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CompTIA A+ computer training comprises of 4 specialised sectors - you’ll have to qualify in 2 different areas to be A+ competent. Because of this, many training establishments only offer two of the four in the syllabus. To us, this isn’t enough - yes you’ll have qualified, but knowing about the others will give you a distinct advantage in industry, where you’ll need a more comprehensive understanding. This is why you should train in all 4 specialities.

Passing the A+ exam by itself will allow you to repair and fix computers and Macs; ones that are generally not connected to a network - which means the home or small business market. If your ambition is taking care of computer networks, add the very comprehensive CompTIA Network+ to your training package. This qualification will mean you can get a higher paid position. You may also want to consider the Microsoft networking qualifications (MCP, MCSA and MCSE).

Quite often, students have issues with one area of their training which is often not even considered: The method used to ’segment’ the courseware before being physically delivered to you. Usually, you’ll join a programme requiring 1-3 years study and get sent one module each time you pass an exam. It seems to make sense on one level, but consider these issues: Many students find that their providers usual training route isn’t as suitable as another. Sometimes, varying the order of study will be far more suitable. Could it cause problems if you don’t get everything done in the allotted time?

To be honest, the best option is to have a copy of their prescribed order of study, but make sure you have all of your learning modules right from the beginning. Everything is then in your possession should you not complete it at their required pace.

Any program that you’re going to undertake must provide a nationally (or globally) recognised accreditation as an end-goal - and not some unimportant ‘in-house’ printed certificate to hang in your hallway. All the major commercial players like Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco all have nationally renowned skills courses. Huge conglomerates such as these will make sure you’re employable.

You’ll come across courses which guarantee examination passes - inevitably that means paying for the exams before you’ve even made a start on the course. Before you jump at guaranteed exams, be aware of the facts:

Thankfully, today we tend to be a little more ‘marketing-savvy’ - and most of us realise that of course we’re actually paying for it - they’re not just being charitable and doling out freebies! Students who take each progressive exam, paying for them just before taking them are much better placed to get through first time. They’re conscious of their spending and revise more thoroughly to be ready for the task.

Go for the best offer you can find at the time, and keep hold of your own money. In addition, it’s then your choice where to sit the exam - so you can find somewhere local. Buying a course that includes payments for examinations (and interest charges if you’re borrowing money) is madness. It’s not your job to boost the training company’s account with additional funds only to please their Bank Manager! Many will hope you won’t get round to taking them - but they won’t refund the cash. The majority of organisations will insist that you take mock exams first and prohibit you from re-taking an exam until you’ve completely proven that you’re likely to pass - which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.

On average, exams cost around the 112 pounds mark twelve months or so ago through Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So don’t be talked into shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds more to have ‘an Exam Guarantee’, when any student knows that the best guarantee is a regular, committed, study programme, with an accredited exam preparation system.

We can guess that you’re a practical sort of person - a ‘hands-on’ personality type. Usually, the painful task of reading endless manuals is something you’ll make yourself do if you have to, but it’s not ideal. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if books just don’t do it for you. Memory is vastly improved when we use multiple senses - educational experts have expounded on this for decades now.

The latest home-based training features interactive discs. Instructor-led tutorials will mean you’ll take everything in through the expert demonstrations. Knowledge can then be tested by practicing and interacting with the software. Every company that you look at should willingly take you through some simple examples of the type of training materials they provide. You’re looking for evidence of tutorial videos and demonstrations and a variety of interactive modules.

It’s unwise to opt for on-line only training. Because of the variable quality and reliability of all internet service providers, it makes sense to have actual CD or DVD ROM’s.

Looking at the myriad of choice out there, is it any wonder that most potential career changers don’t really understand the best career path they will enjoy. As without any commercial skills in IT, how should we possibly understand what a particular job actually consists of? Ultimately, an informed answer will only come via a thorough analysis of many varying factors:

* Personality factors as well as your interests - which work-oriented areas you enjoy or dislike.

* What length of time can you allocate for your training?

* Where do you stand on salary vs job satisfaction?

* Considering the huge variation that computing encapsulates, you’ll need to be able to absorb what’s different.

* What effort, commitment and time you’ll put into the training program.

Ultimately, your only chance of understanding everything necessary is through a long chat with an advisor or professional who has enough background to provide solid advice.

