Congratulations! As you’re looking at this we guess you must be considering retraining for a new career - so you’ve already done more than most. Less of us than you’d think are content with our jobs, but most just moan and do nothing about it. Why not be one of a small number who actually do something about it.
When considering retraining, it’s crucial to initially know your expectations from the job you’d like to train for. You need to know that things would be a lot better before you put a lot of energy into altering your life’s plans. It’s good sense to regard the big picture first, to steer clear of regrets:
* Do you like to be around others at work? Are you better with new people or those you know well? Or are you better with things that you can get on with on your own?
* What thoughts do you have with regard to the sector of industry you hope to work in?
* Do you want this to be the only time you’ll need to re-qualify?
* Do you think being qualified will give you the chance to find the work you’re looking for, and be gainfully employed until sixty five?
Consider Information Technology, that’s our recommendation - unusually, it’s one of the growing market sectors throughout Europe. Salaries are also more generous than most.
Many trainers will only provide basic 9am till 6pm support (maybe a little earlier or later on certain days); not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly.
Never buy certification programs which can only support trainees through a call-centre messaging service after office-staff have gone home. Companies will give you every excuse in the book why you don’t need this. But, no matter how they put it - you want support at the appropriate time - not as-and-when it’s suitable for their staff.
Keep your eyes open for training programs that utilise many support facilities active in different time-zones. These should be integrated to enable simple one-stop access as well as 24 hours-a-day access, when it’s convenient for you, with no fuss.
Always choose a company that offers this level of study support. As only 24×7 round-the-clock live support gives you the confidence to make it.
Watch out that all accreditations you’re working towards are recognised by industry and are up-to-date. ‘In-house’ exams and the certificates they come with are generally useless.
All the major IT organisations such as Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco or CompTIA all have internationally renowned proficiency programmes. Major-league companies like these will make sure you’re employable.
We’re regularly asked to explain why qualifications from colleges and universities are now falling behind more commercial certifications?
Vendor-based training (to use industry-speak) is far more specialised and product-specific. Industry is aware that this level of specialised understanding is necessary to service the demands of an increasingly more technical marketplace. Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe are the dominant players.
In a nutshell, only required knowledge is taught. It isn’t quite as lean as that might sound, but principally the objective has to be to focus on the exact skills required (including a degree of required background) - without going into too much detail in every other area (as academia often does).
Just as the old advertisement said: ‘It does what it says on the label’. Employers simply need to know what areas need to be serviced, and then match up the appropriate exam numbers as a requirement. Then they know that anyone who applies can do the necessary work.
How can job security truly exist anywhere now? In the UK for example, where industry can change its mind on a day-to-day basis, it seems increasingly unlikely.
When we come across escalating skills deficits together with rising demand however, we often locate a new kind of market-security; driven by the conditions of constant growth, organisations find it hard to locate the influx of staff needed.
Investigating the IT sector, the recent e-Skills study brought to light an over 26 percent skills deficit. Accordingly, for every four jobs that are available in the computer industry, companies are only able to locate trained staff for three of them.
Accomplishing in-depth commercial Information Technology qualification is correspondingly a ‘Fast Track’ to achieve a long-term and enjoyable career.
For sure, now really is a critical time to retrain into Information Technology (IT).
You should look for authorised exam simulation and preparation programs as part of your training package.
Don’t go for training programs depending on unofficial exam preparation questions. The way they’re phrased can be quite different - and this could lead to potential problems in the actual examination.
It’s a good idea to request some practice exams that will allow you to verify your knowledge whenever you need to. Simulated or practice exams will help to boost your attitude - then you’re much more at ease with the real thing.
(C) Jason Kendall. Hop over to LearningLolly.com for excellent ideas on IT Training Courses and Computer Programming Training Course.
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