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There are four A+ exams and sections to study, but you only have to get your exams in 2 of them to qualify for your A+. Because of this, many educational establishments restrict their course to just 2 areas. But allowing you to learn about all 4 options will equip you with a much wider knowledge and understanding of the subject, which you’ll come to realise is essential in the working environment.

Qualifying in CompTIA A+ on its own will set you up to fix and maintain stand-alone PC’s and MAC’s; ones that are most often not part of a network – essentially the domestic or small business sector.

If you aspire to being responsible for networks of computers, add the very comprehensive Network+ to your training package. Taking this course as well will prepare you to command a more senior job role. Other ones that might be interesting to you are the Microsoft networking qualifications (MCP, MCSA and MCSE).

Remember: the actual training program or a qualification isn’t what this is about; a job you’re training for is. Far too many training organisations place too much importance on the piece of paper.

Students often train for a single year but end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Don’t make the mistake of choosing what sounds like a program of interest to you only to waste your life away with a job you hate!

Stay tuned-in to what you want to achieve, and create a learning-plan from that – not the other way round. Keep on track and ensure that you’re training for an end-result that’ll reward you for many long and fruitful years.

Before you embark on a study programme, it’s good advice to talk through the specific market requirements with a skilled advisor, to ensure the training path covers all that is required.

We’re often asked why academic qualifications are being replaced by more commercially accredited qualifications?

Industry now recognises that to learn the appropriate commercial skills, proper accreditation from the likes of Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA is far more effective and specialised – saving time and money.

Vendor training works through concentrating on the skills that are really needed (together with an appropriate level of associated knowledge,) instead of going into the heightened depths of background ‘extras’ that computer Science Degrees often do (because the syllabus is so wide).

The bottom line is: Accredited IT qualifications give employers exactly what they’re looking for – the title is a complete giveaway: i.e. I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Windows XP Administration and Configuration’. So employers can identify exactly what they need and what certifications will be suitable to deal with those needs.

Finding your first job in the industry can be a little easier if you’re supported with a Job Placement Assistance program. With the great skills shortage in the UK at the moment, it’s not too important to get too caught up in this feature though. It really won’t be that difficult to land employment as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications.

Get your CV updated straight-away though (advice can be sought on this via your provider). Don’t wait until you’ve graduated or passed any exams.

Quite often, you will get your first role whilst you’re still studying (even in the early stages). If your CV doesn’t say what you’re learning (and it hasn’t been posted on jobsites) then you don’t stand a chance!

The top companies to help you land that job are normally specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. As they’re keen to place you to receive their commission, they have more incentive to get on with it.

In a nutshell, as long as you focus the same level of energy into securing your first IT position as into training, you won’t find it too challenging. A number of men and women bizarrely spend hundreds of hours on their course materials and then just stop once certified and appear to be under the impression that jobs will come to them.

When was the last time you considered how safe your job is? Typically, this issue only becomes a talking point when something goes wrong. Unfortunately, the painful truth is that our job security is a thing of the past, for the vast majority of people.

Now, we only experience security via a fast escalating market, pushed forward by a lack of trained workers. These circumstances create the appropriate environment for a higher level of market-security – a much more desirable situation.

Taking a look at the IT sector, a recent e-Skills investigation demonstrated a 26 percent shortfall of skilled workers. To explain it in a different way, this shows that the UK can only find 3 certified professionals for each 4 job positions that exist at the moment.

Appropriately trained and commercially grounded new employees are accordingly at a complete premium, and it seems it will continue to be so for a long time to come.

No better time or market conditions is ever likely to exist for getting trained into this quickly expanding and evolving business.

(C) Scott Edwards 2009. Pop to Training Managers or Access 2003 Training.

Without a continuous flood of knowledgeable network and PC support personnel, commercial enterprise throughout the country (along with most other places) could well be brought to its knees. We have a constantly increasing demand for people to support both the systems and the users themselves. As our society becomes growingly beholden to computers and networks, we simultaneously inevitably become increasingly more reliant upon the well trained IT professionals, who ensure the systems function properly.

