Currently in the UK, most companies would be severely hampered if it weren’t for support workers solving problems with both computers and networks, while giving advice to users on a regular basis each week. As we’re all becoming massively more reliant on our PC’s, we additionally become more reliant on the well trained networking professionals, who keep the systems going.
Remember: the course itself or a qualification isn’t the end-goal; the job or career that you want is. Far too many training organisations completely prioritise the piece of paper. You could be training for only a year and end up performing the job-role for decades. Don’t make the error of finding what seems like a very ‘interesting’ program and then spend decades in a job you don’t like!
Prioritise understanding what expectations industry may have of you. What precise accreditations you’ll need and how to gain experience. It’s definitely worth spending time assessing how far you reckon you’re going to want to build your skill-set as it may affect your choice of certifications. We recommend that students seek advice from an experienced industry advisor before you begin some particular learning path, so you’re sure from the outset that the specific package will give the appropriate skill-set.
Lately, do you find yourself questioning how safe your job is? Normally, this only rears its head when we get some bad news. Unfortunately, the lesson often learned too late is that true job security is a thing of the past, for nearly everyone now. In times of increasing skills deficits and high demand areas though, we generally discover a newer brand of market-security; as fuelled by the constant growth conditions, companies find it hard to locate enough staff.
The IT skills shortage across the country is standing at approx twenty six percent, as shown by the 2006 e-Skills investigation. To explain it in a different way, this shows that Great Britain can only find 3 trained people for every four jobs that exist currently. This single concept alone is the backbone of why Great Britain needs a lot more new trainees to join the IT sector. Actually, retraining in Information Technology as you progress through the years to come is almost definitely the best career choice you could ever make.
Be on the lookout that any qualifications you’re working towards will be recognised by employers and are bang up to date. The ‘in-house’ certifications provided by many companies are generally useless. All the major IT organisations like Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA or Adobe have globally recognised skills courses. These heavyweights will give some sparkle to your CV.
Many folks don’t really get what IT can do for us. It’s thrilling, changing, and means you’re doing your bit in the gigantic wave of technology that will change our world over the next few decades. Technology, computers and connections on the internet will spectacularly shape our lives in the future; to a vast degree.
And it’s worth remembering that the average salary in the world of IT throughout this country is considerably greater than in the rest of the economy, so in general you’ll be in a good position to gain a lot more as an IT specialist, than you’d expect to earn elsewhere. The good news is there’s a lot more room for IT industry increases across Britain. The sector continues to grow enormously, and as we have a significant shortage of skilled professionals, it’s not showing any signs that it will even slow down for a good while yet.
One interesting way that colleges make a big mark-up is by charging for exams up-front and then including an ‘Exam Guarantee’. This sounds impressive, but let’s just examine it more closely:
In this day and age, we have to be a little bit more aware of sales ploys - and usually we grasp that we’re actually paying for it (it isn’t free or out of the goodness of their hearts!) If you want to pass first time, you must fund each exam as you take it, focus on it intently and be ready for the task.
Does it really add up to pay a training college early for exams? Go for the best offer at the appropriate time, instead of paying any mark-up - and do it in a local testing centre - rather than in some remote place. A lot of extra profit is secured by many training colleges that get money upfront for exam fees. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don’t get to do their exams but the company keeps the money. Surprising as it sounds, there are companies around that rely on that fact - as that’s where a lot of their profit comes from. Don’t forget, in the majority of cases of ‘exam guarantees’ - the company decides when you can re-take the exam. They’ll only allow a re-take once completely satisfied.
With average Prometric and VUE examinations coming in at around 112 pounds in the UK, the most cost-effective way to cover the cost is by paying when you need them. It’s not in the student’s interests to fork out hundreds or thousands of pounds for exams when enrolling on a course. Consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.