People researching courses for the computer industry will soon realise that there are a number of diverse options on offer. Prior to getting started, seek out a training company with industry experts, so you can get information on the career your training will prepare you for. Maybe you’ll find employment opportunities you hadn’t previously thought of.
There’s a wide range of courses to choose from. Some re-trainers get started on Microsoft user skills, some want training for careers in Networking, Programming, Databases or Web Design – and these are all possible. But don’t rush into it, don’t just guess. It’s much better to share your ideas with an advisor who has knowledge of the IT industry, and will guide you to where you want to go.
By keeping costs to a minimum, there are now companies offering modern courses that have great quality training and support for a fraction of the prices expected from the old-school colleges.
At the top of your shopping list for a training program should be 24×7 round-the-clock support through dedicated instructors and mentors. So many companies we come across only seem to want to help while they’re in the office (9am till 6pm, Monday till Friday usually) and nothing at the weekends.
Try and find training with proper support available at all hours of the day and night (no matter if it’s in the middle of the night on a weekend!) Ensure you get direct-access to qualified mentors and tutors, and not access to a call-in service which takes messages – so you’re consistently being held in a queue for a call-back when it’s convenient for them.
The most successful trainers have many support offices around the globe in several time-zones. They use an online interactive interface to join them all seamlessly, no matter what time you login, help is just seconds away, with no hassle or contact issues.
Unless you insist on direct-access round-the-clock support, you’ll regret it. You may not need it throughout the night, but you’re bound to use weekends, late evenings or early mornings.
People attracted to this sort of work can be very practical by nature, and won’t enjoy sitting at a desk in class, and slogging through piles of books. If you identify with this, use multimedia, interactive learning, where everything is presented via full motion video.
Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that becoming involved with our studies, to utilise all our senses, will more likely produce memories that are deeper and longer-lasting.
Top of the range study programs now offer interactive CD and DVD ROM’s. Real-world classes from the instructors will mean you’ll find things easier to remember via the expert demonstrations. Knowledge can then be tested by using practice-lab’s.
Always insist on a demonstration of the study materials from the school that you’re considering. You’ll want to see expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and virtual practice lab’s for your new skills.
Choose CD or DVD ROM based materials whenever you can. You can then avoid all the difficulties of broadband outages, failure and signal quality issues etc.
An important area that is sometimes not even considered by people weighing up a particular programme is the concept of ‘training segmentation’. Basically, this means the method used to break up the program to be delivered to you, which makes a huge difference to how you end up.
You may think it logical (with most training taking 1-3 years for a full commercial certification,) for your typical trainer to courier the training stage by stage, until you’ve passed all the exams. However:
What would happen if you didn’t finish every module at the required speed? Often the prescribed exam order won’t fit you as well as some other structure would for you.
To avoid any potential future issues, most students now choose to have all their training materials (which they’ve now paid for) couriered out in one package, all at the beginning. That means it’s down to you how fast or slow and in what order you’d like to take your exams.
Ask any proficient advisor and they’ll regale you with many terrible tales of how students have been duped by salespeople. Stick to a professional advisor who asks some in-depth questions to find out what’s right for you – not for their bank-account! You need to find an ideal starting-point that fits you.
Where you have a strong background, or perhaps a bit of real-world experience (possibly even some previous certification?) then it’s more than likely your starting point will be different from someone with no background whatsoever.
Consider starting with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. This can set the scene for your on-going studies and make the transition to higher-level learning a little less steep.
(C) S. Edwards 2010. Look at Microsoft Access Course or http://www.JobQualification.co.uk/vjobqual.html.
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