One interesting way that colleges make more money is via an ‘exam inclusive’ package and offering an exam guarantee. It looks like a good deal, until you think it through:

Everyone knows they’re still being charged for it – it’s quite obvious to see that it’s already in the overall price charged by the training provider. It’s absolutely not free – don’t think these companies are so generous with their money!

For those who want to get a first time pass, then you should pay for each exam as you go, focus on it intently and be ready for the task.

Don’t you think it’s more sensible to find the best exam deal or offer when you’re ready, instead of paying a premium to a training course provider, and also to sit exams more locally – instead of miles away at the college’s beck and call?

Including money in your training package for examination fees (and if you’re financing your study there’ll be interest on that) is insane. Why fill a company’s coffers with your money simply to help their cash-flow! Some will be pinning their hopes on the fact that you won’t get round to taking them – but they won’t refund the cash.

It’s worth noting that exam re-takes with training companies with an ‘Exam Guarantee’ are always heavily controlled. They will insist that you take pre-tests first so you can prove to them you have a good chance of passing.

On average, exams cost 112 pounds or thereabouts in the last 12 months when taken at Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So don’t be talked into shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds more for ‘Exam Guarantees’, when common sense dictates that the responsible approach is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.

A competent and practiced consultant (in contrast with a salesperson) will cover in some detail your current experience level and abilities. This is paramount to understanding the starting point for your education.

Don’t forget, if you’ve had any relevant accreditation or direct-experience, then you may be able to commence studying further along than a trainee with no history to speak of.

It’s usual to start with some basic user skills first. Starting there can make the transition to higher-level learning a a little easier.

It’s clear nowadays: There really is very little evidence of individual job security now; there can only be industry or sector security – companies can just fire a solitary member of staff whenever it suits the company’s business needs.

When we come across rising skills shortfalls and escalating demand though, we can discover a fresh type of security in the marketplace; driven by the conditions of constant growth, organisations just can’t get the influx of staff needed.

The computer industry skills shortfall around the country falls in at approx 26 percent, as shown by the most recent e-Skills study. Essentially, we only have the national capacity to fill 3 out of each 4 job positions in the computer industry.

Appropriately qualified and commercially grounded new employees are thus at a total premium, and it’s estimated to remain so for many years longer.

As the Information Technology market is increasing at such a rate, could there honestly be a better market worth investigating as a retraining vehicle.

All programs you’re considering really needs to work up to a fully recognised major qualification at the finale – and not a worthless ‘in-house’ plaque for your wall.

All the major commercial players like Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco each have nationally approved skills programs. These big-hitters can make sure you stand out at interview.

Written by Scott Edwards. Try ChoosingCareer.co.uk/tChoCar.html or MCITP Certification.

The Cisco training is intended for individuals who want to learn about network switches and routers. Routers connect computer networks via dedicated lines or the internet. We’d recommend that initially you should go for your CCNA. Don’t be tempted to go straight for a CCNP as it’s a considerable step up – and you need to work up to it to have a go at this.

Because routers are linked to networks, it is vital to have prior knowledge of how networks function, or you will be out of your depth with the course and not be able to do the work. Look for a course that features the basics on networks (CompTIA is ideal) before you start the CCNA.

Get on a specially designed course that takes you on a progressive path to ensure you have the correct skill set and abilities before getting going with Cisco.

A fatal Faux-Pas that we encounter all too often is to concentrate on the course itself, and take their eye off the end result they want to achieve. Training academies are stacked to the hilt with direction-less students who chose a course based on what sounded good – in place of something that could gain them an enjoyable career or job.

You may train for one year and then end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Don’t make the error of opting for what may seem to be a program of interest to you only to waste your life away with a job you hate!

You’ll want to understand the expectations of your industry. What precise accreditations you’ll need and how to gain experience. It’s definitely worth spending time assessing how far you reckon you’re going to want to go as it will force you to choose a particular set of accreditations.

