Courses For a Career in IT Compared - By: Jason Kendall

CompTIA A+ consists of 4 training sections; you're seen as an A+ achiever when you've passed the test for just two specialist areas. This is the reason that it's usual for colleges to only teach 2 specialised areas. The truth is it's necessary to have the teaching in all areas as a lot of employment will require an awareness of each specialist area. It's not essential to qualify in them all, although it would seem prudent that you take tutorials in all 4 subjects.

CompTIA A+ on its own will mean that you're able to mend and maintain stand-alone PC's and MAC's; ones which are usually not part of a network - which is for the most part the home market. If your ambition is maintaining networks, add the excellent Network+ to the CompTIA A+ training you're doing. This will prepare you to apply for more interesting jobs. Also look at the route to networking via Microsoft, in the form of MCP's, MCSA or the full MCSE.

Beware of putting too much emphasis, as a lot of students can, on the training process. Training is not an end in itself; this is about employment. You need to remain focused on where you want to go. It's an awful thing, but a large percentage of students start out on programs that sound magnificent from the marketing materials, but which delivers a career that doesn't fulfil at all. Talk to many college graduates for examples.

Set targets for how much you want to earn and the level of your ambition. This can often control what particular accreditations will be required and what industry will expect from you in return. We advise all students to speak with a professional advisor before deciding on their retraining programme. This helps to ensure it contains the commercially required skills for the career path that has been chosen.

Getting your first commercial position can feel more straightforward if you're supported with a Job Placement Assistance facility. The fact of the matter is it isn't so complicated as you might think to find your first job - once you're trained and certified; employers in this country need your skills.

One important thing though, don't procrastinate and wait until you've finished your training before updating your CV. The day you start training, enter details of your study programme and get promoting! You might not even have taken your exams when you land your first junior support position; but this is not possible if interviewers don't get sight of your CV. Normally you'll get quicker results from a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service than you'll get from a course provider's recruitment division, because they'll know the local area and commercial needs better.

Not inconsiderable numbers of people, so it seems, put a great deal of effort into their studies (sometimes for years), only to give up at the first hurdle when looking for a job. Introduce yourself... Make an effort to get yourself known. Don't think a job's just going to jump out in front of you.

Always expect the very latest Microsoft (or Cisco, CompTIA etc.) accredited exam simulation and preparation packages. Avoid depending on unauthorised exam preparation questions. The way they're phrased is often somewhat different - and sometimes this can be a real headache when it comes to taking the real exam. Clearly, it is vital to be confident that you are completely prepared for your actual certification exam prior to doing it. Revising simulated exams logs the information in your brain and will save a lot of money on wasted exam attempts.

Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always comprehensive 24x7 direct-access support with trained professional instructors and mentors. It's an all too common story to find providers that only seem to want to help while they're in the office (9am till 6pm, Monday till Friday usually) and nothing at the weekends. Never accept study programmes that only provide support to trainees with an out-sourced call-centre message system when it's outside of usual working hours. Companies will always try to hide the importance of this issue. The bottom line is - you want support at the appropriate time - not when it's convenient for them.

Keep your eyes open for study programmes that incorporate three or four individual support centres from around the world. Each one should be integrated to offer a simple interface as well as 24x7 access, when you need it, with the minimum of hassle. Unless you insist on direct-access round-the-clock support, you'll very quickly realise that you've made a mistake. It may be that you don't use it during the night, but consider weekends, late evenings or early mornings.

About the Author

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Jason-Kendall/60031

Additional Articles From - Home | Business | Careers