A variety of different training programs are on the market for trainees wanting to get into the IT industry. To find the right one for you, look at organisations that will help you find an ideal career for your characteristics, and then run through the details of the job, so you can be sure you're going to enjoy it. There are courses covering Microsoft User Skills to career courses in Web Design, Databases, Programming and Networking. There is a huge amount of choice and that means you'll be likely to need to discuss your requirements with an industry expert prior to making your choice: you don't want to learn about a subject for an area that you don't enjoy!
By reducing overhead structures, there are now companies offering modern courses with excellent training and mentoring for much lower prices than those charged by old-school colleges.
Finding job security in this economic down-turn is problematic. Businesses frequently throw us out of the workforce with very little notice - whenever it suits. However, a quickly growing market-place, with huge staffing demands (as there is a big shortage of trained staff), opens the possibility of lasting job security.
Using the Information Technology (IT) industry for example, a key e-Skills analysis showed major skills shortages across the UK of around 26 percent. That means for every four jobs that are available throughout computing, we have only 3 certified professionals to fill that need. This single concept alone reveals why the country needs considerably more people to get into the IT sector. With the market evolving at such a rate, there really isn't any other area of industry worth taking into account for your new career.
It's irrefutable, the UK Information Technology (IT) industry offers exceptional possibilities. However, to investigate it properly, what sort of questions should we be raising, and what are the sectors we need to investigate?
Beginning with the idea that it makes sense to find the job we want to do first and foremost, before we can weigh up what career development program ticks the right boxes, how are we supposed to find the way that suits us? Since without any commercial background in IT, in what way could we be expected to understand what someone in a particular job does? Deliberation over several issues is most definitely required if you need to reveal the right solution that will work for you:
* Personalities play an important part - what gets you 'up and running', and what are the things that get you down.
* What length of time can you allocate for the training process?
* Have you thought about salary vs job satisfaction?
* Many students don't properly consider the level of commitment required to attain their desired level.
* You need to appreciate the differences between each individual training area.
For most of us, considering all these ideas tends to require the help of a professional that knows what they're talking about. And not just the accreditations - but the commercial needs and expectations also.
Proper support should never be taken lightly - look for a package providing 24x7 full access, as anything else will annoy you and definitely put a damper on the speed you move through things. Avoid those companies that use 'out-of-hours' call-centres - where you'll get called back during the next 'working' day. It's not a lot of help when you've got study issues and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.
The most successful trainers use multiple support centres around the globe in several time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to provide a seamless experience, any time of the day or night, help is just seconds away, without any contact issues or hassle. If you fail to get yourself online 24x7 support, you'll regret it very quickly. You might not want to use the service in the middle of the night, but consider weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.
It's likely that you've always enjoyed practical work - a 'hands-on' personality type. Typically, the painful task of reading endless manuals would be considered as a last resort, but you really wouldn't enjoy it. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if book-based learning really isn't your style. Studies in learning psychology have shown that much more of what we learn in remembered when we receive multi-sensorial input, and we put into practice what we've been studying.
Programs are now found in disc format, where everything is taught on your PC. Utilising the latest video technology, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how to perform the required skill, followed by your chance to practice - in an interactive lab. Any company that you're considering must be able to demonstrate a few examples of the type of training materials they provide. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and a variety of interactive modules.
Purely on-line training should be avoided. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where possible, enabling them to be used at your convenience - it's not wise to be held hostage to your broadband being 'up' 100 percent of the time.
A question; why might we choose commercial qualifications and not more traditional academic qualifications obtained from the state educational establishments? With university education costs increasing year on year, plus the IT sector's general opinion that corporate based study often has more relevance in the commercial field, there has been a large rise in Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe based training routes that educate students at a much reduced cost in terms of money and time. In essence, only that which is required is learned. It's slightly more broad than that, but principally the objective has to be to cover the precise skills needed (including a degree of required background) - without trying to cram in every other area (as academia often does).
Imagine if you were an employer - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. Which is the most straightforward: Pore through a mass of different academic qualifications from several applicants, asking for course details and what trade skills they've mastered, or select a specialised number of commercial certifications that exactly fulfil your criteria, and make your short-list from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they'll fit in - instead of long discussions on technical suitability.
Exam 'guarantees' are sometimes offered as part of a training package - they always involve paying for the exam fees up-front, when you pay for the rest of your course. But before you get taken in by the chance of a guarantee, be aware of the facts:
We all know that we're still being charged for it - obviously it has been inserted into the overall figure from the course provider. Certainly, it's not a freebie (it's just marketing companies think we'll fall for anything they say!) Students who go in for their examinations when it's appropriate, paying as they go are much better placed to get through first time. They're aware of their spending and prepare more appropriately to make sure they're ready.
Does it really add up to pay your college early for examinations? Find the best deal you can when you take the exam, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance - and do it locally - rather than in some remote place. Paying upfront for exams (which also includes interest if you've taken out a loan) is insane. Why fill a company's coffers with additional funds just to give them a good cash-flow! Many will hope you don't even take them all - so they don't need to pay for them. You should fully understand that re-takes through companies who offer an 'Exam Guarantee' are monitored with tight restrictions. You will be required to do mock exams until you've demonstrated an excellent ability to pass.
Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on 'Exam Guarantees' is short-sighted - when consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.
