Networking Training Programs - News

By Jason Kendall

Network and computer support staff are ever more sought after in the United Kingdom, as institutions have come to depend on their technical advice and skills. The need for increasing numbers of qualified personnel multiplies, as we become vastly more reliant on PC's in the modern world.

A key training course package will have accredited exam simulation and preparation packages.

Some students can find themselves confused by going through practice questions that aren't from authorised sources. It's not uncommon that the terminology in the real exams can be quite different and it's vital that you know this.

Be sure to ask for exam preparation tools so you'll be able to verify your knowledge along the way. Practice exams will help to boost your attitude - so the actual exam is much easier.

Finding your first job in the industry can feel more straightforward with the help of a Job Placement Assistance service. Having said that, occasionally this feature is bigged up too much, because it's relatively easy for any focused and well taught person to secure work in this industry - as employers are keen to find appropriately trained staff.

Nevertheless, don't leave it until you have passed your final exams before getting your CV updated. As soon as your training commences, enter details of your study programme and get promoting!

Being considered a 'maybe' is better than being rejected. A decent number of junior positions are given to students in the early stages of their course.

Normally you'll get quicker service from a specialist locally based employment agency than any course provider's employment division, because they will understand the local industry and employment needs.

A constant grievance for many training course providers is how hard people are prepared to study to pass exams, but how un-prepared they are to work on getting the job they have qualified for. Don't falter at the last fence.

Usually, trainers will provide a bunch of books and manuals. Learning like this is dull and repetitive and not ideal for taking things in.

Our ability to remember is increased when we use multiple senses - experts have been clear on this for years now.

Study programs now come via DVD-ROM discs, where everything is taught on your 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.

Always insist on a study material demo' from the training company. The package should contain expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and fully interactive skills-lab's.

Many companies provide purely on-line training; while you can get away with this much of the time, think what will happen if your access to the internet is broken or you get intermittent problems and speed issues. It is usually safer to have DVD or CD discs which will solve that problem.

Make sure that all your exams are current and also valid commercially - you're wasting your time with programmes that lead to in-house certificates.

If the accreditation doesn't feature a big-hitter like Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco, then you'll probably find it will have been a waste of time - as it'll be an unknown commodity. - 33394

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Database Study Around The UK Described

By Jason Kendall

Should you be doing a search for Microsoft authorised training, you will no doubt be hoping for training providers to provide a wide selection of the most superior training courses on the market today.

Maybe you'd choose to talk about career options with an industry expert - and should you be confused, then have some guidance on what sort of job would be best, based on your personality and ability level.

Ensure your training program is tailored to your ability level and skill set. Select a company that will make sure that the course is relevant to the status you wish to achieve.

Think about the facts below and pay great regard to them if you're inclined to think that old marketing ploy of an 'Exam Guarantee' sounds great value:

Clearly it isn't free - you're still coughing up for it - the price has simply been included in the whole thing.

Qualifying on the first 'go' is what everyone wants to do. Going for exams one by one and paying as you go puts you in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt - you take it seriously and are conscious of what you've spent.

Why pay your college at the start of the course for exams? Find the best deal you can when you take the exam, instead of paying a premium - and sit exams more locally - instead of miles away at the college's beck and call.

A great deal of money is netted by a significant number of organisations who incorporate exam fees into the cost of the course. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don't get to do their exams but no refunds are given. Believe it or not, there are companies around who actually bank on it - as that's very profitable for them.

The majority of organisations will require you to do mock exams and not allow you to re-take an exam until you have proved to them you have a good chance of passing - which makes an 'Exam Guarantee' frankly useless.

On average, exams cost about 112 pounds twelve months or so ago through Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. Therefore, why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra to have 'Exam Guarantees', when it's obvious that the responsible approach is a regular, committed, study programme, with an accredited exam preparation system.

Searching for your first position in IT can be a little easier if you're offered a Job Placement Assistance service. It can happen though that too much is made of this feature, as it's really not that difficult for well qualified and focused men and women to secure a job in the IT environment - because companies everywhere are seeking trained staff.

CV and Interview advice and support is sometimes offered (if not, see one of our sites for help). It's essential that you bring your CV right up to date right away - not when you're ready to start work!

You'll often find that you'll land your first position whilst you're still studying (even in the early stages). If your course details aren't on your CV - or it's not getting in front of interviewers, then you aren't even in the running!

If you'd like to keep travelling time and costs to a minimum, then it's quite likely that an independent and specialised local employment service might be of more use than a centralised service, as they're far more likely to have insider knowledge of the local job scene.

Many men and women, apparently, put a great deal of effort into their studies (for years sometimes), and then just stop instead of attempting to secure a job. Market yourself... Make an effort to put yourself out there. Don't think a job's just going to jump out in front of you.

Often, individuals don't catch on to what information technology means. It is electrifying, revolutionary, and puts you at the fore-front of developments in technology that will impact the whole world for generations to come.

There are people who believe that the technological revolution that's been a familiar part of our recent lives is cooling down. This couldn't be more wrong. Massive changes are on the horizon, and the internet particularly will be the most effective tool in our lives.

A regular IT technician over this country as a whole can demonstrate that they receive noticeably more than employees on a par in another industry. Typical salaries are around the top of national league tables.

Experts agree that there's a substantial UK-wide need for qualified IT professionals. Also, with the constant growth in the marketplace, it looks like this will be the case for quite some time to come.

One area often overlooked by people considering a training program is 'training segmentation'. Essentially, this is how the program is broken down into parts for timed release to you, which can make a dramatic difference to what you end up with.

Usually, you'll enrol on a course requiring 1-3 years study and receive a module at a time. While this may sound logical on one level, consider this:

What would happen if you didn't finish every module within the time limits imposed? Often the prescribed exam order doesn't come as naturally as some other order of studying might.

For the perfect solution, you'd ask for every single material to be delivered immediately - giving you them all to come back to in the future - at any time you choose. This allows a variation in the order that you attack each section as and when something more intuitive seems right for you. - 33394

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Computer Training Companies In The UK Examined

By Jason Kendall

Good for you! Hitting upon this feature suggests you're contemplating your career, and if it's re-training you're considering you've even now progressed more than the majority of people will. It's a frightening thought that surprisingly few of us are satisfied and happy at work - but the majority will just put up with it. We implore you to liberate yourself and move forward - you have the rest of your life to enjoy it.

When looking at training, it's essential to first define your requirements from the job you're hoping to qualify for. It's important to discover if things would be a lot better before you put a lot of energy into re-directing your life. We recommend looking at the whole story first, to avoid disappointment:

* Are you hoping to be involved with others in the workplace? Would that be with the same people or with a lot of new people? It could be working by yourself with your own methodology may be your preference?

* What thoughts do you have regarding the industry you hope to work in?

