Computer training for CompTIA A+ covers 4 different sectors - you need to pass exams in just two sectors to be considered competent in A+. Because of this, the majority of colleges only offer two of the 4 sectors. Our opinion is this isn’t enough - certainly you’ll have the qualification, but training on all 4 will give you a distinct advantage in your working life, where you’ll need to know about all of them. That’s why we believe you should train in all 4 specialities.
In addition to learning how to build PC’s and fix them, students of A+ will have instruction on how to operate in antistatic conditions, along with remote access, fault finding and diagnostics.
You may also want to think about supplementing the A+ with Network + as it will enable you to take care of computer networks, which is where the bigger salaries are.
The way a programme is physically sent to you can often be overlooked. How many parts is the training broken down into? What is the order and do you have a say in when you’ll get each part?
By and large, you will purchase a course taking 1-3 years and receive one element at a time until graduation. While this may sound logical on one level, consider this:
Students often discover that the company’s usual training route doesn’t suit. They might find varying the order of study will be far more suitable. Could it cause problems if you don’t get everything done at the pace they expect?
To avoid any potential future issues, it’s normal for most trainees to request that all their modules (now paid for) are sent immediately, and not in a piecemeal fashion. It’s then up to you in which order and at what speed you’d like to work.
A lot of training providers only give support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; 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 telephone support is usually to a call-centre who will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team - who’ll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, when it’s convenient to them. This is all next to useless if you’re stuck and can’t continue and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.
We recommend that you search for training programs that have multiple support offices active in different time-zones. All of them should be combined to enable simple one-stop access together with access round-the-clock, when you need it, with the minimum of hassle.
Never make do with less than this. Support round-the-clock is the only way to go when it comes to technical study. Maybe late-evening study is not your thing; usually though, we’re working while the support is live.
Finding job security in this economic down-turn is problematic. Companies often remove us out of the workforce at a moment’s notice - whenever it suits.
It’s possible though to find security at the market sector level, by searching for areas in high demand, tied with a shortage of skilled staff.
Taking the Information Technology (IT) industry as an example, a key e-Skills study brought to light major skills shortages around Great Britain in excess of 26 percent. Meaning that for every four jobs that are available throughout IT, we’ve only got three properly trained pro’s to fill that need.
This alarming notion highlights an urgent requirement for more properly trained computing professionals across the country.
It would be hard to imagine if a better time or market circumstances could exist for getting trained into this swiftly increasing and evolving market.
Make sure you don’t get caught-up, as many people do, on the training course itself. Your training isn’t about getting a plaque on your wall; you’re training to become commercially employable. Focus on the end-goal.
Don’t let yourself become part of the group who set off on a track which looks like it could be fun - and get to the final hurdle of an accreditation for a career they’ll never really get any satisfaction from.
Stay focused on where you want to get to, and build your study action-plan from that - don’t do it back-to-front. Stay on target and study for a career that’ll reward you for many long and fruitful years.
Before you embark on a training course, trainees are advised to chat over the specific job requirements with a skilled advisor, to ensure the retraining path covers all the necessary elements.
Copyright 2009 S. Edwards. Try HR Training Courses or Click HERE.
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