Regional Stock Reports

Should you be doing a search for Microsoft authorised training, you will no doubt be hoping for training providers to provide a wide selection of the most superior training courses on the market today.

Perhaps you’d want to get advice on the types of jobs to be had when you’ve finished studying, and what sort of person such positions might be right for. Many people feel happier if they can be advised on what they might be good at.

When you’ve chosen the area you want to get into, your next search is for a relevant course personalised to be right for your current level of knowledge and ability. Your study program should more than match your expectations.

One crafty way that colleges make a lot more is through up-front charges for exams then giving it ‘Exam Guarantee’ status. This looks like a great idea for the student, but let’s just examine it more closely:

Clearly it isn’t free - you’re still coughing up for it - the price has simply been included in the whole thing.

Qualifying on the first ‘go’ is what everyone wants to do. Going for exams one by one and paying as you go puts you in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt - you take it seriously and are conscious of what you’ve spent.

Sit the exam somewhere close to home and look for the very best offer you can at the time.

A great deal of money is netted by a significant number of organisations who incorporate exam fees into the cost of the course. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don’t get to do their exams but no refunds are given. Believe it or not, there are companies around who actually bank on it - as that’s very profitable for them.

Additionally, many exam guarantees are worthless. The majority of companies won’t be prepared to pay again for an exam until you can prove to them you’re ready to pass.

VUE and Prometric examinations are around 112 pounds in Great Britain. Why pay exorbitant charges for ‘Exam Guarantees’ (most often hidden in the package) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and exam preparation systems and a dose of commitment and effort are what’s required.

Searching for your first position in IT can be a little easier if you’re offered a Job Placement Assistance service. It can happen though that too much is made of this feature, as it’s really not that difficult for well qualified and focused men and women to secure a job in the IT environment - because companies everywhere are seeking trained staff.

CV and Interview advice and support is sometimes offered (if not, see one of our sites for help). It’s essential that you bring your CV right up to date right away - not when you’re ready to start work!

Having the possibility of an interview is more than not being known. Many junior positions are given to students (who’ve only just left first base.)

The best services to get you a new position are generally specialist locally based employment services. As they’re keen to place you to receive their commission, they’ll work that much harder to get a result.

Many men and women, apparently, put a great deal of effort into their studies (for years sometimes), and then just stop instead of attempting to secure a job. Market yourself… Make an effort to put yourself out there. Don’t think a job’s just going to jump out in front of you.

Often, individuals don’t catch on to what information technology means. It is electrifying, revolutionary, and puts you at the fore-front of developments in technology that will impact the whole world for generations to come.

Computer technology and communication on the internet is going to spectacularly shape the direction of our lives in the future; to a vast degree.

Let’s not ignore salaries also - the income on average in Great Britain for a typical man or woman in IT is noticeably more than in the rest of the economy. It’s a good bet that you’ll earn a whole lot more than you could reasonably hope to get in other industries.

The need for appropriately qualified IT professionals is certain for a good while yet, thanks to the continuous expansion in IT dependency in commerce and the huge shortage still in existence.

How the program is actually delivered to you is usually ignored by most students. In what way are your training elements sectioned? What is the specific order and do you have a say in when you’ll get each part?

Most companies will sell you a program typically taking 1-3 years, and deliver each piece one-by-one as you complete each section or exam. Sounds reasonable? Well consider these facts:

It’s not unusual for trainees to realise that their training company’s standard order of study is not what they would prefer. They might find a different order of study is more expedient. And what happens if they don’t finish at the pace they expect?

For the perfect solution, you’d ask for every single material to be delivered immediately - giving you them all to come back to in the future - at any time you choose. This allows a variation in the order that you attack each section as and when something more intuitive seems right for you.

(C) Jason Kendall. Pop over to LearningLolly.com for the best ideas. MCDBA Training or SQL Server Training Course.

There are four specialised areas of training in the full CompTIA A+ syllabus, of which you need to pass two for competency in A+. But limiting yourself to 2 of the specialised areas might well not equip you for a job. Choose a course with all 4 subjects - for greater confidence in the world of work.

If you decide to become a student on the CompTIA A+, you’ll be taught how to build and repair PC’s and operate in antistatic conditions. Fault finding and diagnostic techniques through hands on and remote access are also covered.

In addition, you could look to think about doing Network+ as you’ll then be in a position to take care of computer networks, and have a more responsible working role.

Most training companies only give office hours or extended office hours support; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly.

You’ll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and phone support is often to a call-centre that will chat nicely with you for 5 minutes to ask what the issue is and then simply send an email to an instructor - who will call back over the next day or so (assuming you’re there), when it’s convenient to them. This isn’t a lot of good if you’re stuck with a particular problem and have a one hour time-slot in which to study.

Top training companies have many support offices from around the world. Online access provides the interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, at any time you choose, there is always help at hand, with no hassle or contact issues.

Always pick an educator that offers this level of study support. Only proper round-the-clock 24×7 support delivers what is required.

A typical blunder that students everywhere can make is to concentrate on the course itself, instead of focusing on where they want to get to. Universities are stacked to the hilt with direction-less students that chose an ‘interesting’ course - rather than what would get them their end-goal of a job they enjoyed.

Don’t let yourself become one of those unfortunate students who select a program that sounds really ‘interesting’ and ‘fun’ - and end up with a plaque on the wall for an unrewarding career path.

Stay focused on what it is you’re trying to achieve, and create a learning-plan from that - not the other way round. Keep your eyes on your goals - making sure you’re training for a career that’ll reward you for many long and fruitful years.

Sense dictates that you seek guidance and advice from an experienced industry advisor before embarking on a training path, so you can be sure that the chosen route will give you the skills for the job being sought.

Exam ‘guarantees’ are sometimes offered as part of a training package - they always involve paying for the exam fees up-front, before you’ve even made a start on the course. However, prior to embracing a course with such a promise, why not look at the following:

We all know that we’re still footing the bill for it - obviously it has been added into the gross price invoiced by the college. It’s definitely not free - and it’s insulting that we’re supposed to think it is!

People who take each progressive exam, funding them one at a time are much more likely to pass. They are thoughtful of the cost and so are more inclined to ensure they are ready.

Sit the exam at a local pro-metric testing centre and hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take it.

A great deal of money is netted by a significant number of organisations who get money for exam fees in advance. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don’t get to do their exams but the company keeps the money. Believe it or not, providers exist who actually bank on it - as that’s very profitable for them.

Re-takes of any failed exams through training course providers who offer an ‘Exam Guarantee’ are monitored with tight restrictions. You’ll be required to sit pre-tests until you’ve proven that you’re likely to pass.

On average, exams cost approximately 112 pounds in the last 12 months through UK VUE or Prometric centres. So don’t be talked into shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds more to have ‘an Exam Guarantee’, when it’s obvious that the most successful method is consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software.

Always expect the current Microsoft (or Cisco, CompTIA etc.) authorised exam preparation and simulation materials.

Because most IT examination boards tend to be American, you need to become familiar with their phraseology. It’s no use simply answering any old technical questions - they need to be in the proper exam format.

Always have some simulated exam questions in order to test your knowledge along the way. Practice exams prepare you properly - then you won’t be quite so nervous at the actual exam.

(C) Scott Edwards 2009. Look at Career Retraining Courses or www.JobQualification.co.uk.