* Is this the final time you plan to retrain, and therefore, do you suppose your new career will offer that choice?

* Do you think being qualified will give you the opportunity to discover new employment possibilities, and remain in employment until you choose to stop?

We would advise you to really explore the IT sector - there are a larger number of roles than employees, plus it's a rare career choice where the sector is expanding. In contrast to what some people believe, IT isn't all techie people looking at screens the whole day (though naturally some jobs are like that.) Most positions are taken by people like you and me who enjoy better than average salaries.

An area that's often missed by new students considering a training program is the issue of 'training segmentation'. Basically, this means the way the course is divided up to be delivered to you, which completely controls what you end up with.

Delivery by courier of each element stage by stage, as you complete each module is the typical way that your program will arrive. This sounds logical, but you might like to consider this:

How would they react if you didn't complete everything at the required speed? Often the prescribed exam order doesn't come as naturally as another different route may.

To be straight, the very best answer is to obtain their recommendation on the best possible order of study, but make sure you have all of your learning modules right from the beginning. Everything is then in your possession in the event you don't complete everything at their required pace.

Trainees looking to kick off a career in IT generally have no idea of what direction they should take, let alone what area to build their qualifications around.

How can most of us possibly understand the many facets of a particular career if we've never been there? We normally have never met anyone who does that actual job anyway.

Arriving at an informed answer really only appears through a careful examination covering many changing key points:

* Personality plays an important role - what gets you 'up and running', and what are the areas that ruin your day.

* For what reasons you're starting in IT - maybe you want to triumph over some personal goal like being self-employed for instance.

* Does salary have a higher place on your priority-scale than some other areas.

* There are many markets to choose from in IT - you will have to get some background information on what sets them apart.

* You'll also need to think hard about the amount of time and effort you'll put into gaining your certifications.

For most of us, sifting through these areas requires a good chat with an advisor who can explain things properly. Not only the qualifications - but the commercial expectations and needs also.

A typical blunder that many potential students make is to look for the actual course to take, and take their eye off where they want to get to. Training academies are stacked to the hilt with unaware students who chose a course based on what sounded good - rather than what would get them their end-goal of a job they enjoyed.

You may train for one year and then end up performing the job-role for decades. Ensure you avoid the fatal error of finding what seems like an 'interesting' course and then spend decades in a job you hate!

Make sure you investigate how you feel about career progression and earning potential, plus your level of ambition. It makes sense to understand what (if any) sacrifices you'll need to make for a particular role, what particular accreditations will be required and how to develop your experience.

Seek guidance and advice from an experienced industry professional, even if you have to pay a small fee - it's usually much cheaper and safer to discover early on whether your choices are appropriate, instead of finding out after two full years that the job you've chosen is not for you and now need to go back to square one.

Some training providers offer a Job Placement Assistance service, to help you into your first commercial role. But don't place too much emphasis on it - it's quite easy for eager sales people to make too much of it. Ultimately, the still growing need for IT personnel in the UK is what will enable you to get a job.

You would ideally have help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews though; and we'd encourage everyone to bring their CV up to date as soon as they start a course - don't delay till you've finished your exams.

It can happen that you haven't even qualified when you'll secure your initial junior support role; however this isn't going to happen if interviewers don't get sight of your CV.

Normally you'll get quicker results from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than you will through a training course provider's national service, because they will understand the local industry and employment needs.

A common aggravation of some training companies is how hard students are prepared to study to become certified, but how un-prepared they are to work on getting the role they have acquired skills for. Get out there and hustle - you might find it's fun. - 33394

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UK MCSA Support Courses Uncovered

By Jason Kendall

If you're looking to gain accredited qualifications at the MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) study level, the best devices on sale are disc based training that works interactively. Whether you are an experienced technician but are looking to gain acknowledged certifications, or are new to the industry, you will be able to choose from hands-on MCSA training programs to suit your requirements.

To become certified at the MCSA level you need to pass 4 Microsoft Certified Professional exams (MCP's). If this is your first entry into computing exams, you'll probably be required to learn a few things before studying for all four MCP's. Look for a company that has a team of advisors who can identify the ideal program for you and who will get you started in the right place.

A question; why ought we to be looking at commercial qualifications rather than more traditional academic qualifications gained through schools, colleges or universities?

With fees and living expenses for university students becoming a tall order for many, together with the industry's growing opinion that corporate based study often has more relevance in the commercial field, we've seen a big surge in Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA authorised training programmes that supply key solutions to a student for much less time and money.

Clearly, a certain quantity of background information has to be learned, but precise specialised knowledge in the required areas gives a commercially trained student a huge edge.

In simple terms: Recognised IT certifications tell an employer precisely what skills you have - the title says it all: for example, I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Managing and Maintaining Windows Server 2003'. So companies can identify exactly what they need and what certifications are required to fulfil that.

Chat with almost any professional advisor and they'll regale you with many awful tales of students who've been conned by dodgy salespeople. Stick to a professional advisor that quizzes you to find out what's right for you - not for their retirement-fund! It's very important to locate the right starting point of study for you.

With a little live experience or base qualifications, you may find that your starting point is now at a different level to a new student.

Consider starting with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. Beginning there can make the learning curve a little less steep.

So many training providers only look at the plaque to hang on your wall, and completely avoid the reasons for getting there - which will always be getting the job or career you want. Always begin with the end goal - too many people focus on the journey.

It's an awful thing, but a great many students start out on programs that sound amazing in the sales literature, but which delivers a career that doesn't fulfil at all. Speak to a selection of university students for examples.

You must also consider your feelings on earning potential, career development, and whether you intend to be quite ambitious. It makes sense to understand what industry expects from you, what particular accreditations they want you to have and how to develop your experience.

Seek guidance and advice from a skilled advisor, even if you have to pay - it's considerably cheaper and safer to discover early on if you've chosen correctly, rather than realise after several years of study that you're doing entirely the wrong thing and have to start from the beginning again.

Considering how a program is 'delivered' to you isn't always given the appropriate level of importance. How many stages do they break the program into? And in what order and how fast does each element come?

A release of your materials stage by stage, taking into account your exam passes is the normal way of receiving your courseware. This sounds sensible, but you should take these factors into account:

Maybe the order of study offered by the provider doesn't suit. It may be difficult to get through every element inside their defined time-scales?

The ideal circumstances are to get all your study materials sent to you immediately; the whole caboodle! This prevents any future issues from rising that will affect your capacity to get everything done. - 33394

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Training for Networking Support - Update

By Jason Kendall

Computer and network support technicians are constantly sought after in Great Britain, as organisations are becoming more reliant upon their knowledge and skills. Whereupon our society becomes growingly beholden to our PC's, we simultaneously inevitably become more reliant on the commercially qualified network engineers, who maintain those systems.

