| Discussions on Computer Training |
View Comments
| Computers - Computers |
| Written by Scott Edwards |
| Wednesday, 28 January 2009 12:02 |
|
When choosing any computer training program it is very important that the certification you will gain appropriates with the working world. Additionally, you should make sure that the course suits you, your personality and abilities. There's lots to choose from with these courses - from basic office skills up to training courses for web designers, networkers programmers etc. Share your ideas before you take the plunge - talk to an advisor with knowledge of the industry. Somebody who you trust to pick the right specialist area for you - that's both relevant to industry and leads to a job you'll love. By taking advantage of the latest training methods and keeping overheads low, you will start to see a new kind of training company offering a finer level of training and support for considerably less than the more out-dated colleges.
When choosing any computer training program it is very important that the certification you will gain appropriates with the working world. Additionally, you should make sure that the course suits you, your personality and abilities. There's lots to choose from with these courses - from basic office skills up to training courses for web designers, networkers programmers etc. Share your ideas before you take the plunge - talk to an advisor with knowledge of the industry. Somebody who you trust to pick the right specialist area for you - that's both relevant to industry and leads to a job you'll love. By taking advantage of the latest training methods and keeping overheads low, you will start to see a new kind of training company offering a finer level of training and support for considerably less than the more out-dated colleges. At times individuals don't catch on to what IT can do for us. It is stimulating, innovative, and means you're doing your bit in the gigantic wave of technology affecting everyones lives in the 21st century. We're only just starting to get to grips with how all this will mould and change our lives. How we interact with the world will be significantly affected by technology and the internet. And don't forget that the average salary in IT in Great Britain is significantly better than in other market sectors, so in general you'll probably earn much more with professional IT knowledge than you would in most typical jobs. As the IT industry keeps growing with no sign of a slow-down, the chances are that the requirement for well trained and qualified IT technicians will flourish for years to come. How do we arrive at a good choice then? With so many opportunities, it's imperative to understand where to search - and what we should be searching for. Potential trainees eager to begin a career in IT often don't know what direction is best, or even which market to get qualified in. How can we possibly grasp the day-to-day realities of any IT job when it's an alien environment to us? We normally don't even know anybody who works in that sector anyway. Generally, the way to deal with this question in the best manner comes from a thorough conversation around some important points: Your personal interests and hobbies - these often show the possibilities will satisfy you; What sort of time-frame do you want for the retraining, and what priority do you place on job satisfaction vs salary; With so many areas to train for in computing - it's wise to pick up a basic understanding of what makes them different; together with having a serious look into the effort, commitment and time you can give. For the majority of us, getting to the bottom of these areas will require meeting with a professional who has direct industry experience. And we're not only talking about the certifications - but also the commercial requirements of industry too. It's so important to understand this key point: It's essential to obtain proper 24x7 round-the-clock professional support from mentors and instructors. We can tell you that you'll strongly regret it if you don't adhere to this. Find a good quality service where you can receive help at any time of day or night (even if it's early hours on Sunday morning!) You want access directly to professional tutors and not a call-centre that will take messages so you're waiting for tutors to call you back - probably during office hours. Be on the lookout for providers that incorporate three or four individual support centres across multiple time-zones. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to provide a single interface and also round-the-clock access, when you need it, with no hassle. Never make the mistake of compromise with the quality of your support. Many would-be IT professionals who fall by the wayside, just need the right support system. Most trainers typically provide piles of reference manuals and workbooks. It's not a very interesting way to learn and isn't the best way to go about studying effectively. Research into the way we learn shows that we remember much more when all our senses are involved and take action to use what we've learned. Study programs now come in the form of CD and DVD ROM's, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Video streaming means you can watch instructors demonstrating how to do something, and then practice yourself - in a virtual lab environment. You really need to look at examples of the study materials provided by any company that you may want to train through. It's essential they incorporate instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab's. Some companies only have access to training that is purely available online; and while this is acceptable much of the time, think what will happen if you lose your internet access or you only get very a very slow connection sometimes. A safer solution is the provision of physical CD or DVD discs that removes the issue entirely. The way in which your courseware is broken down for you is usually ignored by most students. How many parts is the training broken down into? And in what sequence and do you have a say in when you'll get each part? Individual deliveries for each training module one stage at a time, according to your own speed is the usual method of releasing your program. This sounds logical, but you should take these factors into account: What if there are reasons why you can't finish every single exam? Maybe the prescribed order won't suit you? Through no fault of your own, you might take a little longer and not get all the study materials as a result. For maximum flexibility and safety, most students now choose to request that all their modules (now paid for) are delivered immediately, and not in stages. You can then decide in what order and how fast or slow you want to finish things. It's essential to have the most up to date Microsoft (or relevant organisation's) accredited exam simulation and preparation packages. Due to the fact that most IT examining boards are American, you'll need to be used to the correct phraseology. It's not sufficient merely answering any old technical questions - they have to be in the same format as the actual exams. Ensure that you ask for exam preparation tools so you can test your comprehension at all times. Practice exams log the information in your brain - so the real thing isn't quite as scary. Some training providers have a handy Job Placement Assistance facility, to assist your search for your first position. The need for this feature can be bigged up out of proportion though - it's easy for eager sales people to make it sound harder than it is. At the end of the day, the still growing need for IT personnel in this country is what will enable you to get a job. However, what is relevant is to have CV and Interview advice and support though; also we would encourage any student to bring their CV up to date right at the beginning of their training - don't wait till you've finished your exams. Getting onto the 'maybe' pile of CV's is more than not being known. Often junior jobs are given to students (who've only just left first base.) If you'd like to get employment in your home town, then you'll often find that a specialist locally based employment agency may serve you better than the trainer's recruitment division, for they are much more inclined to know what's available near you. Certainly be sure that you don't spend hundreds of hours on your training and studies, then call a halt and imagine someone else is miraculously going to sort out your employment. Get off your backside and start looking for yourself. Put as much time and energy into landing your first job as it took to pass the exams. About the Author: The author: Scott Edwards has worked in IT for 30 yrs. He now advises on training and accreditation. If you're interested in Computer Training, visit LearningLolly Computer Courses. |