Computer Training in CompTIA – Update
The CompTIA A+ course covers 4 different sectors – you’ll have to qualify in 2 different areas to be considered A+ competent. This is why, many training establishments restrict their A+ to just two of the 4 sectors. We consider that this is selling you short – sure, you can pass an exam, but knowing about the others will give you greater confidence in industry, where knowledge of all four will be necessary. This is why you need education in the whole course.
A+ computer training courses cover fault-finding and diagnostics – both remote access and hands-on, alongside building and fixing and understanding antistatic conditions.
If you would like to be a man or woman who works for a larger company – fixing and supporting networks, build on A+ with Network+, or consider the Microsoft networking route (MCSA – MCSE) because it’s necessary to have a wider knowledge of how networks work.
We need to make this very clear: You have to get round-the-clock 24×7 instructor and mentor support. We can tell you that you’ll strongly regret it if you don’t follow this rule rigidly.
Avoid, like the plague, any organisations which use messaging services ‘out-of-hours’ – with your call-back scheduled for standard office hours. It’s not a lot of help when you’ve got study issues and need help now.
Keep your eyes open for training programs that incorporate three or four individual support centres around the globe in several time-zones. All of them should be combined to give a single entry point and 24×7 access, when it’s convenient for you, with no hassle.
Search out a training school that offers this level of study support. Only proper round-the-clock 24×7 support delivers what is required.
So many training providers only look at the plaque to hang on your wall, and completely avoid what it’s all actually about – which will always be getting the job or career you want. Always start with the end goal – don’t get hung-up on the training vehicle.
You could be training for only a year and end up doing a job for a lifetime. Avoid the mistake of taking what may be an ‘interesting’ course and then spend decades in a job you don’t like!
You need to keep your eye on where you want to go, and formulate your training based on that – avoid getting them back-to-front. Keep on track – making sure you’re training for something you’ll still be enjoying many years from now.
Obtain help from an industry professional who appreciates the market you’re interested in, and will be able to provide ‘A typical day in the life of’ synopsis of what you’ll actually be doing day-to-day. It’s sensible to understand whether or not this is right for you long before you commence your studies. After all, what is the point in kicking off your training only to discover you’re on the wrong course.
Some training providers will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance program, to assist your search for your first position. Because of the great demand for appropriately skilled people in Britain even when times are hard, there isn’t a great need to place too much emphasis on this feature however. It really won’t be that difficult to secure a job as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications.
However, don’t procrastinate and wait until you have finished your training before polishing up your CV. As soon as you start studying, enter details of your study programme and get promoting!
Quite often, you’ll land your initial role while you’re still a student (even when you’ve just left first base). If you haven’t updated your CV to say what you’re studying (and it isn’t in the hands of someone with jobs to offer) then you aren’t even in the running!
The most reliable organisations to help you find a job are normally local IT focused employment agencies. Because they make their money when they’ve found you a job, they’ll work that much harder to get a result.
A big grievance for a number of training providers is how hard trainees are prepared to study to get top marks in their exams, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the job they have trained for. Get out there and hustle – you might find it’s fun.
Have a conversation with a skilled consultant and they’ll entertain you with many awful tales of how students have been duped by salespeople. Make sure you deal with a skilled professional that asks lots of questions to find out what’s right for you – not for their bank-account! Dig until you find an ideal starting-point that fits you.
Remember, if in the past you’ve acquired any qualifications that are related, then you will often be able to pick-up at a different starting-point to someone who is new to the field.
If this is going to be your opening crack at an IT exam then you may want to start with a user-skills course first.
(C) 2009 – S. Edwards. Go to AdultTrainingCourse.co.uk/aadtrc.html or Computer Based Training.