Some commercial training providers only give office hours or extended office hours support; most won't answer after 8-9pm at the latest and frequently never at the weekends.

Avoid, like the plague, any organisations who use 'out-of-hours' call-centres - with your call-back scheduled for office hours. It's not a lot of help when you've got study issues and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.

Be on the lookout for study programmes that have multiple support offices active in different time-zones. Each one should be integrated to provide a single interface and also round-the-clock access, when you need it, with no fuss.

Never ever take second best when you're looking for the right support service. Many IT hopefuls that can't get going properly, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).

Most trainers typically provide mainly work-books and reference manuals. Obviously, this isn't much fun and not a very good way of achieving retention.

If we're able to utilise all of our senses into our learning, our results will often be quite spectacular.

Learning is now available on CD and DVD discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Utilising the latest video technology, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how something is done, and then have a go at it yourself - via the interactive virtual lab's.

Every company that you look at must be able to demonstrate some simple examples of their training materials. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and many interactive sections.

It's usually bad advice to select online only courseware. With highly variable reliability and quality from most broadband providers, ensure that you have access to physical media such as CD or DVD ROM's.

A capable and professional advisor (as opposed to a salesman) will ask questions and seek to comprehend your current level of ability and experience. There is no other way of understanding your study start-point.

With a bit of real-world experience or some accreditation, your starting-point of learning is not the same as someone new to the industry.

Where this will be your first attempt at IT study then it may be wise to cut your teeth on user-skills and software training first.

Every program under consideration really needs to work up to a properly recognised qualification at the finale - definitely not some 'in-house' plaque for your wall.

Only properly recognised accreditation from the likes of Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA and Cisco will be useful to a future employer. - 33394

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CompTIA Training Providers - Thoughts

By Jason Kendall

There are actually 4 different sectors in the full CompTIA A+ syllabus, of which 2 passes are needed for your A+ qualification. However only learning about 2 of the specialised areas might well not equip you for a job. Try to cover all four - for greater confidence in the world of work.

Once on the A+ training program you'll become familiar with how to build, fix, repair and work in antistatic conditions. You'll also cover fault finding and diagnostics, through both hands-on and remote access.

You may also want to think about adding the CompTIA Network+ training as it will enable you to take care of computer networks, which is where the bigger salaries are.

Students will sometimes miss checking on something of absolutely vital importance - how their training provider divides up the physical training materials, and into how many separate packages.

Drop-shipping your training elements piece by piece, according to your own speed is the usual method of releasing your program. Of course, this sounds sensible, but you should consider these factors:

How would they react if you didn't complete each section within the time limits imposed? And maybe you'll find their order of completion doesn't work as well as some other structure would for you.

To be in the best situation you would have all the training materials packed off to you immediately; the whole caboodle! This prevents any future issues from rising that will affect the reaching of your goals.

Many men and women are under the impression that the traditional school, college or university path is still the most effective. Why then is commercial certification becoming more in demand?

Vendor-based training (in industry terminology) is most often much more specialised. Industry is aware that this level of specialised understanding is vital to meet the requirements of an increasingly more technical workplace. Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA dominate in this arena.

Of course, an appropriate portion of associated knowledge must be covered, but precise specifics in the particular job function gives a vendor educated student a real head start.

When an employer is aware what areas they need covered, then they simply need to advertise for the exact skill-set required to meet that need. The syllabuses are all based on the same criteria and can't change from one establishment to the next (in the way that degree courses can).

Some training providers supply a practical Job Placement Assistance service, to assist your search for your first position. Don't get overly impressed with this service - it isn't unusual for eager sales people to overplay it. At the end of the day, the still growing need for IT personnel in the UK is the reason you'll find a job.

One important thing though, don't wait till you have passed your final exams before polishing up your CV. As soon as you start a course, list what you're working on and get promoting!

A good number of junior support jobs have been offered to students who are still studying and haven't got any qualifications yet. This will at least get you into the 'maybe' pile of CV's - rather than the 'No' pile.

You'll normally experience quicker results from an independent and specialised local recruitment consultancy than you will through a training course provider's employment division, because they will understand the local industry and employment needs.

Please be sure that you don't conscientiously work through your course materials, and then just stop and leave it up to everyone else to find you a job. Get off your backside and start looking for yourself. Put as much energy and enthusiasm into landing your new role as you did to get trained.

Trainees looking at this market can be very practical by nature, and don't really enjoy classrooms, and poring through books and manuals. If you're thinking this sounds like you, use multimedia, interactive learning, where everything is presented via full motion video.

Our ability to remember is increased when all our senses are brought into the mix - experts have been clear on this for many years.

Start a study-program in which you're provided with an array of CD and DVD based materials - you'll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, with the facility to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions.

It's imperative to see some example materials from your chosen company. It's essential they incorporate video demo's and interactive elements such as practice lab's.

It doesn't make sense to opt for on-line only training. Because of the variable quality and reliability of most broadband providers, you should always obtain CD or DVD ROM based materials. - 33394

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Cisco CCNA Training Companies In Detail

By Jason Kendall

A Cisco training course is fundamentally for those who wish to understand and work with routers. Routers are what connect computer networks via the internet or lines dedicated for that purpose. It's a good idea that you should start with CCNA. It's not advisable to launch directly into the CCNP as it's a considerable step up - and you should gain some working knowledge to have a go at this.

Routers connect to networks, so it's essential to have an understanding of how networks function, or you will have difficulties with the program and not be able to follow the work. Look for a course that includes basic networking skills (such as CompTIA) prior to starting your CCNA.

Get on a specially designed course that covers everything to ensure you've got the appropriate skills and knowledge before embarking on the Cisco skills.

IT has become one of the more electrifying and revolutionary industries that you can get into right now. Being up close and personal with technology means you're a part of the huge progress affecting everyone who lives in the 21st century.

We're only just starting to get a feel for how technology will define our world. Computers and the web will massively revolutionise how we regard and interact with the entire world over the coming decades.

And don't forget that on average, the income of a person in the IT industry in the United Kingdom is much more than remuneration packages in other industries, so in general you'll probably receive considerably more as an IT specialist, than you could reasonably hope to achieve elsewhere.

It would appear there is no end in sight for IT jobs increases across Britain. The sector is still growing hugely, and as we have a skills gap that means we only typically have three IT workers for every four jobs it's most unlikely that it will even slow down for decades to come.

We'd hazard a guess that you're quite practically minded - a 'hands-on' personality type. Usually, the world of book-reading and classrooms can be just about bared when essential, but you'd hate it. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if book-based learning really isn't your style.

Long-term memory is enhanced when multiple senses are involved - learning experts have been saying this for as long as we can remember.

Modern training can now be done at home via self-contained CD or DVD materials. Through instructor-led video classes you'll find things easier to remember via the expert demonstrations. You can then test yourself by interacting with the software and practicing yourself.

