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A+ consists of four exams and study sections, but you’re just expected to achieve certification in two for qualification purposes. As this is the case, the majority of training providers only offer 2 paths. However, training you in all four will provide you with a more confident perspective of the subject, which you’ll come to realise is an important asset in professional employment.

Training courses in A+ are about fault finding and diagnosing - via hands on and remote access, in addition to building, fixing, repairing and working in antistatic conditions. Should you want to work towards looking after computer networks, you should add Network+ to the CompTIA A+ training you’re doing. Including Network+ will enable you to command a more senior job role. Alternatively, you may prefer the Microsoft networking qualifications (MCP, MCSA and MCSE).

How can job security really exist anymore? In the UK for example, with businesses changing their mind on a whim, it seems increasingly unlikely. We could however discover security at market-level, by searching for areas that have high demand, coupled with a shortage of skilled staff.

The computer industry skills shortfall across the United Kingdom clocks in at just over 26 percent, as shown by the 2006 e-Skills analysis. Showing that for every four jobs that are available throughout Information Technology (IT), we have only 3 certified professionals to do them. Properly taught and commercially accredited new workers are consequently at an absolute premium, and it seems it will continue to be so for many years to come. In reality, gaining new qualifications in IT over the coming years is very likely the best career direction you could choose.

So, what questions do we need to ask to arrive at the understanding required? Because it’s evident there are some pretty tremendous prospects for everyone to look at.

With all the options available, it’s not really surprising that a large percentage of career changers have no idea which career they should even pursue. Perusing lists of IT career possibilities is a complete waste of time. The majority of us have no idea what the neighbours do for a living - let alone understand the complexities of any specific IT role. Ultimately, any kind of right resolution can only grow from a detailed analysis of several varying areas:

* Your individual personality and what you’re interested in - the sort of work-oriented areas you enjoy or dislike.

* What length of time can you allocate for the training process?

* How important is salary to you - is it the most important thing, or is job satisfaction higher up on your priority-list?

* Considering all that the IT industry encapsulates, it’s obvious you’ll need to be able to see what is different.

* Having a good look at how much time and effort that you can put aside.

To cut through the barrage of jargon, and discover the best route for you, have an informal meeting with an advisor with years of experience; someone that will cover the commercial realities and truth whilst covering the accreditations.

If you’re like many of the students we talk to then you’re a practical sort of person - the ‘hands-on’ type. Usually, the trial of reading reference books and manuals is something you’ll make yourself do if you have to, but you’d hate it. Consider interactive, multimedia study if book-based learning really isn’t your style. Where possible, if we can involve all our senses in the learning process, then the results are usually dramatically better.

You can now study via easy-to-use DVD or CD ROM’s. Real-world classes from the instructors will mean you’ll learn your subject through the expert demonstrations. Knowledge can then be tested by interacting with the software and practicing yourself. You must ensure that you see the type of training provided by each company you’re contemplating. You’ll want to see that they include video demo’s and interactive elements such as practice lab’s.

It’s unwise to go for purely on-line training. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from your average broadband company, ensure that you have access to disc based courseware (On CD or DVD).

How the program is actually delivered to you is usually ignored by most students. How many parts is the training broken down into? And in what order and at what speed is it delivered? You may think that it makes sense (when study may take one to three years to gain full certified status,) for your typical trainer to courier one module at a time, as you achieve each exam pass. But: Often, the staged breakdown offered by the provider doesn’t suit. You may find it a stretch to finalise all the elements inside their defined time-scales?

For the perfect solution, you’d get ALL the training materials right at the beginning - enabling you to have them all to return to any point - at any time you choose. Variations can then be made to the order that you move through the program if you find another route more intuitive.

One thing you must always insist on is comprehensive 24×7 direct-access support through dedicated instructors and mentors. Too many companies will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend. Never purchase study programmes that only provide support to students via an out-sourced call-centre message system after office-staff have gone home. Training schools will try to talk you round from this line of reasoning. Essentially - support is required when it’s required - not when it’s convenient for them.

As long as you look hard, you will find the top providers that provide their students online support all the time - no matter what time of day it is. Unless you insist on direct-access round-the-clock support, you’ll regret it. You may avoid using the support late at night, but you’re bound to use weekends, early mornings or late evenings.

Accredited exam preparation and simulation materials are crucial - and must be obtained from your training company. Don’t fall foul of relying on non-accredited exam preparation questions. The type of questions asked can be quite different - and this could lead to potential problems once in the actual exam. Clearly, it’s very important to ensure that you’ve thoroughly prepared for the real exam prior to going for it. Practicing ‘mock’ exams adds to your knowledge bank and will avoid you getting frustrated with thwarted exam entries.

Several companies will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance facility, designed to steer you into your first job. In reality it’s not as difficult as you may be led to believe to secure a job - as long as you’re correctly trained and certified; the growing UK skills shortage sees to that.

You would ideally have help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews though; and we’d encourage everybody to update their CV as soon as training commences - don’t wait until you’ve graduated or passed any exams. Having the possibility of an interview is far better than not even being known about. A surprising amount of junior support roles are offered to students (sometimes when they’ve only just got going.) Normally you’ll get better results from a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service than you’ll experience from any training course provider’s national service, because they’ll know local industry and the area better.

A good number of students, it seems, spend evenings and weekends on their training and studies (sometimes for years), only to do nothing special when looking for the right position. Sell yourself… Work hard to put yourself out there. A job isn’t just going to bump into you.

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Uncategorized by Jason Kendall