There are four A+ exams and specialised sectors, but you’re just expected to achieve certification in two to be thought of as qualified. For this reason, many educational establishments simply offer two. Yet learning about all 4 will give you a far deeper level of understanding of your subject, which you’ll find a Godsend in the commercial world.
Once on the A+ training program you’ll become familiar with how to build, fix, repair and work in antistatic conditions. You’ll also cover fault finding and diagnostics, through both hands-on and remote access.
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 an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft to give you a wider knowledge of how networks work.
It’s usual for students to get confused with one area of their training which doesn’t even occur to them: The way the training is divided into chunks and physically delivered to you.
Many think it logical (with a typical time scale of 1-3 years for a full commercial certification,) for many training providers to send out the courseware in stages, as you pass each element. However:
What if there are reasons why you can’t finish every single section? And what if you find the order of the modules counter-intuitive? Because of nothing that’s your fault, you may go a little slower and therefore not end up with all the modules.
For future safety and flexibility, it’s not unusual for students to make sure that every element of their training is posted to them in one go, with nothing held back. That means it’s down to you how fast or slow and in what order you’d like to take your exams.
We’re often asked why qualifications from colleges and universities are being replaced by more qualifications from the commercial sector?
As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, the IT sector has been required to move to specific, honed-in training only available through the vendors themselves – in other words companies like Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA. Frequently this is at a far reduced cost both money and time wise.
Of course, an appropriate portion of associated knowledge must be covered, but precise specifics in the particular job function gives a vendor educated student a real head start.
It’s rather like the advert: ‘It does what it says on the label’. All an employer has to do is know what they need doing, and then match up the appropriate exam numbers as a requirement. That way they can be sure they’re interviewing applicants who can do the job.
A service offered by some training providers is a Job Placement Assistance program. It’s intention is to help you find your first job in the industry. However sometimes there is more emphasis than is necessary on this service, for it is genuinely quite straightforward for any focused and well taught person to get a job in the IT industry – because there’s a great need for qualified personnel.
Bring your CV up to date as soon as possible however – you should get plenty of help from your training provider on this. Don’t wait until you’ve qualified.
Quite often, you’ll secure your first role while still studying (even when you’ve just left first base). If your course details aren’t on your CV (and it hasn’t been posted on jobsites) then you’re not even going to be known about!
The top companies to get you a new position are most often independent and specialised local recruitment services. Because they make their money when they’ve found you a job, they have the necessary incentive to try that bit harder.
Many men and women, it seems, are prepared to study their hearts out (for years sometimes), only to give up at the first hurdle when looking for a good job. Promote yourself… Do your best to get yourself known. Don’t think a job’s just going to jump out in front of you.
Traditional teaching in classrooms, utilising reference manuals and books, is often a huge slog for most of us. If you’re nodding as you read this, dig around for more practical courses which feature interactive and multimedia modules.
Studies have time and time again verified that connecting physically with our study, is much more conducive to long-term memory.
Start a study-program in which you’re provided with an array of CD and DVD based materials – you’ll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, with the facility to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions.
It’s imperative to see some example materials from your chosen company. It’s essential they incorporate video demo’s and interactive elements such as practice lab’s.
Avoid training that is purely online. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where offered, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want – it’s not wise to be held hostage to a good broadband connection all the time.
(C) Jason Kendall. Hop over to LearningLolly.com for intelligent ideas. IT Training Courses or CLICK HERE.