You should feel pleased that you’ve made it this far! A small number of workers claim contentment with their job, but most of us complain to each other and take no action. By looking for this it’s probable that you’re finding out about training, so you’ve already stood out from the crowd. Now you just need to research and follow-through.

On the subject of training, it’s important that you have in mind your expectations from the position you’d like to train for. Be sure that you would be more satisfied before you put a lot of energy into changing the direction of your life. So much better to look at the destination you’re hoping for, to avoid disappointment:

* Would you like lots of contact with people? If so, do you want a team or do you want to meet lots of new people? Or are you better working in isolation?

* What criteria are important to you with regard to the industry you’ll be employed in?

* How long a career do you hope to have once retrained, and will the industry give you the confidence that will happen?

* Will this new qualification allow you to find new work easily, and stay employable until you wish to retire?

It’s important that you consider IT - it’s no secret that it’s developing all the time. IT isn’t all techie geeks gazing at their PC’s the whole time - of course those jobs exist, but the majority of roles are carried out by ordinary people who earn considerably more than most.

Consider only study courses that lead to commercially accepted exams. There are loads of trainers pushing unknown ‘in-house’ certificates which aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on in the real world. Only properly recognised examinations from the major players like Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco and Adobe will have any meaning to employers.

We can guess that you’ve always enjoyed practical work - the ‘hands-on’ person. If you’re like us, the unfortunate chore of reading reference guides can be just about bared when essential, but you’d hate it. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if you’d really rather not use books. Many studies have proved that we remember much more when we involve as many senses as possible, and we get practically involved in what we’re studying.

Learning is now available on CD and DVD discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Video streaming means you are able to see your instructors showing you how it’s all done, with some practice time to follow - with interactive lab sessions. It’s very important to see some example materials from each company you’re contemplating. It’s essential they incorporate video demo’s and interactive elements such as practice lab’s.

Purely on-line training should be avoided. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where offered, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want - it’s not wise to be held hostage to a good broadband connection all the time.

A useful feature offered by some training providers is a Job Placement Assistance program. It’s intention is to steer you into your first IT role. Don’t get caught up in this feature - it isn’t unusual for their marketing department to overstate it’s need. At the end of the day, the still growing need for IT personnel in Britain is what will enable you to get a job.

Help with your CV and interview techniques is sometimes offered (if not, see one of our sites for help). Be sure to you work on your old CV immediately - don’t wait until you’ve finished your exams! Quite frequently, you’ll land your initial role whilst you’re still studying (sometimes when you’ve only just got going). If your course details aren’t on your CV (and it’s not being looked at by employers) then you aren’t even in the running! The most efficient companies to help you land that job are normally specialist locally based employment services. Because they only get paid when they place you, they have more incentive to get on with it.

Certainly make sure you don’t spend hundreds of hours on your training and studies, just to give up and leave it up to everyone else to sort out your employment. Stand up for yourself and start looking for yourself. Channel as much energy and enthusiasm into securing a good job as you did to gain the skills.

At times people don’t comprehend what IT means. It’s stimulating, innovative, and means you’re doing your bit in the gigantic wave of technology affecting everyones lives in the 21st century. We are really only just starting to understand how this will truly impact our way of life. The way we communicate and interact with everyone around us will be inordinately affected by technology and the web.

Should lifestyle be high on your list of priorities, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that the regular income for the majority of IT staff is much higher than with other market sectors. Apparently there is no end in sight for IT industry development throughout this country. The sector is still growing enormously, and as we have a significant shortage of skilled professionals, it’s highly unlikely that it will even slow down for years to come.

A lot of training companies will only offer support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; most won’t answer after 8-9pm at the latest and frequently never at the weekends. Avoid, like the plague, any organisations who use call-centres ‘out-of-hours’ - with the call-back coming in during office hours. It’s not a lot of help when you’ve got study issues and need an answer now.

Top training companies have many support offices across multiple time-zones. An online system provides an interactive interface to join them all seamlessly, at any time you choose, help is at hand, without any problems or delays. You can’t afford to accept anything less. Direct-access 24×7 support is really your only option when it comes to computer-based courses. Perhaps you don’t intend to study during the evenings; but for the majority of us however, we’re at work when traditional support if offered.