|
|
|
|
|
|
IT Retraining Courses Clarified
By Jason Kendall on January 05, 2010 |
Total Viewed: 183 |
| Post by : Eddy FoX |
| Category: Reference & Education |
|
It's quite some achievement that you've already got this far! A small number of workers enjoy their work and find it stimulating, but the majority complain to each other and nothing happens. The fact that you're here means it's probable that you're at least considering retraining, so well done to you. Now you just need to get busy to find your direction.
Before embarking on a course, look for some advice - find an industry expert; someone who'll give you career advice based on what works best for you, and then show you the courses that will suit you:
* Do you hope for interaction with others? If so, do you like working with the same people or are you hoping to meet new people? Maybe you'd rather be left alone to get on with things?
* Banking and building are none too stable right now, so which industry will answer your needs?
* Having completed your retraining, would you like this skill to get you jobs for the rest of your working life?
* Is it important for the course you're re-training in to be in an industry where you're comfortable you'll have a job until retirement?
We ask you to consider the computer industry - there are greater numbers of jobs than staff to fill them, and it's a rare career choice where the market sector is growing. In contrast to the opinions of certain people, it isn't a bunch of techie geeks gazing at their computer screens all day long (some jobs are like that of course.) The vast majority of roles are taken by ordinary people who enjoy a very nice lifestyle due to better than average wages.
Your training program should always include the latest Microsoft (or any other key organisation's) accredited exam simulation and preparation packages.
Be sure that your practice exams are not just posing the correct questions on the correct subjects, but ask them in the way that the actual final exam will structure them. This can really throw some trainees if the phraseology and format is completely different.
Be sure to ask for testing modules so you'll be able to verify your knowledge whenever you need to. Simulations of exams add to your knowledge bank - then the actual exam is much easier.
At the top of your shopping list for a training program should be 24x7 round-the-clock support with expert mentors and instructors. So many companies we come across only seem to want to help while they're in the office (9am till 6pm, Monday till Friday usually) and nothing at the weekends.
You'll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and phone support is often 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 stuck with a particular problem and have a one hour time-slot in which to study.
We recommend looking for training programs that incorporate three or four individual support centres from around the world. All of them should be combined to give a single entry point and also round-the-clock access, when you need it, with no hassle.
Never compromise when you're looking for the right support service. Most students who drop-out or fail, just need the right support system.
A number of people think that the school and FE college route is still the most effective. So why then are commercially accredited qualifications becoming more popular with employers?
As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, industry has of necessity moved to specialist courses that can only be obtained from the actual vendors - in other words companies like Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA. This usually turns out to involve less time and financial outlay.
Obviously, a necessary degree of relevant additional knowledge needs to be learned, but essential specifics in the areas needed gives a vendor educated student a distinct advantage.
Just like the advert used to say: 'It does what it says on the label'. Companies need only to know what areas need to be serviced, and then advertise for someone with the specific certification. They'll know then that all applicants can do what they need.
Looking at the myriad of choice out there, there's no surprise that nearly all newcomers to the industry have no idea which career they should even pursue.
Since without any previous experience in computing, how could any of us understand what someone in a particular job does?
Ultimately, a well-informed resolution will only come from a systematic investigation covering many shifting areas:
* Your individual personality as well as your interests - the sort of work-related things you like and dislike.
* Are you hoping to get qualified for a certain motive - for example, do you aim to work based from home (working for yourself?)?
* What priority do you place on salary vs the travel required?
* With everything that computing encapsulates, it's obvious you'll need to be able to see the differences.
* You need to understand the differences across each individual training area.
In all honesty, it's obvious that the only real way to seek advice on these matters tends to be through a good talk with an advisor that understands Information Technology (and more importantly the commercial needs.) |
|
About the Author:
Copyright Scott Edwards 2009. Browse around (http://www.CareerChangeJob.co.uk) Career Change Job or (http://www.CareerSkillsAdvice.co.uk) www.CareerSkillsAdvice.co.uk. |
|
|
|
| login to share this post. |
Bookmark Your Article
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Friends