CompTIA Training Programs
The CompTIA A+ training program covers four areas of training; you’re qualified as an achiever in A+ when you’ve passed the test for 2 out of 4 subjects. This is the reason that the majority of training establishments limit themselves to 2 study areas. In fact to carry out a job effectively, you’ll need the information on each subject as a lot of employment will require knowledge and skills of the entire course. It’s not essential to take all four exams, although it would seem prudent that you study for all four areas. In addition to learning about the ins and outs of building and maintaining computers, trainees of A+ will be shown how to operate in antistatic conditions, along with remote access, fault finding and diagnostics. You might also choose to consider supplementing the A+ with Network + as you’ll then be in a position to work with networks, which is where the bigger salaries are.
Working on progressive developments in new technology is about as exciting as it can get. You become one of a team of people creating a future for us all. We’re at the dawn of starting to comprehend how all this change will affect us. The way we correlate with the world as a whole will be significantly affected by technology and the internet. The regular IT professional in the United Kingdom is likely to earn noticeably more money than his or her counterpart in other market sectors. Mean average salaries are amongst the highest in the country. The search for properly certified IT professionals is guaranteed for a good while yet, due to the constant expansion in the marketplace and the very large deficiency still in existence.
How do we go about making a good choice then? With all this potential, we’ll need to know where to dig – and what it is we should be searching for.
So many training providers focus completely on the certification process, and forget what it’s all actually about – which is a commercial career or job. Always start with the end in mind – don’t make the vehicle more important than the destination. It’s a sad testimony to the sales skills of many companies, but a great many students begin programs that seem great in the marketing materials, but which get us a career that is of no interest at all. Just ask several university graduates and you’ll see where we’re coming from. Never let your focus stray from where you want to get to, and formulate your training based on that – not the other way round. Stay on target and ensure that you’re training for a career that will keep you happy for many years. Your likely to need help from an experienced person that can best explain the industry you think may suit you, and will be able to provide ‘A day in the life of’ type of explanation of what you actually do on the job. These things are incredibly important because you obviously have to know if you’re barking up the wrong tree.
There is no way of over emphasising this: You absolutely must have proper 24×7 instructor and mentor support. You will have so many problems later if you let this one slide. Avoid, like the plague, any organisations who use messaging services ‘out-of-hours’ – where an advisor will call back during standard office hours. This is no use if you’re stuck and need an answer now. It’s possible to find the very best companies that offer online direct access support at all times – no matter what time of day it is. Never settle for less than you need and deserve. 24×7 support is the only way to go with technical learning. Perhaps you don’t intend to study during the evenings; often though, we’re out at work at the time when most support is available.
The classroom style of learning we remember from school, utilising reference manuals and books, is usually pretty hard going. If all this is ringing some familiar bells, find training programs that are on-screen and interactive. Long-term memory is enhanced when we use multiple senses – educational experts have expounded on this for decades now. The latest home-based training features easy-to-use DVD or CD ROM’s. By watching and listening to instructors on video tutorials you’ll absorb the modules, one by one, by way of the demonstrations and explanations. You can then test yourself by interacting with the software and practicing yourself. Always insist on a study material demo’ from the training company. The package should contain expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and interactive labs where you get to practice. It is generally unwise to opt for on-line only training. Connection quality and reliability varies hugely across all internet service providers, you should always obtain disc based courseware (On CD or DVD).
Most people don’t even think to ask about something of absolutely vital importance – the way their training provider divides up the training materials, and into how many separate packages. Typically, you will purchase a course requiring 1-3 years study and receive one element at a time until graduation. This sounds logical on one level, until you consider this: With thought, many trainees understand that the trainer’s usual training route isn’t as suitable as another. They might find it’s more expedient to use an alternative order of study. Perhaps you don’t make it in the allotted time? Truth be told, the best option is to obtain their recommendation on the best possible order of study, but to receive all the materials up-front. You’re then in possession of everything should you not complete it inside of their required time-scales.
A subtle way that colleges make extra profits is by charging for exams up-front and then including an ‘Exam Guarantee’. This looks like a great idea for the student, but is it really… Of course it isn’t free – you are paying for it – the price has simply been included in the whole thing. If you want to pass first time, evidence suggests you must avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, focus on it intently and give the task sufficient application. Does it really add up to pay a training course provider at the start of the course for examinations? Find the best exam deal or offer when you’re ready, rather than pay marked up fees – and do it locally – rather than possibly hours away from your area. A lot of extra profit is made by many training colleges that get money for exam fees in advance. A number of students don’t take them for various reasons and so the company is quids-in. Amazingly, there are providers who actually bank on it – as that’s very profitable for them. Don’t forget, in the majority of cases of ‘exam guarantees’ – the company controls how often and when you can do your re-takes. You’ll have to prove conclusively that you can pass before they’ll pay for another exam. Due to typical VUE and Prometric examinations costing in the region of 112 pounds in this country, it’s common sense to fund them one by one. Why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra at the beginning of your training? Commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.
The sometimes daunting task of securing your first role in IT is often relieved by some companies, via a Job Placement Assistance programme. Because of the massive demand for appropriately skilled people in Great Britain even when times are hard, it’s not too important to make too much of this option though. It’s not as difficult as you may be led to believe to find employment as long as you’re correctly trained and certified. Whatever you do, don’t procrastinate and wait until you have completed your exams before bringing your CV up to date. Right at the beginning of your training, enter details of your study programme and get it out there! Many junior support jobs have been bagged by trainees who are still studying and have yet to take their exams. This will at least get your CV into the ‘possible’ pile and not the ‘no’ pile. The top companies to help you find a job are generally local IT focused employment agencies. As they’re keen to place you to receive their commission, they have the necessary incentive to try that bit harder. In a nutshell, as long as you focus the same level of energy into landing a job as into studying, you’re not likely to experience problems. A number of trainees curiously conscientiously work through their training and studies and then call a halt once certified and would appear to think that businesses will just discover them.
