Without a regular deluge of qualified computer and network support
staff, commercial enterprise in the United Kingdom (and indeed in most
countries) could well be brought to its knees. There is an on-going
demand for technically able people to support systems and users alike.
The need for the above mentioned members of the workforce is constantly
growing, as commercial enterprise becomes significantly more dependent
upon technology.
Searching for your first position in IT can
be a little easier if you're supported with a Job Placement Assistance
program. In reality it isn't so complicated as you might think to land
the right work - as long as you're correctly trained and certified;
because there's still a great need for IT skills in the UK today.
Update your CV at the beginning of your training though - look to your
training company for advice on how to do this. Don't put it off till
you've finished your exams. Many junior support jobs have been offered
to people who are still studying and haven't got any qualifications
yet. At least this will get you into the 'maybe' pile of CV's - rather
than the 'No' pile. In many cases, a specialist independent regional
recruitment consultant or service - who make their money when they've
found you a job - will be more pro-active than a recruitment division
from a training organisation. Also of course they should be familiar
with the local area and commercial needs.
To bottom line it, if
you put as much hard work into getting a position as into studying, you
won't find it too challenging. A number of men and women strangely
conscientiously work through their course materials and do nothing more
once qualified and appear to be under the impression that jobs will
come to them.
Any program that you're going to undertake
should always lead to a commercially valid certification as an
end-result - definitely not some 'in-house' diploma - fit only for
filing away and forgetting. If your certification doesn't come from a
company like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA, then chances are it
will have been a waste of time - because it won't give an employer any
directly-useable skills.
At the top of your shopping list for
a training program should be proper direct-access 24x7 support from
expert mentors and instructors. Far too often we see trainers who will
only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain
days) with very little availability over the weekend. Never purchase
study programmes that only provide support to trainees through a
call-centre messaging service after 6-9pm in the evening and during
weekends. Companies will defend this with all kinds of excuses. The
simple fact of the matter is - support is needed when it's needed - not
when it suits them.
If you look properly, you'll find
professional companies who offer online support at all times - even in
the middle of the night. Seek out a trainer that goes the extra mile.
Only proper live 24x7 round-the-clock support truly delivers for
technical programs.
We can guess that you're quite practically
minded - the 'hands-on' type. If you're like us, the world of
book-reading and classrooms would be considered as a last resort, but
it's not ideal. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if
book-based learning really isn't your style. Studies in learning
psychology have shown that much more of what we learn in remembered
when we receive multi-sensorial input, and we put into practice what
we've been studying.
Top of the range study programs now offer
self-contained CD or DVD materials. Instructor-led tutorials will mean
you'll find things easier to remember via the demonstrations and
explanations. You can then test yourself by utilising the practice
lab's and modules. Don't take any chances and look at examples of the
courseware provided before you purchase a course. What you want are
instructor-led video demonstrations and interactive modules with
audio-visual elements.
Avoiding training that is delivered
purely online is generally a good idea. Ideally, you should opt for CD
and DVD ROM courseware where available, as you need to be able to use
them whenever it's convenient for you - ISP quality varies, so you
don't want to be totally reliant on a quality and continuous internet
connection.(C) Jason Kendall. Go to LearningLolly.com for intelligent ideas on
IT Training
Course and Comptia
Network+ Certification.
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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