Computer Career Training - Making The Right Choice 2009
Good for you! As you're reading this article it's likely you're thinking about getting re-qualified for a new job - that means you've already taken one more step than the majority. Very few of us are pleased to go to work each day, but most just moan and do nothing about it. You could join a select group who make a difference in their lives.
When considering retraining, it's crucial to initially know what you DO want and DON'T want from the position you would like to get. It's important to discover if you would be more satisfied before much time and effort is spent re-directing your life. We recommend looking at the end goal first, to avoid disappointment:
* Do you like to work collaborating with people? Is that as part of a team or with a lot of new people? Possibly operating on your own in isolation would be more your thing?
* What ideas are fundamentally important with regard to the sector of industry you'll be employed in?
* Is it important that this should be a one off time that you will need more qualifications?
* Do you think being qualified will give you the opportunity to find the work you're looking for, and keep working until you wish to retire?
When listing your options, it's relevant that your number one choice is the IT sector - everyone knows that it's developing all the time. It's not full of geeky individuals staring at computers the whole time - of course those jobs exist, but most jobs are carried out by Joe averages who are earning rather well.
There is a tidal wave of change about to hit technology over the next few decades - and this means greater innovations all the time. We've only just begun to scrape the surface of how technology will affect our lives in the future. The internet will significantly revolutionise how we view and interrelate with the entire world over the coming years.
If earning a good living is around the top on your wish list, you will welcome the news that the usual remuneration of a typical IT worker is significantly better than salaries in most other jobs or industries. Because the IT market sector is still emerging nationally and internationally, it's looking good that the need for appropriately qualified IT professionals will continue actively for decades to come.
What questions do we need to be posing if we'd like to get the understanding we need? Since it seems there are many pretty tremendous prospects for us all to look at.
A expert and practiced consultant (in contrast with a salesperson) will talk through your current experience level and abilities. This is paramount to working out the point at which you need to start your studies. With a little real-world experience or base qualifications, it may be that your starting point of study is different from a beginner. Always consider starting with a user-skills course first. Beginning there can make the transition to higher-level learning a a little easier.
Training support for students is an absolute must - locate a good company providing 24x7 full access, as anything else will annoy you and definitely put a damper on the speed you move through things. Avoid, like the plague, any organisations that use 'out-of-hours' messaging systems - where an advisor will call back during office hours. It's no use when you're stuck on a problem and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.
The very best training providers utilise several support facilities active in different time-zones. They use an online interactive interface to provide a seamless experience, at any time you choose, there is always help at hand, with no hassle or contact issues. If you opt for less than direct-access 24x7 support, you'll regret it very quickly. You may not need it during the night, but what about weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.
The age-old way of teaching, with books and manuals, can be pretty hard going sometimes. If this describes you, look for learning programmes which feature interactive and multimedia modules. Learning psychology studies show that we remember much more when we involve as many senses as possible, and we get physically involved with the study process.
Start a study-program in which you're provided with an array of CD and DVD ROM's - you'll learn by watching video tutorials and demonstrations, and then have the opportunity to use virtual lab's to practice your new skills. You'll definitely want a study material demo' from your training provider. The package should contain instructor videos, demonstrations, slide-shows and lab's for you to practice your skills in.
It is generally unwise to go for purely on-line training. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from your average broadband company, make sure you get disc based courseware (On CD or DVD).
Many students come unstuck over a single training area which doesn't even occur to them: The method used to 'segment' the courseware before being delivered to your home. The majority of training companies will set up a program spread over 1-3 years, and drop-ship the materials to you piecemeal as you complete each exam. Sounds reasonable? Well consider these facts: Often, the staged breakdown insisted on by the company won't suit you. You may find it a stretch to finalise all the elements inside of their particular timetable?
For maximum flexibility and safety, it's normal for most trainees to request that all their modules (now paid for) are posted to them in one go, with nothing held back. It's then up to you in what order and how fast or slow you'd like to work.