You'll definitely want a look at some courseware examples from the school that you're considering. The package should contain expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and fully interactive skills-lab's.

You should avoid purely online training. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where obtainable, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want - you don't want to be reliant on your broadband being 'up' 100 percent of the time.

Some training companies will only offer support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later; most won't answer after 8-9pm at the latest and frequently never at the weekends.

Be wary of any training providers who use messaging services 'out-of-hours' - with the call-back coming in during typical office hours. This is no use if you're stuck and want support there and then.

Be on the lookout for providers that incorporate three or four individual support centres from around the world. All of them should be combined to provide a single interface and 24x7 access, when you want it, with the minimum of hassle.

If you accept anything less than online 24x7 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, evenings and early mornings at some point.

A capable and specialised consultant (vs a salesperson) will cover in some detail your current situation. This is vital for understanding your study start-point.

If you've got any commercial experience or certification, you may find that your starting point is not the same as someone new to the industry.

Opening with a basic PC skills program first may be the ideal way to get into your IT training, but depends on your skill level. - 33394

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Networking Microsoft MCSA Courses Described

By Jason Kendall

If you're about to get certified at the MCSA study level, the latest courses on the market today are CD or DVD ROM based study with interactive components. So if you have a certain amount of knowledge but are hoping to formalise your skill set, or are just about to get started, you will find interactive MCSA training programs to cater for you.

For a person with no knowledge of the industry, it will be crucial to have some coaching prior to getting into your four Microsoft Certified Professional exams (MCP's) needed to gain MCSA certification. Look for a company that can tailor your studying to cater for your needs - with industry experts who can be relied on to make sure that your choices are good ones.

Many training companies will only provide support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later; very few go late in the evening or at weekends.

Never purchase training that only supports students with a message system after office-staff have gone home. Trainers will defend this with all kinds of excuses. The bottom line is - you need support when you need support - not when it suits them.

The very best programs opt for a web-based 24x7 package involving many support centres from around the world. You will have a simple environment which switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres any time of the day or night: Support when it's needed.

If you fail to get yourself 24x7 support, you'll end up kicking yourself. You may not need it late at night, but consider weekends, early mornings or late evenings.

Make sure you don't get caught-up, like so many people do, on the training course itself. Your training isn't about getting a plaque on your wall; this is about gaining commercial employment. You need to remain focused on where you want to go.

It's a terrible situation, but a great many students kick-off study that often sounds amazing from the marketing materials, but which provides the end-result of a job that is of no interest at all. Just ask several university students for a real eye-opener.

Never let your focus stray from where you want to go, and formulate your training based on that - don't do it back-to-front. Stay on target and study for an end-result that'll reward you for many long and fruitful years.

Obtain help from a professional advisor who has commercial knowledge of your chosen market-place, and is able to give you 'A typical day in the life of' outline of what you'll actually be doing during your working week. It makes good sense to discover if this is the right course of action for you before you embark on your training program. After all, what is the point in starting to train only to realise you've made a huge mistake.

We can see a plethora of employment in computing. Finding the particular one for you is generally problematic.

Since with no solid background in computing, how should we possibly be expected to understand what someone in a particular job does?

To get to the bottom of this, there should be a discussion of a variety of different aspects:

* Personalities play a starring part - what gives you a 'kick', and what are the things that put a frown on your face.

* What is the time-frame for the retraining?

* Where do you stand on job satisfaction vs salary?

* With so many ways to train in Information Technology - there's a need to achieve some background information on what differentiates them.

* Having a cold, hard look at what commitment and time you'll make available.

In actuality, your only option to gain help on these issues will be via a meeting with an advisor who has years of experience in Information Technology (and specifically the commercial needs.)

A question; why might we choose commercial certification as opposed to traditional academic qualifications taught at tech' colleges and universities?

With an ever-increasing technical demand on resources, the IT sector has been required to move to specialist courses that the vendors themselves supply - namely companies such as CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. This frequently provides reductions in both cost and time.

Vendor training works through honing in on the skills that are really needed (together with a relevant amount of related knowledge,) as opposed to trawling through all the background detail and 'fluff' that computer Science Degrees often do - to fill a three or four year course.

When an employer knows what areas they need covered, then they just need to look for someone with a specific qualification. Commercial syllabuses all have to conform to the same requirements and can't change from one establishment to the next (like academia frequently can and does). - 33394

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Choosing Adobe CS4 Design Training Described

By Jason Kendall

Due to the vast selection of IT courses to choose from, it's a good idea to look for a training provider that will offer guidance on one you'll be happy with. Professional organisations will discuss at length the different job roles that may be a match for you, prior to deciding on a training program that will train you for where you want to go.

The courses range from Microsoft User Skills up to Web Design, Databases, Programming and Networking. There is so much choice and so it's probably best to chat to an experienced advisor before you make your final decision: it would be awful to start the wrong training for a career that you can't relate to!

By concentrating on service and delivery, there are training providers today supplying modern courses that have great quality training and guidance for considerably less money than is asked for by old-school colleges.

It's usual for students to get confused with a single training area which doesn't even occur to them: The breakdown of the course materials before being physically delivered to you.

Training companies will normally offer a program typically taking 1-3 years, and courier the materials in pieces as you complete each section or exam. On the surface this seems reasonable - until you consider the following:

What happens when you don't complete all the sections or exams? Maybe the prescribed order won't suit you? Through no fault of your own, you may not meet the required timescales and not get all the study materials as a result.

The ideal circumstances are to get all your study materials sent to your home before you even start; the complete package! Then, nothing can hinder the reaching of your goals.

What is the reason why qualifications from colleges and universities are less in demand than the more commercial certificates?

Accreditation-based training (to use industry-speak) is more effective in the commercial field. The IT sector is aware that such specialised knowledge is essential to meet the requirements of an acceleratingly technical commercial environment. Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA dominate in this arena.

University courses, for example, often get bogged down in too much loosely associated study - and a syllabus that's too generalised. Students are then prevented from understanding the specific essentials in enough depth.

It's a bit like the TV advert: 'It does what it says on the tin'. Employers simply need to know what they need doing, and then request applicants with the correct exam numbers. Then they're assured that a potential employee can do exactly what's required.

We need to make this very clear: You have to get round-the-clock 24x7 instructor support. Later, you'll kick yourself if you don't follow this rule rigidly.

Many only provide email support (too slow), and phone support is usually just a call-centre that will take the information and email an instructor - who will attempt to call you within 24-48 hrs, when it's convenient to them. This isn't a lot of good if you're stuck and can't continue and only have a specific time you can study.

Be on the lookout for providers that incorporate three or four individual support centres from around the world. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to provide a single interface and 24 hours-a-day access, when it suits you, with no fuss.

