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Congratulations! By landing here it’s likely you’re thinking about learning new skills to change career - that puts you way ahead of the crowd. Only one in ten of us are content with our jobs, but no action is ever taken. So, why not be one of the few who make a difference in their lives.

Prior to considering specific training programs, look for an advisor who will give you advice on which area will be right for you. An advisor who will take time to ask questions about your likes and dislikes, and find out the best career for you to work towards:

* Do you enjoy a busy working environment? Perhaps you like being a team player? Or you may prefer task-orientated work that only you know how to deal with?

* Building and Banking are not coping well at the moment, so which sector would give you the most options?

* When you’ve done all your re-training, are you hoping your new skills will give you the ability to serve you till you retire?

* Do you think being qualified will give you the opportunity to discover new employment possibilities, and stay employable until you wish to retire?

Prioritise the IT sector, that will be time well spent - it’s one of the few growing market sectors in the UK and Europe. Salaries are also more generous than most.

Some trainers will only provide basic 9am till 6pm support (maybe a little earlier or later on certain days); not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly. Always avoid training that only supports you with a call-centre messaging service outside of normal office hours. Companies will give you every excuse in the book why you don’t need this. The bottom line is - you need support when you need support - not when it suits them.

Keep your eyes open for providers that have multiple support offices around the globe in several time-zones. Each one should be integrated to offer a simple interface as well as round-the-clock access, when you need it, with no hassle. Don’t under any circumstances take anything less. Online 24×7 support is really your only option when it comes to computer-based courses. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; often though, we’re out at work while the support is live.

Lately, do you find yourself questioning how safe your job is? For most people, this only rears its head when we get some bad news. But really, the lesson often learned too late is that true job security doesn’t really exist anymore, for nearly everyone now. Now, we only experience security through a swiftly rising marketplace, driven forward by a shortfall of trained staff. It’s this alone that creates the correct setting for a secure market - a much more desirable situation.

Taking the computer market for instance, the last e-Skills study demonstrated massive skills shortages throughout the country of around 26 percent. That means for each 4 job positions that exist around computing, there are only 3 trained people to do them. This one reality alone is the backbone of why the United Kingdom is in need of a lot more trainees to become part of the IT industry. Undoubtedly, now really is such a perfect time to join the computing industry.

Authorised exam preparation packages are crucial - and absolutely ought to be supplied by your course provider. Due to the fact that many IT examining boards are from the USA, it’s essential to understand how exam questions will be phrased and formatted. It’s no use merely answering any old technical questions - they need to be in the proper exam format. ‘Mock’ or practice exams will prove invaluable as a resource to you - then when the time comes for you to take the proper exam, you don’t get phased.

If you’re like many of the students we talk to then you probably enjoy fairly practical work - the ‘hands-on’ type. Usually, the painful task of reading endless manuals can be just about bared when essential, but you’d hate it. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if learning from books is not your thing. Our ability to remember is increased when all our senses are brought into the mix - experts have been clear on this for many years.

Courses are now available via DVD-ROM discs, where everything is taught on your PC. Through video streaming, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how to perform the required skill, with some practice time to follow - via the interactive virtual lab’s. It would be silly not to view some of the typical study materials provided before you make your decision. You should expect videoed instructor demonstrations and interactive modules with audio-visual elements.

It’s usually bad advice to opt for on-line only training. Because of the variable quality and reliability of the ISP (internet service provider) market, ensure that you have access to CD or DVD ROM based materials.

An area that’s often missed by new students thinking about a course is the concept of ‘training segmentation’. Essentially, this is the method used to break up the program for timed release to you, which completely controls what you end up with. Individual deliveries for each training module one stage at a time, as you pass each exam is the usual method of releasing your program. This sounds sensible, but you might like to consider this: What happens when you don’t complete every section? And what if the order provided doesn’t meet your requirements? Through no fault of your own, you might take a little longer and not get all the study materials as a result.

To provide the maximum security and flexibility, most students now choose to request that all their modules (now paid for) are sent immediately, and not in a piecemeal fashion. You can then decide at what speed and in which order you’d like to work.

If you want Cisco training, the chances are you’re looking for a CCNA. The Cisco training is the way to go for those who wish to get to grips with routers and switches. Routers are what connect networks of computers to other sets of computer networks over dedicated lines or the internet.

The sort of jobs available with this knowledge mean you’ll most probably work for national or international companies that have various different locations but still need contact. The other possibility is joining an internet service provider. Jobs requiring these skills are plentiful and well remunerated.

The CCNA qualification is all you need at this stage - you’re not ready for your CCNP straight away. Once you’ve got a few years experience behind you, you’ll know if this next level is for you. If you decide to become more qualified, you’ll have significantly improved your chances of success - as your experience will help you greatly.

Usually, your everyday IT hopeful really has no clue how they should get into Information Technology, or even which sector is worth considering for retraining. Because with no solid background in the IT industry, in what way could we know what any job actually involves? Getting to an informed decision can only grow through a detailed analysis of many shifting criteria:

* What nature of person you think yourself to be - what tasks do you get enjoyment from, and don’t forget - what don’t you like doing.

