If you’re thinking of a web design career, find a course in Adobe Dreamweaver.
Additionally, it’s good practice that students get an in-depth understanding of the full Adobe Web Creative Suite, which incorporates Flash and Action Script, to be able to utilise Dreamweaver professionally as a web designer. This knowledge can take you on to becoming an ACP (Adobe Certified Professional) or an ACE (Adobe Certified Expert).
Building a website only scratches the surface of the skill set required though - to drive traffic to the site, maintain its content, and work with dynamic database-driven sites, you’ll be required to have additional programming skills, namely ones like HTML, PHP and MySQL. You should also gain an excellent grasp of E-Commerce and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
Searching for your first position in IT can feel more straightforward with a Job Placement Assistance program. Don’t get caught up in this feature - it isn’t unusual for companies marketing departments to overplay it. The fact of the matter is, the still growing need for IT personnel in the UK is what will make you attractive to employers.
CV and Interview advice and support should be offered (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). Make sure you work on your old CV today - don’t leave it till you pass the exams!
Having the possibility of an interview is far better than not even being known about. A surprising amount of junior support roles are given to trainees in the early stages of their course.
If it’s important to you to find work near your home, then you’ll often find that a local IT focused recruitment consultancy could serve you better than some national concern, because they’re far more likely to be familiar with local employment needs.
A big grievance for many training providers is how much people are prepared to work to get top marks in their exams, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the role they’re acquired skills for. Don’t give up when the best is yet to come.
Commercial qualifications are now, most definitely, starting to replace the traditional routes into the IT industry - but why should this be?
Vendor-based training (to use industry-speak) is more effective in the commercial field. Industry has become aware that specialisation is essential to handle an acceleratingly technical marketplace. Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA are the key players in this arena.
Essentially, students are simply taught the necessary specifics in depth. Actually, it’s not quite as pared down as that, but the most important function is always to focus on the exact skills required (with some necessary background) - without trying to cram in everything else (as universities often do).
The bottom line is: Authorised IT qualifications give employers exactly what they’re looking for - the title says it all: i.e. I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Designing Security for a Windows 2003 Network’. Therefore companies can look at the particular needs they have and which qualifications are required to fulfil that.
It’s likely that you’ve always enjoyed practical work - a ‘hands-on’ person. Usually, the trial of reading reference books and manuals is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you’d hate it. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if book-based learning really isn’t your style.
If we’re able to study while utilising as many senses as possible, then the results are usually dramatically better.
Search for a course where you’ll get a host of CD and DVD based materials - you’ll learn by watching video tutorials and demonstrations, and then have the opportunity to hone your abilities through virtual lab’s.
Every company that you look at should willingly take you through a few samples of their training materials. You’re looking for evidence of tutorial videos and demonstrations and interactive areas to practice in.
Choose disc based courseware (On CD or DVD) every time. Thus avoiding all the issues associated with broadband ‘downtime’ or slow-speeds.
A ridiculously large number of organisations are all about the certification, and completely miss what it’s all actually about - which is of course employment. Always start with the end in mind - don’t make the vehicle more important than the destination.
It’s an awful thing, but a great many students start out on programs that sound marvellous in the syllabus guide, but which gets us a career that is of no interest. Try talking to typical university graduates to see what we mean.
It’s essential to keep your focus on where you want to go, and build your study action-plan from that - not the other way round. Keep your eyes on your goals and study for a job you’ll still be enjoying many years from now.
Look for help from an experienced professional who understands the sector you wish to join, and who can offer ‘A typical day in the life of’ synopsis of what kinds of tasks you’ll be undertaking on a day-to-day basis. It just makes sense to discover if this is the right course of action for you before you commence your studies. After all, what is the point in starting to train only to realise you’ve made a huge mistake.
(C) Jason Kendall. Try LearningLolly.com for excellent ideas. Dreamweaver Training or Dreamweaver Training Course.
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