Never compromise with the quality of your support. Most would-be IT professionals who give up, would have had a different experience if they'd got the right support package in the first place.

How long has it been since you considered your job security? Normally, we only think of this after something goes wrong. Unfortunately, The cold truth is that our job security is a thing of the past, for the vast majority of people.

In times of rising skills deficits coupled with high demand areas though, we always find a new kind of market-security; as fuelled by the conditions of constant growth, companies find it hard to locate enough staff.

With the Information Technology (IT) industry for instance, the last e-Skills analysis demonstrated major skills shortages around the United Kingdom around the 26 percent mark. Put simply, we only have the national capacity to fill just 3 out of every 4 jobs in the computer industry.

This fundamental reality highlights an urgent requirement for more appropriately qualified computing professionals across the United Kingdom.

No better time or market settings could exist for gaining qualification for this hugely emerging and developing market. - 33394

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CompTIA Network Plus Networking Training - News

By Jason Kendall

Computer and network support staff are more and more sought after in Great Britain, as organisations are becoming more reliant on their technical advice and fixing and repairing abilities. As we're all becoming growingly reliant on our PC's, we additionally inevitably become more reliant on the well trained network engineers, who keep the systems going.

An area that's often missed by new students weighing up a particular programme is the concept of 'training segmentation'. This basically means how the program is broken down into parts for timed release to you, which completely controls the point you end up at.

Drop-shipping your training elements one stage at a time, taking into account your exam passes is the normal way of receiving your courseware. This sounds sensible, but you might like to consider this:

What if for some reason you don't get to the end of every exam? Maybe the prescribed order won't suit you? Through no fault of your own, you may not meet the required timescales and therefore not end up with all the modules.

Truth be told, the perfect answer is to get an idea of what they recommend as an ideal study order, but to receive all the materials up-front. Meaning you've got it all in case you don't finish as fast as they'd like.

You have to be sure that all your qualifications are what employers want - you're wasting your time with courses that lead to in-house certificates.

Only properly recognised qualifications from the top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe and CompTIA will open the doors to employers.

Remember: a training program or the accreditation is not the ultimate goal; the particular job that you want to end up in is. Many trainers unfortunately place too much importance on just the training course.

Don't let yourself become one of the unfortunate masses that choose a course that seems 'fun' or 'interesting' - only to end up with a qualification for an unrewarding career path.

Set targets for how much you want to earn and the level of your ambition. This can often control which qualifications you'll need to attain and what'll be expected of you in your new role.

The best advice for students is to talk with highly experienced advisors before they embark on a training programme. This gives some measure of assurance that it contains the relevant skills for the career path that has been chosen.

We can all agree: There really is no such thing as individual job security anywhere now; there's only industry or business security - companies can just let anyone go if it fits their trade requirements.

Where there are increasing skills shortfalls coupled with high demand areas though, we can find a new kind of security in the marketplace; driven by a continual growth, organisations struggle to find the staff required.

Using the Information Technology (IT) sector for example, a key e-Skills survey brought to light a skills shortage throughout Great Britain in excess of 26 percent. Quite simply, we're only able to fill 3 out of each four job positions in IT.

This single fact in itself underpins why the country urgently requires a lot more people to enter the IT sector.

It's unlikely if a better time or market circumstances is ever likely to exist for getting certified in this rapidly expanding and evolving market. - 33394

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Cisco CCNA Training At Home - News

By Jason Kendall

If you want Cisco training, a CCNA is in all probability what you'll need. Training in Cisco is the way to go for those who need to know all about routers and switches. Routers connect computer networks to different computer networks via dedicated lines or the internet.

Getting this certification will most likely see you working for large commercial ventures that have multiple departments and sites, but still want internal communication. Alternatively, you may find yourself employed by an internet service provider. These jobs are well paid and in demand.

Getting your Cisco CCNA is all you need at this stage - don't be cajoled into attempting your CCNP for now. Once you've worked for a few years you can decide if this next level is for you. If so, you'll be much more capable to succeed at that stage - because you'll have so much more experience.

We can all agree: There's absolutely no individual job security anymore; there can only be industry and business security - a company will remove anyone when it suits the company's commercial requirements.

Where there are escalating skills deficits and increasing demand though, we generally discover a fresh type of security in the marketplace; where, fuelled by the constant growth conditions, businesses find it hard to locate the staff required.

The IT skills deficit across the UK falls in at roughly twenty six percent, according to the 2006 e-Skills analysis. It follows then that for each 4 job positions available across IT, employers can only source properly accredited workers for 3 of them.

Properly taught and commercially accredited new staff are consequently at a complete premium, and it's estimated to remain so for a long time.

While the market is evolving at such a speed, there really isn't any other market worth looking at for your new career.

It can be a nerve-racking task, but landing your first job can be relieved by training colleges, through a Job Placement Assistance service. At the end of the day it's not as difficult as you may be led to believe to land a job - once you're trained and certified; the growing UK skills shortage sees to that.

Having said that, it's important to have help with your CV and interview techniques though; additionally, we would recommend everybody to get their CV updated as soon as they start a course - don't put it off until you've qualified.

Getting your CV considered is far better than not even being known about. A surprising amount of junior positions are given to students (sometimes when they've only just got going.)

If you'd like to get employment in your home town, then it's quite likely that a local IT focused recruitment consultancy may serve you better than some national concern, due to the fact that they're far more likely to know local employment needs.

A big frustration of various course providers is how hard students are prepared to work to pass exams, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the job they have studied for. Have confidence - the IT industry needs YOU.

A lot of training providers will only provide office hours or extended office hours support; It's rare to find someone who offers late evening or full weekend cover.

Email support is too slow, and so-called telephone support is normally just routed to a call-centre which 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 time suitable for them. This isn't a lot of good if you're stuck and can't continue and only have a specific time you can study.

If you look properly, you'll find professional companies which offer direct-access online support all the time - at any time of day or night.

Never ever take second best when it comes to your support. Many would-be IT professionals that drop-out or fail, are in that situation because they didn't get the support necessary for them.

In most cases, your typical student doesn't have a clue in what direction to head in the IT industry, or what area they should look at getting trained in.

Working through a list of odd-sounding and meaningless job titles is no use whatsoever. Most of us don't really appreciate what our own family members do for a living - so we're in the dark as to the subtleties of any specific IT role.

Contemplation on the following points is essential if you need to get to the right solution that will work for you:

* Which type of individual you are - which things you find interesting, plus of course - what don't you like doing.

* Are you hoping to re-train due to a precise raison d'etre - e.g. do you aim to work based at home (being your own boss?)?

* Is the money you make further up on your list of priorities than other requirements.

* Learning what the main Information technology areas and markets are - and what makes them different.

* You should also think long and hard about what kind of effort and commitment that you will set aside for the accreditation program.

