Should you want a future in network support then the Microsoft MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) course is the ideal one for you. Whether you want to get into IT or are experienced already but need to formalise your skills, a range of courses exist to fit either requirement. Each option requires a specific course, so pay attention that you’re on the right training programme when making a start. Identify a training provider that’s happy to take the time to get to know you, and what you’d like to do, and can give you enough information to make your choice.
Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always proper direct-access 24×7 support from dedicated instructors and mentors. Far too often we see trainers who only provide office hours (or extended office hours) support. Beware of institutions which use ‘out-of-hours’ call-centres – with your call-back scheduled for standard office hours. It’s not a lot of help when you’ve got study issues and need an answer now.
It’s possible to find professional companies which recommend and use direct-access support at all times – at any time of day or night. If you opt for less than 24×7 support, you’ll very quickly realise that you’ve made a mistake. You might not want to use the service during late nights, but what about weekends, late evenings or early mornings.
Have you recently questioned how safe your job is? Normally, this only rears its head when something goes wrong. However, the reality is that our job security simply doesn’t exist anymore, for most of us. However, a marketplace with high growth, where staff are in constant demand (through a growing shortfall of trained people), provides a market for real job security.
The 2006 United Kingdom e-Skills analysis brought to light that over 26 percent of IT jobs are unfilled because of a chronic shortage of appropriately certified professionals. So, for every 4 jobs in existence across computing, organisations can only locate enough qualified individuals for 3 of them. Achieving full commercial IT qualification is as a result a ‘Fast Track’ to a life-long as well as worthwhile living. Without a doubt, now really is a fabulous time to join Information Technology (IT).
A knowledgeable and practiced advisor (vs a salesperson) will ask questions and seek to comprehend your abilities and experience. This is useful for working out the starting point for your education. With some commercial experience or some accreditation, you could discover that your appropriate starting-point is not the same as someone new to the industry. Commencing with a basic PC skills module first may be the ideal way to start into your computer program, depending on your current skill level.
Many trainers provide a shelf full of reference manuals. This can be very boring and not really conducive to achieving retention. Research into the way we learn shows that we remember much more when we involve as many senses as possible, and we get physically involved with the study process.
The latest home-based training features easy-to-use DVD or CD ROM’s. Through instructor-led video classes you’ll find things easier to remember by way of the demonstrations and explanations. Then it’s time to test your knowledge by utilising the practice lab’s and modules. Every company that you look at must be able to demonstrate a few examples of their training materials. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and a wide selection of interactive elements.
Often, companies will only use training that is purely available online; sometimes you can get away with this – but, consider how you’ll deal with it if your access to the internet is broken or you get intermittent problems and speed issues. A safer solution is the provision of physical CD or DVD discs that removes the issue entirely.
Students often end up having issues because of one aspect of their training usually not even thought about: The breakdown of the course materials before being packaged off through the post. Training companies will normally offer a 2 or 3 year study programme, and courier the materials in pieces as you pass each exam. On the surface this seems reasonable – until you consider the following: How would they react if you didn’t complete each element within the time limits imposed? And maybe you’ll find their order of completion won’t fit you as well as an alternative path could be.
Ideally, you’d get ALL the training materials right at the beginning – meaning you’ll have all of them to come back to in the future – at any time you choose. This allows a variation in the order that you complete each objective where a more intuitive path can be found.