Make sure that all your exams are what employers want - don't even consider programs which end up with a useless in-house certificate or plaque. All the major commercial players like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA all have internationally acknowledged skills courses. Huge conglomerates such as these will ensure your employability.
By reducing overhead structures, there are now companies offering modern courses with excellent training and mentoring for much lower prices than those charged by old-school colleges.
Finding job security in this economic down-turn is problematic. Businesses frequently throw us out of the workforce with very little notice - whenever it suits. However, a quickly growing market-place, with huge staffing demands (as there is a big shortage of trained staff), opens the possibility of lasting job security.
Using the Information Technology (IT) industry for example, a key e-Skills analysis showed major skills shortages across the UK of around 26 percent. That means for every four jobs that are available throughout computing, we have only 3 certified professionals to fill that need. This single concept alone reveals why the country needs considerably more people to get into the IT sector. With the market evolving at such a rate, there really isn't any other area of industry worth taking into account for your new career.
It's irrefutable, the UK Information Technology (IT) industry offers exceptional possibilities. However, to investigate it properly, what sort of questions should we be raising, and what are the sectors we need to investigate?
Beginning with the idea that it makes sense to find the job we want to do first and foremost, before we can weigh up what career development program ticks the right boxes, how are we supposed to find the way that suits us? Since without any commercial background in IT, in what way could we be expected to understand what someone in a particular job does? Deliberation over several issues is most definitely required if you need to reveal the right solution that will work for you:
* Personalities play an important part - what gets you 'up and running', and what are the things that get you down.
* What length of time can you allocate for the training process?
* Have you thought about salary vs job satisfaction?
* Many students don't properly consider the level of commitment required to attain their desired level.
* You need to appreciate the differences between each individual training area.
For most of us, considering all these ideas tends to require the help of a professional that knows what they're talking about. And not just the accreditations - but the commercial needs and expectations also.
Proper support should never be taken lightly - look for a package providing 24x7 full access, as anything else will annoy you and definitely put a damper on the speed you move through things. Avoid those companies that use 'out-of-hours' call-centres - where you'll get called back during the next 'working' day. It's not a lot of help when you've got study issues and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.
The most successful trainers use multiple support centres around the globe in several time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to provide a seamless experience, any time of the day or night, help is just seconds away, without any contact issues or hassle. If you fail to get yourself online 24x7 support, you'll regret it very quickly. You might not want to use the service in the middle of the night, but consider weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.
It's likely that you've always enjoyed practical work - a 'hands-on' personality type. Typically, the painful task of reading endless manuals would be considered as a last resort, but you really wouldn't enjoy it. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if book-based learning really isn't your style. Studies in learning psychology have shown that much more of what we learn in remembered when we receive multi-sensorial input, and we put into practice what we've been studying.
Programs are now found in disc format, where everything is taught on your PC. Utilising the latest video technology, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how to perform the required skill, followed by your chance to practice - in an interactive lab. Any company that you're considering must be able to demonstrate a few examples of the type of training materials they provide. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and a variety of interactive modules.
Purely on-line training should be avoided. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where possible, enabling them to be used at your convenience - it's not wise to be held hostage to your broadband being 'up' 100 percent of the time.
A question; why might we choose commercial qualifications and not more traditional academic qualifications obtained from the state educational establishments? With university education costs increasing year on year, plus the IT sector's general opinion that corporate based study often has more relevance in the commercial field, there has been a large rise in Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe based training routes that educate students at a much reduced cost in terms of money and time. In essence, only that which is required is learned. It's slightly more broad than that, but principally the objective has to be to cover the precise skills needed (including a degree of required background) - without trying to cram in every other area (as academia often does).
Imagine if you were an employer - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. Which is the most straightforward: Pore through a mass of different academic qualifications from several applicants, asking for course details and what trade skills they've mastered, or select a specialised number of commercial certifications that exactly fulfil your criteria, and make your short-list from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they'll fit in - instead of long discussions on technical suitability.
Exam 'guarantees' are sometimes offered as part of a training package - they always involve paying for the exam fees up-front, when you pay for the rest of your course. But before you get taken in by the chance of a guarantee, be aware of the facts:
We all know that we're still being charged for it - obviously it has been inserted into the overall figure from the course provider. Certainly, it's not a freebie (it's just marketing companies think we'll fall for anything they say!) Students who go in for their examinations when it's appropriate, paying as they go are much better placed to get through first time. They're aware of their spending and prepare more appropriately to make sure they're ready.
Does it really add up to pay your college early for examinations? Find the best deal you can when you take the exam, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance - and do it locally - rather than in some remote place. Paying upfront for exams (which also includes interest if you've taken out a loan) is insane. Why fill a company's coffers with additional funds just to give them a good cash-flow! Many will hope you don't even take them all - so they don't need to pay for them. You should fully understand that re-takes through companies who offer an 'Exam Guarantee' are monitored with tight restrictions. You will be required to do mock exams until you've demonstrated an excellent ability to pass.
Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on 'Exam Guarantees' is short-sighted - when consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.
Make sure that all your exams are what employers want - don't even consider programs which end up with a useless in-house certificate or plaque. All the major commercial players like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA all have internationally acknowledged skills courses. Huge conglomerates such as these will ensure your employability.
About the Author:
With 20 yrs experience, author Jason Kendall, battles for cheaper, superior multimedia UK education. For advice on Comptia A+, visit LearningLolly Network+.
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