'Exam Guarantees' are often bundled with training offers - this always means exams have to be paid for upfront, at the start of your training. But before you get taken in by guaranteed exams, look at the following:
Patently it's not free - you're still paying for it - the cost has just been rolled into the whole training package. Those who take each progressive exam, funding them as they go are much better placed to get through first time. They are mindful of their investment and revise more thoroughly to be ready for the task.
Why pay the training college up-front for exams? Find the best exam deal or offer when you take the exam, don't pay mark-ups - and sit exams more locally - not at somewhere of their bidding. Is there a good reason to pay interest on a bigger loan than is necessary because you've paid early for examination fees when there's absolutely nothing that says you have to? A great deal of money is secured by training companies charging upfront for all their exams - and then cashing in when they're not all taken. Re-takes of previously unsuccessful exams through training course providers who offer an 'Exam Guarantee' are always heavily controlled. They will insist that you take pre-tests first so you can prove to them you have a good chance of passing.
Shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds on 'Exam Guarantees' is remiss - when hard work, commitment and the right preparation via exam simulations is actually the key to your success.
Many trainers will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance facility, designed to steer you into your first job. Often, this feature is bigged up too much, as it is actually not that hard for any motivated and trained individual to secure a job in IT - as there is such a shortage of trained staff.
Help with your CV and interview techniques is sometimes offered (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). Make sure you polish up your CV straight away - don't leave it till you pass the exams! It's not unusual to find that you will be offered your initial job whilst you're still studying (occasionally right at the beginning). If your CV doesn't show your latest training profile (and it hasn't been posted on jobsites) then you don't stand a chance! Normally you'll get better results from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than any course provider's employment division, as they'll know the local area and commercial needs better.
Not inconsiderable numbers of men and women, so it seems, are prepared to study their hearts out (sometimes for years), and just give up when it comes to finding a job. Market yourself... Do everything you can to let employers know about you. Don't think a job's just going to jump out in front of you.
When considering retraining, it's crucial to initially know what you DO want and DON'T want from the position you would like to get. It's important to discover if you would be more satisfied before much time and effort is spent re-directing your life. We recommend looking at the end goal first, to avoid disappointment:
* Do you like to work collaborating with people? Is that as part of a team or with a lot of new people? Possibly operating on your own in isolation would be more your thing?
* What ideas are fundamentally important with regard to the sector of industry you'll be employed in?
* Is it important that this should be a one off time that you will need more qualifications?
* Do you think being qualified will give you the opportunity to find the work you're looking for, and keep working until you wish to retire?
When listing your options, it's relevant that your number one choice is the IT sector - everyone knows that it's developing all the time. It's not full of geeky individuals staring at computers the whole time - of course those jobs exist, but most jobs are carried out by Joe averages who are earning rather well.
There is a tidal wave of change about to hit technology over the next few decades - and this means greater innovations all the time. We've only just begun to scrape the surface of how technology will affect our lives in the future. The internet will significantly revolutionise how we view and interrelate with the entire world over the coming years.
If earning a good living is around the top on your wish list, you will welcome the news that the usual remuneration of a typical IT worker is significantly better than salaries in most other jobs or industries. Because the IT market sector is still emerging nationally and internationally, it's looking good that the need for appropriately qualified IT professionals will continue actively for decades to come.
What questions do we need to be posing if we'd like to get the understanding we need? Since it seems there are many pretty tremendous prospects for us all to look at.
A expert and practiced consultant (in contrast with a salesperson) will talk through your current experience level and abilities. This is paramount to working out the point at which you need to start your studies. With a little real-world experience or base qualifications, it may be that your starting point of study is different from a beginner. Always consider starting with a user-skills course first. Beginning there can make the transition to higher-level learning a a little easier.