In these situations, it's obvious that the only real way to seek advice on these issues will be via a meeting with an advisor that has years of experience in computing (and more importantly the commercial requirements.) - 33394

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CompTIA Computer Training Clarified

By Jason Kendall

CompTIA A+ consists of 4 training sections; you're considered A+ competent when you've passed the test for half of them. This is the reason that the majority of training establishments only have two of the courses on their syllabus. In reality you're advised to have the information on each subject as industry will demand an understanding of the whole A+ program. You don't have to take all four exams, but we would recommend you study for all four areas.

If you decide to become a student on the A+ training program you will develop an understanding of how to work in antistatic conditions and build and fix computers. You'll also cover fault-finding and diagnostic techniques, both remotely and via direct access.

You may also want to consider adding the CompTIA Network+ training as it will give you the knowledge to become a networking engineer, which means greater employment benefits.

We can guess that you probably enjoy fairly practical work - a 'hands-on' type. If you're like us, the world of book-reading and classrooms is something you'll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you really wouldn't enjoy it. Consider interactive, multimedia study if book-based learning really isn't your style.

If we're able to get all of our senses involved in our learning, then the results are usually dramatically better.

You can now study via interactive discs. Through instructor-led video classes you'll learn your subject through the demonstrations and explanations. Then you test your knowledge by interacting with the software and practicing yourself.

You'll definitely want a study material demo' from the training company. The materials should incorporate expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and fully interactive skills-lab's.

Plump for actual CD or DVD ROM's if possible. You can then avoid all the difficulties of broadband outages, failure and signal quality issues etc.

Validated exam preparation and simulation materials are vital - and really must be obtained from your course provider.

Make sure that the simulated exams aren't just asking you the right questions on the right subjects, but additionally ask them in the way the real exams will ask them. This throws people if the questions are phrased in unfamiliar formats.

It's a good idea to have some simulated exam questions that will allow you to check your knowledge at all times. Mock exams add to your knowledge bank - so the actual exam is much easier.

The way in which your courseware is broken down for you is often missed by many students. How many stages do they break the program into? What is the order and at what speed is it delivered?

Drop-shipping your training elements one piece at a time, according to your own speed is the usual method of releasing your program. While sounding logical, you might like to consider this:

What if you don't finish each and every exam? And what if you find the order of the modules counter-intuitive? Without any fault on your part, you may go a little slower and consequently not get all your materials.

To provide the maximum security and flexibility, it's normal for most trainees to make sure that every element of their training is posted to them in one go, with nothing held back. It's then your own choice in which order and at what speed you want to work.

Locating job security nowadays is problematic. Businesses will drop us from the workplace at the drop of a hat - whenever it suits.

Whereas a marketplace with high growth, with a constant demand for staff (as there is a massive shortfall of commercially certified workers), opens the possibility of true job security.

Offering the IT market for example, the 2006 e-Skills analysis highlighted a skills shortage throughout Great Britain of around 26 percent. Showing that for each four job positions in existence throughout IT, we've only got three properly trained pro's to fulfil that role.

This disturbing truth reveals the requirement for more properly qualified IT professionals throughout the UK.

Unquestionably, now, more than ever, really is the very best time to train for IT. - 33394

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Looking for Adobe CS4 Design Training Clarified

By Jason Kendall

Selecting an IT training program that equates to commercial requirements is crucially important in our turbulent times. But it's just as crucial to find one that you'll enjoy, that fits your character and ability level.

Training ranges from Microsoft User Skills up to career training for Networking, Programming, Databases and Web Design. There is so much choice and so it's probably best to talk through your options with an experienced advisor prior to deciding which way to go: don't make a guess and learn about a subject for a job you'd actually hate!

By using modern training methods and keeping costs to a minimum, there's a new style of course provider supplying a superior brand of training and mentoring for hundreds of pounds less.

One useful service that several companies offer is job placement assistance. The service is put in place to help you find your first job in the industry. It can happen though that there is more emphasis than is necessary on this service, because it is actually not that hard for a well trained and motivated person to find work in the IT industry - as there is such a shortage of skilled employees.

Help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews may be available (if it isn't, consult one of our sites). Make sure you bring your CV right up to date right away - not after you've qualified!

Various junior support jobs have been offered to students who are still learning and haven't got any qualifications yet. This will at the very least get you on your way.

You'll normally experience better results from a specialist locally based employment agency than you will through a training company's recruitment division, as they will be more familiar with the area and local employers.

A slight grievance for a number of training course providers is how much people are focused on studying to get qualified, but how un-prepared they are to work on getting the role they've acquired skills for. Have confidence - the IT industry needs YOU.

Students often end up having issues because of a single training area which is often not even considered: The method used to 'segment' the courseware before being sent out to you.

Usually, you will purchase a course requiring 1-3 years study and receive a module at a time. This may seem sensible until you think about these factors:

Often, the staged breakdown insisted on by the company won't suit you. What if you find it hard to complete every element within their timetable?

To be honest, the best option is to get an idea of what they recommend as an ideal study order, but to receive all the materials up-front. Everything is then in your possession should you not complete it quite as quick as they'd want.

There are colossal changes flooding technology as we approach the second decade of the 21st century - and the industry becomes more ground-breaking every year.

We've barely started to get a feel for how technology will define our world. Technology and the web will profoundly revolutionise how we view and interrelate with the world around us over the years to come.

Always remember that on average, the income of a person in IT in Great Britain is considerably better than the national average salary, so you will more than likely gain significantly more once qualified in IT, than you'd expect to earn elsewhere.

It's no secret that there is a substantial national need for certified IT specialists. In addition, with the marketplace continuing to expand, it appears there's going to be for the significant future.

An effective training course package will undoubtedly also include Microsoft (or key company) simulation materials and exam preparation packages.

Often students can get confused by practicing questions for their exams that are not from authorised sources. Sometimes, the terminology in the real exams is startlingly different and it's important to prepare yourself for this.

Mock exams are invaluable as a resource to you - so much so, that at the proper exam, you don't get uptight. - 33394

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Adobe Web Design Training Providers - Options

By Jason Kendall

For those interested in joining a web design team, an Adobe Dreamweaver course is vital for attaining in-demand qualifications acknowledged around the world.

To facilitate Dreamweaver professionally in web design, a full understanding of the entire Adobe Web Creative Suite (which includes Flash and Action Script) is without doubt a bonus. Having such skills means, you can go onto become either an Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) or an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE).

Designing the website is just one aspect of the skills needed by web professionals today. It's a good idea to look for a course that incorporates subjects such as E-Commerce, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation,) in order to understand the way to drive traffic, maintain content and work with dynamic sites that are database driven.

Student support is absolutely essential - find a program that provides 24x7 direct access, as anything less will not satisfy and will also impede your ability to learn.

