Should you be considering getting into a web design team, an Adobe Dreamweaver course is essential for attaining in-demand qualifications that are globally recognised.
The whole Adobe Web Creative Suite ought also to be studied in detail. This will introduce you to Action Script and Flash, (and more), and could lead on to the ACP (Adobe Certified Professional) or an ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) certification.
Knowing how to design the website is only the beginning. Driving traffic, maintaining content and knowledge of some programming essentials should come next. Consider courses that also contain modules to include these skills perhaps HTML, PHP and MySQL, in addition to SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and E-Commerce skills.
We can’t make a big enough deal out of this point: You absolutely must have proper 24×7 instructor and mentor support. Later, you’ll kick yourself if you don’t.
Don’t buy training that only supports trainees via a call-centre messaging system after 6-9pm in the evening and during weekends. Training schools will try to talk you round from this line of reasoning. The bottom line is - you need support when you need support - not when it suits them.
Top training providers offer an online access round-the-clock facility involving many support centres across the globe. You will be provided with a simple interface that switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres irrespective of the time of day: Support available as-and-when you want it.
Never settle for anything less. Direct-access 24×7 support is the only way to go with computer-based study. It’s possible you don’t intend to study late evenings; but for most of us, we’re at work while the support is live.
Be alert that all accreditations you’re considering doing will be commercially viable and are the most recent versions. ‘In-house’ certificates are generally useless.
Unless the accreditation comes from a big-hitter like Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA or Adobe, then chances are it won’t be commercially viable - as no-one will have heard of it.
A sneaky way that course providers make a lot more is through up-front charges for exams and then including an ‘Exam Guarantee’. It looks like a good deal, till you look at the facts:
You’re paying for it ultimately. It certainly isn’t free - they’ve just worked it into the package price.
It’s well known in the industry that when students fund each progressive exam, one after the other, they’ll be in a better position to pass every time - since they’re aware of their payment and their application will be greater.
Hold on to your money and pay for the exam at the time, and save having to find the money early. You also get more choice of where you do the examinations - so you can choose somewhere closer to home.
Is there a good reason to pay interest on a bigger loan than is necessary because you’ve paid early for exams when there was no need to? Big margins are netted by organisations charging upfront for all their exams - and then cashing in when they’re not all taken.
It’s also worth noting that many exam guarantees are worthless. Many training companies won’t be prepared to pay again for an exam until you’re able to demonstrate an excellent mock pass rate.
Paying maybe a thousand pounds extra on ‘Exam Guarantees’ is foolish - when study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really see you through.
A service that many training companies provide is job placement assistance. It’s intention is to assist your search for your first position. Because of the huge demand for appropriately skilled people in Britain at the moment, there isn’t a great need to place too much emphasis on this feature however. It isn’t such a complex operation to secure your first job once you’re trained and certified.
Work on polishing up your CV right away however (advice can be sought on this via your provider). Don’t delay till you’ve finished your exams.
Having the possibility of an interview is better than being rejected. A decent number of junior support jobs are bagged by people who are still at an early stage in their studies.
Normally you’ll get quicker service from a specialist independent regional employment service than any course provider’s centralised service, because they’ll know the local area and commercial needs better.
Just be sure that you don’t conscientiously work through your course materials, and then just stop and leave it in the hands of the gods to sort out your employment. Stand up for yourself and make your own enquiries. Invest as much focus into landing a good job as you did to get trained.
Copyright Scott Edwards. Navigate to Design A Website or FindingANewCareer.co.uk/mfaneca.html.
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