by Jason Kendall
In these days of super efficiency, support workers who can solve problems with networks and PC’s, and offer ongoing help to users, are vital in all areas of the workplace. As we get to grips with the daunting complexities of technological advances, many more competent professionals are being looked for to dedicate themselves to the many areas we need to be sure will work effectively.
We’re regularly asked to explain why qualifications from colleges and universities are being overtaken by more qualifications from the commercial sector?
With a growing demand for specific technological expertise, industry has had to move to the specialised core-skills learning that can only come from the vendors – namely companies such as Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe. Often this saves time and money for the student.
In essence, students are simply taught the necessary specifics in depth. It isn’t quite as lean as that might sound, but the principle objective is to master the precisely demanded skill-sets (along with a certain amount of crucial background) – without overdoing the detail in every other area (as academia often does).
Imagine if you were an employer – and your company needed a person with some very particular skills. What should you do: Pore through loads of academic qualifications from various applicants, asking for course details and which workplace skills they’ve acquired, or pick out specific commercial accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and then select who you want to interview from that. You’ll then be able to concentrate on getting a feel for the person at interview – rather than on the depth of their technical knowledge.
Charging for examinations upfront and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams is a common method with many training course providers. Consider the facts:
They’ve allowed costings for it somehow. It certainly isn’t free – it’s simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole.
Students who take each progressive exam, funding them as they go are far more likely to pass first time. They are conscious of the cost and take the necessary steps to make sure they’re ready.
Isn’t it outrageous to have to pay the college at the start of the course for examinations? Hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take the exam, rather than pay marked up fees – and sit exams more locally – not at somewhere of their bidding.
Paying upfront for exams (plus interest – if you’re financing your study) is insane. Don’t line companies bank accounts with additional funds just to give them more interest! Many will hope you won’t get round to taking them – so they don’t need to pay for them.
Additionally, you should consider what an ‘exam guarantee’ really means. Most companies won’t pay again for an exam until you can prove to them you’re ready to pass.
Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is naive – when consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will get you through.
Full support is of the utmost importance – locate a good company offering 24×7 direct access to instructors, as not opting for this kind of support could hamper your progress.
Email support is too slow, and so-called telephone support is normally just routed to a call-centre that will make some notes and then email an advisor – who will then call back sometime over the next 24hrs, at a time suitable for them. This is no good if you’re lost and confused and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.
Keep your eyes open for training schools that utilise many support facilities from around the world. Each one should be integrated to provide a single interface and also access round-the-clock, when it’s convenient for you, with no hassle.
If you opt for less than direct-access 24×7 support, you’ll very quickly realise that you’ve made a mistake. You may avoid using the support during late nights, but you may need weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.
Students eager to get a career in IT generally haven’t a clue what path to consider, let alone which area to get qualified in.
Perusing a list of odd-sounding and meaningless job titles is next to useless. Surely, most of us have no concept what the neighbours do for a living – let alone understand the complexities of a specific IT job.
Achieving a well-informed conclusion only comes via a meticulous analysis of many unique criteria:
* The sort of person you think yourself to be – the tasks that you enjoy doing, and don’t forget – what don’t you like doing.
* What length of time can you allocate for retraining?
* Is the money you make further up on your priority-list than other requirements.
* With many, many different sectors to gain certifications for in computing – you’ll need to achieve a solid grounding on what sets them apart.
* Taking a cold, hard look at how much time and effort that you can put aside.
In all honesty, the only way to investigate these issues will be via a meeting with an advisor who has experience of the IT industry (and specifically the commercial requirements.)
Searching for your first position in IT can feel more straightforward with a Job Placement Assistance service. At the end of the day it isn’t so complicated as you might think to get the right work – as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications; employers in this country need your skills.
Bring your CV up to date as soon as possible however (advice can be sought on this via your provider). Don’t delay till you’ve finished your exams.
You’ll often find that you’ll land your initial role while you’re still a student (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 won’t even be considered!
You can usually expect better results from a specialist locally based employment agency than you’ll experience from any training course provider’s centralised service, as they will understand the local industry and employment needs.
Not inconsiderable numbers of men and women, apparently, put a great deal of effort into their studies (sometimes for years), only to give up at the first hurdle when looking for a good job. Introduce yourself… Work hard to let employers know about you. Don’t expect a job to just fall into your lap.