The MCSA course is a perfect match for anyone wanting to become a network engineer. So if you’re already experienced but need a professional course with an acknowledged certification, or you are just getting into the IT industry, you will be able to choose a training course to suit your needs.
Find a training provider that’s happy to take the time to understand you, and can guide you on the best route for you, even before they start thinking about which course. They will also be in a position to tell you where to commence based on your present skill-set or needs.
Usually, your typical IT hopeful really has no clue where to start with Information Technology, let alone what market is worth considering for retraining.
What is our likelihood of grasping what is involved in a particular job when we’ve never done it? Often we don’t know someone who does that actual job anyway.
To get to the bottom of this, we need to discuss a number of definitive areas:
* The sort of individual you are – the tasks that you get enjoyment from, and don’t forget – what you definitely don’t enjoy.
* Are you looking to reach a specific aim – for instance, working for yourself sometime soon?
* How important is salary to you – is it the most important thing, or do you place job satisfaction further up on your list of priorities?
* With everything that Information Technology encapsulates, you’ll need to be able to absorb what’s different.
* Having a serious look at what commitment and time that you’re going to put into it.
To completely side-step all the jargon and confusion, and uncover the best route for you, have an informal chat with an industry expert and advisor; an individual who can impart the commercial reality as well as each certification.
Several companies supply a practical Job Placement Assistance facility, designed to steer you into your first job. The need for this feature can be bigged up out of proportion though – it’s quite easy for their marketing department to make it sound harder than it is. Ultimately, the massive skills shortage in the UK is the reason you’ll find a job.
Get your CV updated straight-away though (advice and support for this should come from your course provider). Don’t put it off till you’ve finished your exams.
Quite frequently, you’ll land your first role whilst you’re still studying (even in the early stages). If your CV doesn’t say what you’re learning (and it hasn’t been posted on jobsites) then you aren’t even in the running!
Actually, an independent and specialised local recruitment consultant or service (who will get paid commission to place you) will perform better than any centralised training company’s service. They should, of course, also know the area and local employers better.
A regular aggravation for some training companies is how hard students are prepared to study to pass exams, but how un-prepared that student is to get the position they’re qualified for. Don’t give up when the best is yet to come.
Many trainers provide a big box of books. It’s not a very interesting way to learn and not ideal for taking things in.
Where possible, if we can study while utilising as many senses as possible, then we normally see dramatically better results.
Fully interactive motion videos utilising video demo’s and practice lab’s will turn you off book-based study for ever more. And you’ll actually enjoy doing them.
You really need to look at courseware examples from each company you’re contemplating. They have to utilise video demo’s and interactive elements such as practice lab’s.
Go for CD and DVD ROM based physical training media if possible. Thus avoiding all the issues associated with broadband ‘downtime’ or slow-speeds.
Many companies focus completely on the certification process, and forget why you’re doing this – which is of course employment. Your focus should start with the end goal – don’t get hung-up on the training vehicle.
It’s a sad fact, but a large percentage of students kick-off study that often sounds marvellous from the sales literature, but which delivers a career that is of no interest. Talk to many college students for examples.
Make sure you investigate your leanings around earning potential and career progression, and how ambitious you are. It makes sense to understand what the role will demand of you, what qualifications are needed and how you’ll gain real-world experience.
Seek advice from an experienced industry professional, even if you have to pay a small fee – it’s much safer and cheaper to discover early on whether you’ve chosen correctly, instead of discovering after several years of study that you’ve picked the wrong track and have wasted years of effort.
Copyright 2009 Scott Edwards. Visit CLICK HERE or Career Alternatives.