It’s good advice for all students to talk with highly experienced advisors before they embark on a learning course. This helps to ensure it features what is required for the chosen career.

Locating job security in this economic down-turn is very unusual. Businesses will drop us out of the workforce with very little notice – as and when it suits them.

Security can now only exist via a quickly increasing market, pushed forward by a shortage of trained workers. This shortage creates the correct background for market-security – a far better situation.

Recently, a national e-Skills study showed that more than 26 percent of all IT positions available remain unfilled because of an appallingly low number of trained staff. Meaning that for each four job positions available in Information Technology (IT), we’ve only got three properly trained pro’s to fulfil that role.

This disturbing truth shows the urgent need for more appropriately trained computing professionals in the UK.

It’s unlikely if a better time or market state of affairs could exist for gaining qualification for this swiftly emerging and blossoming business.

Many students come unstuck over a single courseware aspect usually not even thought about: How the training is broken down and couriered to your address.

Training companies will normally offer some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and deliver each piece one-by-one as you finish each section. If you think this sound logical, then consider this:

It’s not unusual for trainees to realise that the company’s ‘standard’ path of training isn’t as suitable as another. You may find that a different order of study is more expedient. Could it cause problems if you don’t get everything done at the pace they expect?

The very best situation would see you getting every piece of your study pack couriered to your home before you even start; every single thing! This way, nothing can happen down the line which could affect your ability to finish.

Have a conversation with almost any expert consultant and we’d be amazed if they couldn’t provide you with many awful tales of salespeople ripping-off unsuspecting students. Ensure you only ever work with a skilled professional who quizzes you to uncover the best thing for you – not for their pay-packet! You need to find the right starting point of study for you.

An important point to note is that, if you have some relevant work-experience or certification, then you can sometimes expect to pick-up at a different starting-point to a student who’s starting from scratch.

For those students embarking on IT studies anew, it can be useful to avoid jumping in at the deep-end, by working on a user-skills course first. This is often offered with most accreditation programs.

(C) S. Edwards 2009. Try Click HERE or HR Course.

Does an MCSE appeal to you? If the answer’s ‘yes’, there’s a good chance that you’ll fall into one of the following categories: You are a knowledgeable person and you’d like to gain accreditation with an MCSE. In contrast this might be your initial foray into the computer workplace, and your research tells you that there are many opportunities for people with the right qualifications.

As you try to find out more, you’ll come across training companies that short-change you by not upgrading their courses to the current Microsoft version. Avoid these companies as you’ll have problems with the present exams. If you are studying the wrong version, it is going to be hugely difficult to get qualified.

Avoid making a hasty decision when buying a course before having all your questions answered. Take time to discover a training provider who will ensure you are on an appropriate training track for you.

Student support is absolutely essential – find a program that provides 24×7 direct access, as not obtaining this level of support will severely impede your ability to learn.

Be wary of any training providers which use ‘out-of-hours’ call-centres – where you’ll get called back during the next ‘working’ day. This is no use if you’re stuck and need an answer now.

We recommend that you search for training schools that use several support centres around the globe in several time-zones. These should be integrated to provide a single interface and round-the-clock access, when it’s convenient for you, with no hassle.

If you fail to get yourself online 24×7 support, you’ll very quickly realise that you’ve made a mistake. It may be that you don’t use it late in the night, but what about weekends, late evenings or early mornings.

Traditional teaching in classrooms, utilising reference manuals and books, is usually pretty hard going. If this describes you, check out study materials that are on-screen and interactive.

Our ability to remember is increased with an involvement of all our senses – educational experts have expounded on this for many years.

The latest home-based training features easy-to-use DVD or CD ROM’s. By watching and listening to instructors on video tutorials you’ll absorb the modules, one by one, via the demonstrations and explanations. Then it’s time to test your knowledge by interacting with the software and practicing yourself.

