These days, many workplaces would be severely hampered were it not for support workers solving problems with PC’s and networks, while advising users on a constant basis. Because of the daunting complexities of technological advances, greater numbers of competent professionals are needed to run the various different areas we’ve become dependent on.
How are we supposed to go about making an informed decision then? With so many opportunities, we have to know where we should be looking - and of course, what to actually be searching for.
A typical blunder that many potential students make is to focus entirely on getting a qualification, rather than starting with the desired end-result. Schools are stacked to the hilt with unaware students who chose a course based on what sounded good - in place of something that could gain them the job they want. Don’t let yourself become part of the group that choose a course that sounds really ‘interesting’ and ‘fun’ - and end up with a certification for a career they’ll never really get any satisfaction from.
Be honest with yourself about what you want to earn and whether you’re an ambitious person or not. Usually, this will point the way to what precise accreditations will be required and what industry will expect from you in return. Always seek guidance and advice from a skilled professional, even if you have to pay a small fee - it’s considerably cheaper and safer to discover early on if a chosen track will suit, instead of discovering following two years of study that you’ve picked the wrong track and have wasted years of effort.
There is no way of over emphasising this: It’s essential to obtain proper 24×7 round-the-clock instructor support. You will have so many problems later if you don’t heed this. Beware of institutions that use ‘out-of-hours’ messaging systems - where you’ll get called back during normal office hours. This is no use if you’re stuck and want support there and then.
It’s possible to find professional companies which offer online support 24×7 - including evenings, nights and weekends. You can’t afford to accept less than you need and deserve. Support round-the-clock is the only kind that ever makes the grade when it comes to computer-based study. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; often though, we’re out at work while the support is live.
We’d hazard a guess that you probably enjoy fairly practical work - the ‘hands-on’ personality type. If you’re like us, the world of book-reading and classrooms can be just about bared when essential, but it’s not ideal. You should use video and multimedia based materials if book-based learning really isn’t your style. Years of research and study has time and time again confirmed that connecting physically with our study, will more likely produce memories that are deeper and longer-lasting.
Learning is now available in disc format, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Video streaming means you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how it’s all done, and then have a go at it yourself - in a virtual lab environment. It’s wise to view some of the typical study materials provided before you sign the purchase order. You should expect video tutorials, instructor demo’s and audio-visual elements backed up by interactive lab’s.
Avoid training that is purely online. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where possible, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you - and not be totally reliant on your broadband being ‘up’ 100 percent of the time.
Many certification companies are still using the rather old-fashioned idea of classroom lessons. Very often portrayed as a huge benefit, if you talk to a student who has had to attend a few, you’ll most likely hear about many or all of these issues:
* Loads of travelling - many trips and quite often hundreds of miles each time.
* Asking for frequent time off work - a lot of schools provide weekday availability and link several days together. This isn’t ideal for most people who work, especially if you include the travel time on top.
* I think you’d agree that we usually think four weeks vacation allowance is barely enough. Sacrifice at least half of this for study classes and you’ll experience even more problems.
* Training events sometimes become quickly full, leaving us with the ‘2nd best’ solution.
* Workshop pace - classes can contain trainees of varied abilities, therefore there is often tension between those that want to go quickly as opposed to the ones who need a little longer.
* A lot of trainees tell us of the considerable cost of all the travelling back and forth to the centre and paying for food and accommodation can get very expensive.
* Is it worth any chance of getting passed-over for potential advancement or pay-rises while you’re training.
* Don’t think it’s unusual for trainees to not ask questions they want answered - simply because they’re surrounded by fellow attendees.
* It’s a fact; classes are pretty much undoable, where you work or live away for days at a time.
It really does make more sense to take classes at your convenience - not your training provider’s - and employ videos of instructors with interactive virtual-lab’s. You can study anywhere you want. If you own a laptop, take in some fresh air in your garden as you study. Any issues that arise just logon to the 24×7 support facility. Note-taking is gone forever - you have the lessons and accompanying information ready-made for you. If you need to cover something again, it’s all right there. The bottom line: Much less stress and hassle, saved money, and no wasted travelling time.
Have you recently questioned how safe your job is? For most of us, we only think of this after something goes wrong. However, the lesson often learned too late is that true job security is a thing of the past, for nearly everyone now. Wherever we find escalating skills shortfalls mixed with rising demand though, we generally locate a newer brand of security in the marketplace; where, fuelled by conditions of continuous growth, employers find it hard to locate the number of people required.
The computer industry skills-gap around the UK clocks in at roughly twenty six percent, as reported by the 2006 e-Skills survey. This shows that for every 4 jobs that exist in Information Technology (IT), we’ve only got three properly trained pro’s to fulfil that role. This worrying fact clearly demonstrates the requirement for more properly certified computing professionals in the country. It’s unlikely if a better time or market state of affairs will exist for gaining qualification for this rapidly emerging and developing business.