The MCSA course is an ideal qualification for anyone looking to get into supporting networks. Whether you’re about to get going or already have knowledge but want a professional course with an acknowledged certification, it’s possible to achieve your goals with the right training.
Should you be contemplating entering the world of IT as a beginner, you’re very likely to need to learn a few things before attempting to go for all four MCP’s (Microsoft Certified Professional exams) required to pass the MCSA. Identify a training company that’s able to create an ideal program to help you – try to talk this through with an industry expert to sort out your best course of action.
Don’t listen to a salesman who pushes one particular program without a thorough investigation to assess your abilities and experience level. Always check they have access to a wide-enough choice of training products from which they could provide you with what’s right for you.
Where you have a strong background, or even a touch of real-world experience (some certifications gained previously perhaps?) then obviously the level you’ll need to start at will be very different from a trainee who has no experience.
Working through a foundation course first can be the best way to commence your IT training, but really depends on your level of familiarity with computers.
Remember: the training itself or a certification is not what you’re looking for; a job that you want is. Far too many training organisations place too much importance on the course or the qualification.
Students often train for a single year but end up doing the job for 20 years. Don’t make the mistake of finding what seems like an ‘interesting’ course only to waste your life away with an unrewarding career!
Spend some time thinking about what you want to earn and how ambitious you are. This can often control which particular certifications you will need and what’ll be expected of you in your new role.
Before you embark on a study course, you’d be well advised to talk through the specific market needs with an experienced industry professional, to be absolutely sure the training path covers all the bases.
Many trainers will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance facility, to help you into your first commercial role. Ultimately it isn’t so complicated as you might think to find a job – once you’re trained and certified; employers in this country need your skills.
Nevertheless, don’t procrastinate and wait until you have completed your exams before updating your CV. As soon as your training commences, list what you’re working on and place it on jobsites!
You’ll often find that you’ll land your initial role whilst still on the course (even when you’ve just left first base). If your CV doesn’t show your latest training profile (and it isn’t in the hands of someone with jobs to offer) then you won’t even be considered!
The most efficient companies to help you find a job are usually local IT focused employment agencies. Because they only get paid when they place you, they have more incentive to get on with it.
Various men and women, it seems, put a great deal of effort into their studies (for years sometimes), and then just stop instead of attempting to secure a good job. Promote yourself… Make an effort to put yourself out there. Good jobs don’t just knock on your door.
Students will sometimes miss checking on something that can make a profound difference to their results – the way the company actually breaks down and delivers the training materials, and into how many parts.
Training companies will normally offer some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and send out each piece as you get to the end of each exam. On the surface this seems reasonable – until you consider the following:
Many students find that the company’s usual training route isn’t as suitable as another. Sometimes, a different order of study is more expedient. Perhaps you don’t make it inside of the expected timescales?
In a perfect world, you’d ask for every single material to be delivered immediately – meaning you’ll have all of them to return to any point – at any time you choose. This allows a variation in the order that you move through the program if you find another route more intuitive.
(C) S. Edwards 2009. Visit Network Training or RetrainingCourses.co.uk/irecourse.html.