Considering an MCSE? If so, it’s probable that you’re in one of two situations: You’re someone with a certain amount of knowledge and you should formalise your skills with an MCSE. Alternatively this could be your first step into the computer workplace, and you’ve found that there’s a growing demand for people with the right qualifications.
When researching training colleges, steer clear of those that compromise their offerings by not upgrading their courses to the latest version from Microsoft. Ultimately, this will cost the student a lot more as they will have been educated in an out-of-date syllabus which inevitably will have to be up-dated almost immediately.
Don’t use training companies that are just interested in your money. Ask for comprehensive, personal guidance to verify that you’re registering on the correct course. Resist being forced into some generic product by a second-rate college.
Trainees looking at this market are usually quite practically-minded, and won’t enjoy sitting at a desk in class, and slogging through piles of books. If you identify with this, try the newer style of interactive study, where everything is presented via full motion video.
Many years of research has consistently confirmed that connecting physically with our study, is much more conducive to long-term memory.
Start a study-program in which you’ll get a host of CD and DVD based materials – you’ll begin by watching videos of instructors demonstrating the skills, and then have the opportunity to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions.
You really need to look at examples of the study materials provided by the company you’re considering. It’s essential they incorporate video, demonstrations and various interactive elements.
It’s usually bad advice to go for purely on-line training. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from the ISP (internet service provider) market, it makes sense to have disc based courseware (On CD or DVD).
Starting from the viewpoint that it makes sense to home-in on the market that sounds most inviting first and foremost, before we’re able to consider what educational program would meet that requirement, how are we supposed to find the right direction?
As without any solid background in Information Technology, how could any of us know what anyone doing a particular job actually does?
To work through this, there should be a discussion of several core topics:
* Which type of individual you are – which things you really enjoy, plus of course – what don’t you like doing.
* Are you driven to re-train because of a specific raison d’etre – e.g. is it your goal to work based at home (being your own boss?)?
* Is salary further up on your list of priorities than anything else.
* When taking into account all that Information Technology covers, it’s obvious you’ll need to be able to take in how they differ.
* What effort, commitment and time you’ll have available to commit the training program.
For most people, considering each of these concepts needs a long talk with a professional that has direct industry experience. And we don’t just mean the accreditations – you also need to understand the commercial needs and expectations besides.
Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always proper direct-access 24×7 support via 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.
Many only provide email support (too slow), and telephone support is usually to a call-centre which 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 suits them. This is all next to useless if you’re lost and confused and have a one hour time-slot in which to study.
We recommend that you search for study programmes that utilise many support facilities active in different time-zones. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to give a single entry point as well as 24 hours-a-day access, when you want it, with no fuss.
Always choose a training provider that offers this level of study support. Only proper live 24×7 support gives you the confidence to make it.
Often, students don’t think to check on a painfully important area – the way their training provider divides up the physical training materials, and into how many bits.
Training companies will normally offer some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and drop-ship the materials to you piecemeal as you complete each section or exam. On the surface this seems reasonable – until you consider the following:
Many students find that the company’s usual training route isn’t the easiest way for them. Sometimes, a slightly different order suits them better. Perhaps you don’t make it in the allotted time?
The very best situation would see you getting all the learning modules packed off to your home before you even start; every single thing! This prevents any future issues from rising that will affect your ability to finish.
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