Shade, Shutters & Blinds

There are a total of 4 specialist training sectors in the A+ syllabus, but you’re just required to achieve pass marks in 2 to gain A+ competency. Be aware though that limiting yourself to 2 of the study sections could expose flaws in your knowledge when applying for a job. At least learn about all four – you’ll be glad you did when it comes to interview time.

If you decide to become a student on the A+ training program you will develop an understanding of how to build and repair PC’s and operate in antistatic conditions. Fault finding and diagnostic techniques through hands on and remote access are also covered. It could be a good idea to consider adding Network+ training to your A+ as you can then also take care of computer networks, and have a more responsible working role.

When was the last time you considered how safe your job is? For the majority of us, we only think of this after we experience a knock-back. However, the lesson often learned too late is that our job security is a thing of the past, for most of us. In actuality, security now only emerges through a fast rising market, driven by a lack of trained workers. It’s this alone that creates the correct setting for a secure marketplace – definitely a more pleasing situation.

The 2006 UK e-Skills analysis showed that twenty six percent of all available IT positions cannot be filled as an upshot of a lack of properly qualified workers. This shows that for every four jobs that are available in computing, there are only 3 trained people to fill that need. This distressing concept underpins the validity and need for more appropriately accredited Information Technology professionals around Great Britain. While the market is developing at such a quick pace, it’s unlikely there’s any better area of industry worth investigating for a new future.

It’s indisputable, the UK Information Technology (IT) sector offers extraordinary possibilities. However, to fully investigate, which questions do we need to be asking, and what are the areas we need to look at?

Students hoping to build a career in computers and technology often haven’t a clue which path they should take, or even which market to achieve their certification in. Consequently, if you’ve got no know-how of the IT market, how could you possibly know what a particular IT employee actually does day-to-day? And of course decide on what certification program will be most suitable for success. Usually, the way to come at this dilemma appropriately stems from a deep talk over several areas:

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

* What time-frame are you looking at for your training?

* Is salary further up on your list of priorities than other factors.

* Getting to grips with what the main work types and sectors are – and what makes them different.

* You should also think long and hard about the level of commitment you’re going to invest in gaining your certifications.

Ultimately, the most intelligent way of investigating all this is through a long chat with someone who understands the market well enough to lead you to the correct decision.

Proper support is incredibly important – locate a good company providing 24×7 full access, as anything less will frustrate you and could hold up your pace and restrict your intake. Many only provide email support (too slow), and so-called telephone support is normally just routed to a call-centre that will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team – who’ll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, when it’s convenient to them. This is no use if you’re sitting there confused over an issue and only have a specific time you can study.

As long as you look hard, you will find professional training packages which provide their students online support all the time – including evenings, nights and weekends. Search out an educator that offers this level of study support. As only live 24×7 support truly delivers for technical programs.

Those that are drawn to this type of work are usually quite practically-minded, and don’t really enjoy classrooms, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If this could be you, try the newer style of interactive study, where learning is video-based. If we can involve all our senses in the learning process, then we often see hugely increased memory retention as a result.

Modern training can now be done at home via 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, via their teaching and demonstrations. Knowledge can then be tested by using practice-lab’s. Any company that you’re considering must be pushed to demo a few samples of the materials provided for study. You should hope for instructor-led videos and a variety of interactive modules.

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 actual CD or DVD ROM’s.

Now, why should we consider commercially accredited qualifications and not more traditional academic qualifications taught at tech’ colleges and universities? The IT sector now recognises that for an understanding of the relevant skills, the right accreditation from such organisations as Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA often is more effective in the commercial field – for much less time and money. Many degrees, for instance, become confusing because of a great deal of loosely associated study – with a syllabus that’s far too wide. This prevents a student from getting enough core and in-depth understanding on a specific area.

What if you were an employer – and you needed to take on someone with a very particular skill-set. What is easier: Go through a mass of different academic qualifications from hopeful applicants, trying to establish what they know and which vocational skills they’ve mastered, or pick out specific commercial accreditations that exactly fulfil your criteria, and draw up from that who you want to speak to. You’ll then be able to concentrate on getting a feel for the person at interview – rather than on the depth of their technical knowledge.

Don’t accept anything less than the current Microsoft (or relevant organisation’s) accredited exam simulation and preparation packages. Often students can find themselves confused by going through practice questions that aren’t from official boards. Quite often, the way questions are phrased is unfamiliar and it’s important to prepare yourself for this. Clearly, it’s very important to ensure that you are completely prepared for your actual certification exam prior to doing it. Revising ‘mock’ exams adds to your knowledge bank and saves you time and money on wasted exam attempts.

Many trainers supply a practical Job Placement Assistance program, to help you into your first commercial role. At the end of the day it isn’t a complex operation to get a job – as long as you’re correctly trained and certified; because there’s still a great need for IT skills in the UK today.

You would ideally have advice and support about your CV and interviews though; and we’d encourage all students to work on polishing up their CV the day they start training – don’t wait till you’ve finished your exams. Many junior support roles have been offered to students who are still learning and haven’t even passed a single exam yet. This will at least get your CV into the ‘possible’ pile and not the ‘no’ pile. If you don’t want to travel too far to work, then it’s quite likely that a specialist independent regional recruitment consultant or service could serve you better than the trainer’s recruitment division, because they’re going to be familiar with the jobs that are going locally.

Not inconsiderable numbers of people, it seems, put a great deal of effort into their studies (sometimes for years), only to do nothing special when finding their first job. Market yourself… Do everything you can to get in front of employers. Good jobs don’t just knock on your door.