Never buy study programmes that only provide support to students via a message system outside of normal office hours. Colleges will always try to hide the importance of this issue. Essentially - you want to be supported when you need the help - not when it suits them.

Top training providers tend to use an online access 24x7 system utilising a variety of support centres from around the world. You will be provided with an environment which seamlessly selects the best facility available any time of the day or night: Support when it's needed.

If you fail to get yourself online 24x7 support, you'll very quickly realise that you've made a mistake. You might not want to use the service late at night, but you may need weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.

Don't put too much store, as many people do, on the training course itself. Training for training's sake is generally pointless; you're training to become commercially employable. Begin and continue with the end in mind.

Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing the job for 20 years. Ensure you avoid the fatal error of opting for what may seem to be a program of interest to you only to spend 20 years doing a job you hate!

Prioritise understanding the exact expectations industry will have. What particular qualifications you'll need and in what way you can gain some industry experience. Spend some time considering how far you'd like to build your skill-set as it may control your selection of accreditations.

Take guidance from an experienced industry professional, even if you have to pay - it's usually much cheaper and safer to investigate at the start if a chosen track will suit, rather than find out following two years of study that you aren't going to enjoy the job you've chosen and now need to go back to square one.

Commercial qualifications are now, most definitely, already replacing the traditional routes into the industry - so why should this be?

With the costs of academic degree's becoming a tall order for many, together with the industry's general opinion that key company training is closer to the mark commercially, we have seen a dramatic increase in Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA accredited training routes that supply key solutions to a student at a fraction of the cost and time involved.

Clearly, a necessary quantity of closely linked information must be covered, but essential specialisation in the required areas gives a vendor educated student a massive advantage.

Think about if you were the employer - and you needed to take on someone with a very particular skill-set. Which is the most straightforward: Pore through a mass of different academic qualifications from graduate applicants, asking for course details and which commercial skills they have, or select a specialised number of commercial certifications that exactly fulfil your criteria, and then select who you want to interview from that. You can then focus on how someone will fit into the team at interview - rather than establishing whether they can do a specific task.

The perhaps intimidating chore of landing your first IT job can be made easier by some training providers because they offer a Job Placement Assistance programme. But don't place too much emphasis on it - it's easy for their marketing department to make too much of it. Ultimately, the still growing need for IT personnel in this country is what will enable you to get a job.

One important thing though, don't procrastinate and wait until you've qualified before getting your CV updated. As soon as your training commences, list what you're working on and tell people about it!

You might not even have taken your exams when you land your first junior support job; but this is not possible if your CV isn't in front of employers.

If you'd like to keep travelling time and costs to a minimum, then it's quite likely that a specialist independent regional recruitment consultant or service may serve you better than some national concern, for they are much more inclined to be familiar with what's available near you.

A big grievance of many training course providers is how hard people are focused on studying to pass exams, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the job they're qualified for. Get out there and hustle - you might find it's fun. - 33394

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Considering CompTIA Network Plus Retraining - News

By Jason Kendall

In the modern world, support workers who are able to solve problems with PC's and networks, and give regular help to users, are hugely valuable in every sector of the workplace. Whilst we're all becoming more and more beholden to technology, we also emerge as increasingly dependent on the technically knowledgeable IT professionals, who keep the systems going.

Any program that you're going to undertake really needs to work up to a nationally accepted qualification at the finale - and not some unimportant 'in-house' printed certificate to hang in your hallway.

To an employer, only the major heavyweights such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or Adobe (to give some examples) will open the right doors. Nothing else hits the mark.

Potential Students hopeful to build a career in IT often don't know which direction is best, let alone which area to obtain accreditation for.

How can most of us possibly understand the many facets of a particular career when we've never done it? Most likely we don't even know anybody who is in that area at all.

Contemplation on several areas is essential when you need to expose the right solution that will work for you:

* Personality factors plus what interests you - the sort of work-oriented areas please or frustrate you.

* What time-frame are you looking at for the retraining?

* Any personal or home requirements that are important to you?

* Many students don't properly consider the level of commitment required to achieve their goals.

* You'll also need to think hard about any sacrifices you'll need to make, as well as what commitment and time you'll put into the accreditation program.

At the end of the day, the best way of investigating all this is through a meeting with a professional that has enough background to be able to guide you.

Typically, a new trainee will not know to ask about a painfully important area - the way the company divides up the courseware elements, and into how many bits.

Individual deliveries for each training module one stage at a time, as you pass each exam is the normal way of receiving your courseware. While sounding logical, you must understand the following:

What if for some reason you don't get to the end of all the sections or exams? What if you don't find their order of learning is ideal for you? Due to no fault of yours, you may go a little slower and therefore not end up with all the modules.

In all honesty, the very best answer is to have a copy of their prescribed order of study, but get all the study materials at the start. Meaning you've got it all in the event you don't complete everything quite as quick as they'd want.

Commercially accredited qualifications are now, very visibly, starting to replace the older academic routes into the IT sector - why then is this?

Key company training (to use industry-speak) is far more effective and specialised. The IT sector has acknowledged that specialisation is what's needed to handle a technically advancing workplace. Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA are the dominant players.

This is done by focusing on the skill-sets required (together with a proportionate degree of background knowledge,) as opposed to spending months and years on the background 'padding' that degree courses can get bogged down in (to fill up a syllabus or course).

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty: Authorised IT qualifications let employers know exactly what you're capable of - the title is a complete giveaway: for example, I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Designing Security for a Windows 2003 Network'. Consequently companies can look at the particular needs they have and what certifications are required to perform the job. - 33394

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Cisco Training And Study Online Companies Simplified

By Jason Kendall

The CCNA qualification is the usual starting point for all Cisco training. This will enable you to operate on maintaining and installing switches and routers. Fundamentally, the internet is based upon huge numbers of routers, and many large organisations that have a number of branches need them to connect their computer networks.

It's vital that you already know a good deal about the operating and functioning of computer networks, as networks are connected to routers. Otherwise, you'll probably struggle. Why not first take a course in basic networking skills (maybe the CompTIA Network+, possibly with A+ as well) before you start a CCNA course. Some providers offer this as a career track.

If you haven't yet had any experience of routers, then working up to and including the CCNA is all you'll be able to cope with - avoid being talked into doing a CCNP. After gaining experience in the working environment, you will know if it's appropriate for you to go to the level of CCNP.

Full support is of the utmost importance - find a program that includes 24x7 access, as not opting for this kind of support could put a damper on the speed you move through things.

Locate training schools with proper support available at all hours of the day and night (no matter if it's in the middle of the night on a weekend!) You'll need direct access to tutors, and not a message system as this will slow you down - parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back at a convenient time for them.

It's possible to find professional training packages that give students direct-access online support all the time - even in the middle of the night.

