CompTIA A + has a total of four exams and areas of study, but you only need to get certified in 2 to qualify for your A+. Because of this, many educational establishments simply offer two. But allowing you to learn about all 4 options will provide you with a much wider knowledge and understanding of it all, something you’ll appreciate as a Godsend in professional employment.
A+ computer training courses cover fault-finding and diagnostics – both remote access and hands-on, alongside building and fixing and understanding antistatic conditions.
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 the Microsoft networking route (MCSA – MCSE) because it’s necessary to have a wider knowledge of how networks work.
Training support for students is an absolute must – ensure you track down something providing 24×7 full access, as not obtaining this level of support will severely hold up your pace and restrict your intake.
Avoid, like the plague, any organisations which use messaging services ‘out-of-hours’ – with your call-back scheduled for standard office hours. It’s not a lot of help when you’ve got study issues and need help now.
Keep your eyes open for training programs that incorporate three or four individual support centres around the globe in several time-zones. All of them should be combined to give a single entry point and 24×7 access, when it’s convenient for you, with no hassle.
Never make do with less than this. Direct-access 24×7 support is the only viable option when it comes to technical study. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; usually though, we’re out at work when traditional support if offered.
Remember: the actual training or an accreditation isn’t what this is about; the particular job that you want to end up in is. Far too many training organisations put too much weight in the qualification itself.
You could be training for only a year and end up doing a job for a lifetime. Avoid the mistake of taking what may be an ‘interesting’ course and then spend decades in a job you don’t like!
You need to keep your eye on where you want to go, and formulate your training based on that – avoid getting them back-to-front. Keep on track – making sure you’re training for something you’ll still be enjoying many years from now.
Sense dictates that you look for advice and guidance from an experienced industry professional before making your final decision on some particular training course, so there’s little doubt that the chosen route will give you the skill-set required for your career choice.
Some training providers will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance program, to assist your search for your first position. Because of the great demand for appropriately skilled people in Britain even when times are hard, there isn’t a great need to place too much emphasis on this feature however. It really won’t be that difficult to secure a job as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications.
However, don’t procrastinate and wait until you have finished your training before polishing up your CV. As soon as you start studying, enter details of your study programme and get promoting!
Getting your CV considered is more than not being regarded at all. A decent number of junior positions are bagged by people in the early stages of their course.
The most reliable organisations to help you find a job are normally local IT focused employment agencies. Because they make their money when they’ve found you a job, they’ll work that much harder to get a result.
To bottom line it, as long as you focus the same level of energy into landing a job as into training, you’re not going to hit many challenges. A number of people bizarrely put hundreds of hours into their training course and then call a halt once qualified and seem to suppose that interviewers know they’re there.
Throw out the typical salesman who offers any particular course without an in-depth conversation so as to understand your abilities plus your experience level. They should be able to select from a generous product range so they’re actually equipped to give you an appropriate solution.
Remember, if in the past you’ve acquired any qualifications that are related, then you will often be able to pick-up at a different starting-point to someone who is new to the field.
If this is going to be your opening crack at an IT exam then you may want to start with a user-skills course first.
(C) 2009 Scott Edwards. Browse around Click HERE or Computer Training Courses.