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The Microsoft MCSA course (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator)
is an ideal qualification for anybody thinking about being a network
engineer. So if you're already experienced but want to improve your CV
with a good qualification, or you are just getting into the world of
computers, you should soon be able to find a course to suit your
requirements. Search for a training company that's willing to help and
to get to know you, and will help identify the best route for you, even
prior to talking about the course contents. They will also suggest
where to begin based on your current skill or lack of it.
One
useful service provided by many trainers is job placement assistance.
This is designed to steer you into your first IT role. 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 huge shortage of staff in the UK is what will make you
attractive to employers.
However, what is relevant is to have
CV and Interview advice and support though; also we would encourage any
student to work on polishing up their CV as soon as training commences
- don't delay till you've finished your exams. It's not uncommon to
find that junior support roles have been offered to trainees who're
still on their course and have yet to take their exams. At least this
will get you into the 'maybe' pile of CV's - rather than the 'No' pile.
Normally you'll get better performance from an independent and
specialised local recruitment consultancy than any course provider's
centralised service, as they will be more familiar with the area and
local employers.
Do ensure you don't put hundreds of hours of
effort into your studies, just to give up and expect somebody else to
land you a job. Get off your backside and start looking for yourself.
Channel as much focus into getting your first job as it took to pass
the exams.
Sometimes, people don't understand what information
technology is about. It is ground-breaking, exciting, and means you're
working on technology that will change our world over the next few
decades. We are really only just starting to get a handle on how this
will truly impact our way of life. The way we correlate with the world
as a whole will be significantly affected by computers and the web.
The typical IT man or woman throughout Britain is likely to receive
much more than his or her counterpart in much of the rest of the
economy. Standard IT remuneration packages are amongst the highest in
the country. Excitingly, there's a lot more room for IT growth
throughout this country. The sector continues to grow quickly, and as
we have a significant shortage of skilled professionals, it's most
unlikely that this will change significantly for decades to come.
A
lot of men and women think that the traditional school, college or
university system is the right way even now. So why are commercially
accredited qualifications becoming more popular with employers?
Industry now acknowledges that to cover the necessary commercial
skill-sets, official accreditation from the likes of Microsoft, CISCO,
Adobe and CompTIA is closer to the mark commercially - at a far reduced
cost both money and time wise. In a nutshell, only that which is
required is learned. It's slightly more broad than that, but the most
important function is always to focus on the exact skills required
(including a degree of required background) - without trying to cram in
every other area (as universities often do).
Imagine if you
were an employer - and you wanted someone who could provide a specific
set of skills. What's the simplest way to find the right person: Wade
your way through reams of different degrees and college qualifications
from graduate applicants, struggling to grasp what they've learned and
what vocational skills they've acquired, or select a specialised number
of commercial certifications that specifically match what you're
looking for, and then select who you want to interview from that. The
interview is then more about the person and how they'll fit in - rather
than on the depth of their technical knowledge.
Potential
Students hoping to kick off an Information Technology career generally
aren't sure which direction to consider, or which area to get certified
in. Because having no solid background in the IT industry, how should
we possibly know what any job actually involves? Reflection on these
different factors is essential when you need to reveal the right
answers:
* The kind of individual you consider yourself to be -
what kind of jobs you get enjoyment from, plus of course - what makes
you unhappy.
* Do you want to re-train due to a certain raison
d'etre - for instance, are you pushing to work at home (being your own
boss?)?
* Is the money you make further up on your list of priorities than other requirements.
* Understanding what typical Information technology roles and sectors are - and what differentiates them.
* The time and energy you'll set aside for your training.
To cut through the barrage of jargon, and find the best path to
success, have an informal chat with an industry-experienced advisor; a
person who appreciates and can explain the commercial realities as well
as the accreditations.(C) Jason Kendall. Hop over to LearningLolly.com for superb career tips
on MCSA
2003 and MCSA
Training Program.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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