remiss - when study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.

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