by Jason Kendall
In total, there are 4 A+ examinations and specialised sectors, but you only have to get certified in 2 to be thought of as qualified. This is why the majority of training providers simply offer two. But allowing you to learn about all 4 options will provide you with a far deeper level of understanding of it all, something you’ll discover is vital in professional employment.
Passing the A+ exam on its own will allow you to mend and maintain computers and Macs; ones that are most often not part of a network – which is for the most part the home market. Perhaps you see yourself as someone who is a member of a large organisation – fixing and supporting networks, build on A+ with Network+, or follow the Microsoft route – MCP’s, MCSA or MCSE because it’s necessary to have a deeper understanding of how networks work.
One interesting way that training companies make a big mark-up is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. It looks impressive, until you think it through:
We all know that we’re still paying for it – it’s not so hard to see that it’s already been included in the full cost of the package supplied by the course provider. It’s certainly not free – don’t think these companies are so generous with their money! Should you seriously need to pass first time, evidence suggests you must fund each exam as you take it, prioritise it appropriately and be ready for the task.
Isn’t it outrageous to have to pay your training course provider in advance for exams? Find the best exam deal or offer when you take the exam, rather than pay marked up fees – and take it closer to home – rather than possibly hours away from your area. Paying upfront for examinations (and interest charges if you’re borrowing money) is insane. It’s not your job to boost the training company’s account with extra money of yours just to give them a good cash-flow! There are those who hope that you won’t get round to taking them – then they’ll keep the extra money. Re-takes of previously unsuccessful exams via training companies with an ‘Exam Guarantee’ inevitably are heavily regulated. They’ll insist that you take mock exams first so you can prove to them you have a good chance of passing.
Shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds on ‘Exam Guarantees’ is remiss – when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is what will really guarantee success.
Being a part of the cutting-edge of new technology really is electrifying. Your actions are instrumental in defining the world to come. We are really only just starting to get a handle on how all this will mould and change our lives. How we communicate and interact with everyone around us will be massively affected by technology and the internet.
The standard IT technician in Great Britain will also receive significantly more than fellow workers in much of the rest of the economy. Average salaries are some of the best to be had nationwide. It seems there is a lot more room for IT sector development in Great Britain as a whole. The industry is continuing to expand hugely, and as we have a skills gap that means we only typically have three IT workers for every four jobs it’s highly unlikely that there’ll be any kind of easing off for years to come.
One thing you must always insist on is 24×7 round-the-clock support from 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 (even if it’s early hours on Sunday morning!) Ensure you get access directly to professional tutors, and not a call-centre that will take messages so you’re constantly waiting for a call-back during office hours.
The very best programs opt for an online 24×7 package involving many support centres from around the world. You will be provided with an interface that seamlessly selects the best facility available no matter what time of day it is: Support when you need it. Never make the mistake of compromise where support is concerned. Most trainees who throw in the towel, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).
We’d hazard a guess that you’re a practical sort of person – a ‘hands-on’ personality type. Usually, the painful task of reading endless manuals is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you really wouldn’t enjoy it. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if books just don’t do it for you. Research over recent years has always shown that an ‘involved’ approach to study, where we utilise all our senses, is proven to produce longer-lasting and deeper memory retention.
Find a course where you’ll receive a library of CD and DVD ROM’s – you’ll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, with the facility to use virtual lab’s to practice your new skills. You really need to look at some example materials from each company you’re contemplating. Be sure that they contain instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab’s.
You should avoid purely online training. Always choose CD or DVD based study materials where offered, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want – it’s not wise to be held hostage to your broadband being ‘up’ 100 percent of the time.
All programs you’re considering should always lead to a nationally accepted certification at the end – and not some unimportant ‘in-house’ printed certificate to hang in your hallway. The top IT companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA each have internationally acknowledged proficiency programs. Huge conglomerates such as these will make sure you’re employable.
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