* What length of time can you allocate for the training process?

* Where do you stand on salary vs job satisfaction?

* Considering the huge variation that the IT industry encompasses, it’s obvious you’ll need to be able to understand how they differ.

* You’ll also need to think hard about what kind of effort and commitment you’ll put into the accreditation program.

For the majority of us, getting to the bottom of all these ideas will require meeting with an experienced pro who can investigate each area with you. And not just the certifications - but the commercial requirements and expectations besides.

Don’t listen to any salesperson that just tells you what course you should do without an in-depth conversation to gain understanding of your current abilities and also your experience level. They should be able to select from a wide-enough stable of training programs from which they could give you a program that suits you.. In some circumstances, the training inception point for a person experienced in some areas is substantially different to someone just starting out. If this is your initial stab at studying to take an IT exam then it may be wise to start out with some basic PC skills training first.

One of the most important things to insist on has to be full 24×7 support through trained professional instructors and mentors. It’s an all too common story to find providers that will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend. You’ll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and phone support is usually just a call-centre who will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team - who will then call back sometime over the next 24hrs, when it suits them. This is no good if you’re lost and confused and have a one hour time-slot in which to study.

Be on the lookout for training programs that use several support centres across multiple time-zones. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to enable simple one-stop access as well as round-the-clock access, when it’s convenient for you, without any problems. Don’t ever make the mistake of taking second best when it comes to your support. The vast majority of would-be IT professionals who throw in the towel, are in that situation because they didn’t get the support necessary for them.

Huge changes are about to hit technology as we approach the second decade of the 21st century - and this means greater innovations all the time. Technology, computers and interaction through the web will dramatically shape the way we live our lives in the future; to a vast degree.

And don’t forget salaries also - the usual income in Great Britain for the usual IT worker is a lot higher than average salaries nationally. Chances are that you’ll earn a whole lot more than you could reasonably hope to get in other industries. With the IT marketplace growing at an unprecedented rate, it’s likely that the search for certified IT specialists will continue to boom for decades to come.

Every program under consideration should always lead to a fully recognised major accreditation at the end - not a useless ‘in-house’ plaque for your wall. The top IT companies such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or Adobe all have internationally recognised skills programmes. Major-league companies like these will make your CV stand-out.

What are the sort of things you’d expect the top of the range training organisations accredited by Microsoft to give a student in the United Kingdom at present? Obviously, the finest Microsoft authorised training routes, supplying a selection of courses to take you to a variety of careers in the IT workplace. Additionally you might like to get advice on the sort of careers to be had when you’ve finished studying, and the type of individual that work may be appropriate for. Most students like to discuss what they might be good at. Confirm that your training course is tailored to your skills and abilities. A reputable training company will always guarantee that your training program is appropriate for the status you wish to achieve.

The perhaps intimidating chore of finding your first IT job is often eased by some training providers because they offer a Job Placement Assistance service. Because of the massive skills shortage in this country at the moment, there isn’t a great need to get too caught up in this feature though. It’s actually not as hard as some people make out to land employment once you’re trained and certified.

However, what is relevant is to have help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews though; also we would encourage any student to get their CV updated the day they start training - don’t delay till you’ve finished your exams. Getting your CV considered is better than being rejected. Often junior positions are given to people (who’ve only just left first base.) You can usually expect better performance from a specialist locally based employment agency than you’ll get from a training company’s national service, because they will understand the local industry and employment needs.

A regular aggravation for many training providers is how hard men and women are prepared to study to get top marks in their exams, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the role they’ve trained for. Don’t falter at the last fence.

Any program that you’re going to undertake should always lead to a properly recognised accreditation at the end - and not some unimportant ‘in-house’ printed certificate to hang in your hallway. All the major IT organisations like Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA or Adobe have internationally approved proficiency programs. These heavyweights will make your CV stand-out.

Don’t forget: a training program or a certification is not what you’re looking for; the career that you want to end up in is. A lot of colleges seem to put too much weight in the qualification itself. You may train for one year and then end up doing the job for 20 years. Don’t make the error of finding what seems like a program of interest to you and then put 10-20 years into a job you don’t like!

Stay focused on what it is you’re trying to achieve, and build your study action-plan from that - don’t do it the other way round. Stay on target and begin studying for a job you’ll still be enjoying many years from now. Your likely to need help from someone that knows the commercial realities of the sector you’re considering, and who can offer ‘A day in the life of’ synopsis for that career-path. These things are incredibly important as you’ll need to fully understand if this change is right for you.

It’s essential to have accredited simulation materials and an exam preparation system as part of your course package. Due to the fact that many IT examination boards tend to be American, you’ll need to be used to the correct phraseology. It’s no use merely answering any old technical questions - it’s essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format. Ensure that you ask for exam preparation tools so you’ll be able to verify your comprehension along the way. Simulated or practice exams add to your knowledge bank - so you won’t be quite so nervous at the actual exam.