Training support for students is an absolute must - locate a good company providing 24x7 full access, as anything else will annoy you and definitely put a damper on the speed you move through things. Avoid, like the plague, any organisations that use 'out-of-hours' messaging systems - where an advisor will call back during office hours. It's no use when you're stuck on a problem and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.
The very best training providers utilise several support facilities active in different time-zones. They use an online interactive interface to provide a seamless experience, at any time you choose, there is always help at hand, with no hassle or contact issues. If you opt for less than direct-access 24x7 support, you'll regret it very quickly. You may not need it during the night, but what about weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.
The age-old way of teaching, with books and manuals, can be pretty hard going sometimes. If this describes you, look for learning programmes which feature interactive and multimedia modules. Learning psychology studies show that we remember much more when we involve as many senses as possible, and we get physically involved with the study process.
Start a study-program in which you're provided with an array of CD and DVD ROM's - you'll learn by watching video tutorials and demonstrations, and then have the opportunity to use virtual lab's to practice your new skills. You'll definitely want a study material demo' from your training provider. The package should contain instructor videos, demonstrations, slide-shows and lab's for you to practice your skills in.
It is generally unwise to go for purely on-line training. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from your average broadband company, make sure you get disc based courseware (On CD or DVD).
Many students come unstuck over a single training area which doesn't even occur to them: The method used to 'segment' the courseware before being delivered to your home. The majority of training companies will set up a program spread over 1-3 years, and drop-ship the materials to you piecemeal as you complete each exam. Sounds reasonable? Well consider these facts: Often, the staged breakdown insisted on by the company won't suit you. You may find it a stretch to finalise all the elements inside of their particular timetable?
For maximum flexibility and safety, it's normal for most trainees to request that all their modules (now paid for) are posted to them in one go, with nothing held back. It's then up to you in what order and how fast or slow you'd like to work.
'Exam Guarantees' are often bundled with training offers - this always means exams have to be paid for upfront, at the start of your training. But before you get taken in by guaranteed exams, look at the following:
Patently it's not free - you're still paying for it - the cost has just been rolled into the whole training package. Those who take each progressive exam, funding them as they go are much better placed to get through first time. They are mindful of their investment and revise more thoroughly to be ready for the task.
Why pay the training college up-front for exams? Find the best exam deal or offer when you take the exam, don't pay mark-ups - and sit exams more locally - not at somewhere of their bidding. Is there a good reason to pay interest on a bigger loan than is necessary because you've paid early for examination fees when there's absolutely nothing that says you have to? A great deal of money is secured by training companies charging upfront for all their exams - and then cashing in when they're not all taken. Re-takes of previously unsuccessful exams through training course providers who offer an 'Exam Guarantee' are always heavily controlled. They will insist that you take pre-tests first so you can prove to them you have a good chance of passing.
Shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds on 'Exam Guarantees' is remiss - when hard work, commitment and the right preparation via exam simulations is actually the key to your success.
Many trainers will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance facility, designed to steer you into your first job. Often, this feature is bigged up too much, as it is actually not that hard for any motivated and trained individual to secure a job in IT - as there is such a shortage of trained staff.
Help with your CV and interview techniques is sometimes offered (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). Make sure you polish up your CV straight away - don't leave it till you pass the exams! It's not unusual to find that you will be offered your initial job whilst you're still studying (occasionally right at the beginning). If your CV doesn't show your latest training profile (and it hasn't been posted on jobsites) then you don't stand a chance! Normally you'll get better results from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than any course provider's employment division, as they'll know the local area and commercial needs better.
Not inconsiderable numbers of men and women, so it seems, are prepared to study their hearts out (sometimes for years), and just give up when it comes to finding a job. Market yourself... Do everything you can to let employers know about you. Don't think a job's just going to jump out in front of you.
About the Author:
The author: Jason Kendall has worked in IT for 20 yrs. He now advises on training and accreditation. For advice on Computer Training, visit LearningLolly IT Courses.
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