You’ll definitely want a demonstration of the study materials from your training provider. You should ask for demo’s from instructors, slideshows and fully interactive skills-lab’s.

It doesn’t make sense to go for purely on-line 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.

Ask almost any knowledgeable advisor and we’d be amazed if they couldn’t provide you with many worrying experiences of salespeople ripping-off unsuspecting students. Ensure you only ever work with an experienced industry professional who asks some in-depth questions to find out what’s appropriate to you – not for their pay-packet! You need to find the right starting point of study for you.

Occasionally, the starting point of study for someone with experience will be massively dissimilar to the student with none.

If you’re a new trainee starting IT studies and exams from scratch, it can be useful to ease in gradually, beginning with some basic PC skills training first. This can be built into most accreditation programs.

A ridiculously large number of organisations only concern themselves with gaining a certificate, and avoid focusing on why you’re doing this – getting yourself a new job or career. Always start with the end goal – don’t make the journey more important than where you want to get to.

It’s a sad fact, but a great many students commence training that sounds spectacular from the sales literature, but which provides the end-result of a job that is of no interest. Talk to many college leavers to see what we mean.

Never let your focus stray from where you want to go, and formulate your training based on that – not the other way round. Stay focused on the end-goal – making sure you’re training for something you’ll enjoy for years to come.

It’s worth seeking guidance from someone who knows the commercial realities of the market you’re considering, and who can offer ‘A day in the life of’ type of explanation for that career-path. This really is very important as you’ll need to fully understand if you’re going down the right road.

Copyright 2009 Scott Edwards. Hop over to MCDST Courses or www.HowToChooseACareer.co.uk/vhtcac.html.

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There are four A+ exams and specialised sectors, but your only requirement is to get your exams in 2 of them to qualify for your A+. Because of this, the majority of training providers simply offer two. But giving you all four options will help you to build a far greater perspective of it all, which you’ll find a Godsend in industry.

Courses in A+ computer training cover diagnostics and fault finding – both remote access and hands-on, alongside building computers and repairing them and operating in antistatic conditions.

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.

Students often end up having issues because of a single courseware aspect which doesn’t even occur to them: How the training is broken down and physically delivered to you.

You may think it logical (with training often lasting 2 or 3 years to gain full certified status,) that a training provider will issue the training stage by stage, as you complete each part. However:

What would their reaction be if you find it difficult to do each and every module within the time limits imposed? Sometimes their preference of study order won’t fit you as well as another different route may.

In an ideal situation, you’d get ALL the training materials right at the beginning – giving you them all to return to any point – as and when you want. This also allows you to vary the order in which you move through the program if another more intuitive route presents itself.

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.

Look for training where you can access help at any time of day or night (even if it’s early hours on Sunday morning!) Make sure it’s always direct access to tutors, and not access to a call-in service which takes messages – so you’re consistently being held in a queue for a call-back during office hours.

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.

Don’t accept second best where support is concerned. The majority of would-be IT professionals who give up, are in that situation because they didn’t get the support necessary for them.

Have you recently questioned the security of your job? For most people, this only rears its head when we experience a knock-back. However, the painful truth is that job security is a thing of the past, for nearly everyone now.

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 a look at the IT market, the 2006 e-Skills survey brought to light a more than 26 percent skills deficit. Or, to put it differently, this means that the UK can only locate three qualified staff for each four job positions existing at the moment.

Attaining in-depth commercial IT certification is accordingly a quick route to realise a continuing as well as enjoyable livelihood.

In reality, gaining new qualifications in IT over the coming years is most likely the best career direction you could choose.

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.

Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Ensure you avoid the fatal error of choosing what sounds like a program of interest to you only to waste your life away with a job you don’t like!

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.

We’d recommend you seek guidance and advice from a skilled advisor before embarking on some particular training path, so there’s little doubt that the specific package will give the skills necessary.

Written by Scott Edwards. Go to MCDST Certification or Click HERE.

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