At the top of your shopping list for a training program should be comprehensive 24×7 direct-access support with dedicated instructors and mentors. It’s an all too common story to find providers that only provide office hours (or extended office hours) support. Look for training with proper support available at all hours of the day and night (even if it’s early hours on Sunday morning!) You want access directly to professional tutors, and not a message system as this will slow you down - parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back when it’s convenient for them.

The best training colleges opt for an online round-the-clock facility combining multiple support operations over many time-zones. You’re offered an environment that switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres any time of the day or night: Support when you need it. Never make do with anything less. Direct-access 24×7 support is the only kind to make the grade with computer-based study. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; often though, we’re at work at the time when most support is available.

When thinking of a computer training program it’s crucial that the certification you’ll be working towards is one that is current with the working world. Additionally, you should make sure that your training suits you, your abilities and your personality. There’s a big selection with these courses - starting with user skills and going up to training for programmers, web designers, networkers etc. Get help before you take the plunge - talk to an advisor with knowledge of the industry. Someone who can help you choose the right direction for you - that’s both relevant to industry and something you’ll enjoy.

By using modern training methods and getting rid of wasteful procedures, there’s a new style of training provider supplying a better brand of teaching and assistance for considerably less than the more out-dated colleges.

Most training providers will only offer office hours or extended office hours support; It’s rare to find someone who offers late evening or full weekend cover. Don’t accept certification programs which can only support you with an out-sourced call-centre message system outside of normal office hours. Training companies will always try to hide the importance of this issue. Essentially - you want to be supported when you need the help - not at their convenience.

We recommend looking for colleges that use several support centres active in different time-zones. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to offer a simple interface as well as round-the-clock access, when you need it, with the minimum of hassle. Never ever take second best where support is concerned. The majority of IT hopefuls who fall by the wayside, would have had a different experience if they’d got the right support package in the first place.

One feature provided by many trainers is a Job Placement Assistance program. This is designed to assist your search for your first position. Don’t get caught up in this feature - it isn’t unusual for companies marketing departments to make it sound harder than it is. Ultimately, the massive skills shortage in Britain is what will make you attractive to employers.

Whatever you do, don’t leave it until you have finished your training before updating your CV. As soon as your training commences, mark down what you’re doing and tell people about it! Quite often, you will get your first role while you’re still a student (even when you’ve just left first base). If your CV doesn’t say what you’re learning (and it isn’t in the hands of someone with jobs to offer) then you don’t stand a chance! If you’d like to get employment in your home town, then you’ll often find that an independent and specialised local employment service might be of more use than some national concern, because they’re going to be familiar with local employment needs.

Just be sure that you don’t invest a great deal of time on your training course, then call a halt and expect somebody else to sort out your employment. Stand up for yourself and get on with the job. Channel as much focus into landing the right position as you did to get trained.

An area that’s often missed by new students weighing up a particular programme is ‘training segmentation’. Basically, this means the way the course is divided up for timed release to you, which vastly changes the point you end up at. Normally, you’ll join a programme that takes between and 1 and 3 years and get posted one section at a time - from one exam to the next. While this may sound logical on one level, consider this: What if there are reasons why you can’t finish all the sections or exams? And what if the order provided doesn’t meet your requirements? Due to no fault of yours, you might take a little longer and consequently not get all your materials.

Ideally, you want ALL the study materials up-front - giving you them all to come back to in the future - at any time you choose. This also allows you to vary the order in which you complete your exams where a more intuitive path can be found.

Including examination fees with the course fee then giving it ‘Exam Guarantee’ status is a common method with many companies. However, let’s consider what’s really going on:

Clearly it isn’t free - you’re still paying for it - it’s just been included in your package price. Students who take exams one at a time, funding them as they go are far more likely to pass first time. They are conscious of their spending and take the necessary steps to make sure they’re ready.

Go for the best offer you can find when you take the exam, and keep hold of your own money. In addition, it’s then your choice where to do your exams - meaning you can choose a local testing centre. Huge profits are made by many companies who incorporate exam fees into the cost of the course. Many students don’t take them for one reason or another but the company keeps the money. Surprising as it sounds, providers exist who rely on that fact - as that’s where a lot of their profit comes from. Also, exam guarantees often have very little value. The majority of companies won’t be prepared to pay for re-takes until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won’t fail again.

Prometric and VUE exams are around 112 pounds in Great Britain. Why pay exorbitant charges for ‘Exam Guarantees’ (often hidden in the cost) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools are actually the key to your success.

A question; why ought we to be looking at commercial qualifications as opposed to more traditional academic qualifications obtained from schools and Further Education colleges? With a growing demand for specific technological expertise, the IT sector has had to move to specific, honed-in training only available through the vendors themselves - for example companies such as Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA. This often comes in at a fraction of the cost and time. This is done through focusing on the skill-sets required (along with a relevant amount of background knowledge,) as opposed to covering masses of the background ‘padding’ that degrees in computing often do - to pad out the syllabus.

The bottom line is: Recognised IT certifications provide exactly what an employer needs - everything they need to know is in the title: for example, I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Infrastructure’. Consequently an employer can look at their needs and what certifications are required to perform the job.

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.