Network and computer support staff are ever more sought after in the UK, as companies are becoming more reliant on their technical advice and ability to fix and repair. Due to the progressively complex nature of technology, greater numbers of IT professionals are being sought to run the smooth operation of functions we’ve become dependent on.
An area that’s often missed by those thinking about a course is ‘training segmentation’. This basically means the method used to break up the program for drop-shipping to you, which completely controls the point you end up at. Often, you’ll join a programme requiring 1-3 years study and receive one element at a time until graduation. This may seem sensible until you think about these factors: Often, the staged breakdown offered by the provider doesn’t suit. It may be difficult to get through all the modules inside their defined time-scales?
In a perfect world, you’d get ALL the training materials right at the beginning – enabling you to have them all to come back to at any time in the future – at any time you choose. This allows a variation in the order that you complete each objective if you find another route more intuitive.
Full support is of the utmost importance – look for a package that provides 24×7 direct access, as anything less will not satisfy and will also hamper your progress. some companies only provide email support (slow), and so-called telephone support is normally just routed to a call-centre that will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team – who will call back over the next day or so (assuming you’re there), at a suitable time to them. This is all next to useless if you’re lost and confused and have a one hour time-slot in which to study.
Top training companies utilise several support facilities across multiple time-zones. They use an online interactive interface to seamlessly link them all together, any time of the day or night, help is at hand, avoiding all the delays and problems. Find a company that is worth purchasing from. Because only live 24×7 round-the-clock support truly delivers for technical programs.
Be watchful that any qualifications you’re considering doing are commercially relevant and are the most recent versions. Training companies own certificates are often meaningless. All the major commercial players such as Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco or CompTIA each have nationally renowned skills courses. These heavyweights will make your CV stand-out.
Validated simulation materials and exam preparation packages are crucial – and absolutely ought to be sought from your training company. Don’t fall foul of relying on non-accredited exam papers and questions. The type of questions asked can be completely unlike authorised versions – and sometimes this can be a real headache once in the actual exam. As you can imagine, it’s essential to know that you’re completely ready for your commercial exam before embarking on it. Revising simulated tests helps build your confidence and will avoid you getting frustrated with unsuccessful attempts at exams.
Starting with the understanding that we need to choose the job we want to do first, before we can consider what method of training ticks the right boxes, how can we choose the correct route? Working through long lists of different and confusing job titles is next to useless. The majority of us have no concept what the neighbours do for a living – so we have no hope of understanding the ins and outs of a new IT role. To work through this, there should be a discussion of a variety of unique issues:
* Your personal interests and hobbies – these often highlight what possibilities you’ll get the most enjoyment out of.
* Why it seems right starting in IT – it could be you’re looking to conquer a long-held goal like working from home for example.
* What priority do you place on job satisfaction vs salary?
* Learning what typical work areas and markets are – including what sets them apart.
* Taking a serious look into the effort, commitment and time that you can put aside.
When all is said and done, the most intelligent way of understanding everything necessary is from an in-depth discussion with an advisor that understands the market well enough to provide solid advice.
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