Don't under any circumstances take less than you need and deserve. Support round-the-clock is the only kind that ever makes the grade when it comes to computer-based courses. Perhaps you don't intend to study during the evenings; usually though, we're at work when traditional support if offered.

Massive developments are coming via technology as we approach the second decade of the 21st century - and it becomes more and more thrilling each day.

We're barely beginning to get a handle on what this change will mean to us. How we correlate with the world as a whole will be inordinately affected by computers and the web.

Let's not forget that the average salary in the IT sector over Britain as a whole is noticeably higher than remuneration packages in other industries, which means you will most likely gain a lot more as an IT specialist, than you'd expect to earn elsewhere.

It's evident that we have a considerable UK-wide demand for professionally qualified IT workers. And with the marketplace continuing to expand, it appears there's going to be for years to come.

How can job security truly exist anywhere now? In a marketplace like the UK, where industry can change its mind on a whim, there doesn't seem much chance.

In actuality, security now only emerges through a fast escalating market, pushed forward by work-skills shortages. It's this shortage that creates just the right setting for a secure marketplace - a much more desirable situation.

Using the IT business as an example, the last e-Skills analysis brought to light a skills shortage around Great Britain around the 26 percent mark. Essentially, we can only fill just three out of every 4 jobs in the computer industry.

This single reality in itself is the backbone of why the United Kingdom requires considerably more trainees to join the Information Technology market.

In actuality, retraining in Information Technology throughout the next year or two is likely the safest career direction you could choose.

Sometimes men and women assume that the tech college or university path is the way they should go. So why is commercial certification becoming more popular with employers?

Industry is of the opinion that to cover the necessary commercial skill-sets, official accreditation from the likes of CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA is closer to the mark commercially - saving time and money.

University courses, as a example, can often get caught up in a great deal of background study - with a syllabus that's far too wide. This prevents a student from getting enough specific knowledge about the core essentials.

The crux of the matter is this: Accredited IT qualifications provide exactly what an employer needs - it says what you do in the title: i.e. I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Infrastructure'. So employers can identify exactly what they need and which qualifications are required to perform the job. - 33394

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CompTIA A Plus Training Described

By Jason Kendall

Computer training for CompTIA A+ covers 4 different sectors - the requirement is exam passes in two of these areas to reach the level of A+ competent. This is why, most training providers simply provide 2 of the training options. We think this is too much of a compromise - yes you'll have qualified, but experience of all four will give you a distinct advantage in industry, where you'll need to know about all of them. That's the reason why you deserve training in everything.

Alongside being taught about building and fixing computers, trainees on an A+ training course will have instruction on how to work in antistatic conditions, how to fault find, to diagnose and to remotely access problems.

In addition, you could look to think about doing Network+ as it will give you the knowledge to work with networks, which means greater employment benefits.

We're regularly asked to explain why academic qualifications are being replaced by more commercial certificates?

Industry is of the opinion that to learn the appropriate commercial skills, the right accreditation from the likes of Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA is closer to the mark commercially - and a fraction of the cost and time.

Obviously, an appropriate amount of closely linked information must be learned, but core specifics in the exact job role gives a vendor educated student a huge edge.

Just like the advert used to say: 'It does what it says on the tin'. Employers simply need to know what they're looking for, and then match up the appropriate exam numbers as a requirement. That way they can be sure they're interviewing applicants who can do the job.

Often, folks don't catch on to what IT is doing for all of us. It's thrilling, changing, and puts you at the fore-front of developments in technology that will affect us all over the next generation.

There are people who believe that the increase in technology we've had over recent years is lowering its pace. This couldn't be more wrong. Terrific advances are ahead of us, and most especially the internet will be the biggest thing to affect the way we live.

Should lifestyle be up there on your list of priorities, then you will appreciate the fact that the income on average of the majority of IT staff is significantly greater than with other market sectors.

Experts agree that there's a great country-wide demand for trained and qualified IT technicians. In addition, with the marketplace continuing to expand, it is likely this will be the case for the significant future.

Far too many companies only look at the plaque to hang on your wall, and completely miss why you're doing this - which is a commercial career or job. You should always begin with where you want to get to - don't make the vehicle more important than the destination.

It's not unheard of, in many cases, to get a great deal of enjoyment from a year of study and then spend 20 miserable years in a job you hate, entirely because you stumbled into it without some quality research when it was needed - at the start.

You also need to know your feelings on career progression and earning potential, and if you're ambitious or not. It's vital to know what the role will demand of you, what particular accreditations they want you to have and how to develop your experience.

Our recommendation would be to always seek guidance and advice from an experienced professional before making your final decision on a particular training program, so there's no doubt that the chosen route will give you the appropriate skill-set.

Ignore any salesperson that pushes one particular program without performing a 'fact-find' to gain understanding of your current abilities plus your experience level. Ensure that they have a large stable of training programs so they're actually equipped to provide you with what's right for you.

Of course, if you've had any relevant work-experience or certification, then it's not unreasonable to expect to pick-up at a different starting-point to a trainee with no history to speak of.

Working through a basic PC skills course first may be the ideal way to commence your IT training, depending on your skill level at the moment. - 33394

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Database Career Course Providers - Update

By Jason Kendall

What kind of things do you expect the top of the range Microsoft accredited suppliers to offer a client in Britain in this day and age? Undoubtedly, the most supreme Gold Partner training tracks certified by Microsoft, offering a portfolio of courses to take you into different areas of the IT industry.

You'll want to consider all the options with somebody who is on familiar terms with the commercial needs of the market, and has the ability to guide you towards the best kind of work to suit your abilities and character.

When you've chosen the job you'd like to get into, a relevant course has to be selected that's suits your needs. This should be personalised for you.

One useful service that several companies offer is a Job Placement Assistance program. This is to assist your search for your first position. With the growing skills shortage in the United Kingdom today, it's not necessary to make too much of this option though. It's not as difficult as you may be led to believe to land employment once you're properly qualified.

Update your CV at the beginning of your training though - look to your training company for advice on how to do this. Don't procrastinate and leave it until you've graduated or passed any exams.

Many junior support roles have been bagged by students who are still learning and haven't got any qualifications yet. At the very least this will get you on your way.

You'll normally experience better performance from an independent and specialised local recruitment consultancy than you will through a training company's employment division, because they'll know the local area and commercial needs better.

Fundamentally, if you put the same amount of effort into landing your first job as into training, you won't have any problems. Some trainees inexplicably conscientiously work through their training course and just give up once they've passed their exams and appear to be under the impression that jobs will come to them.

We can't make a big enough deal out of this point: You have to get round-the-clock 24x7 support from professional instructors. You will have so many problems later if you don't follow this rule rigidly.

Be wary of any training providers that use 'out-of-hours' messaging systems - with your call-back scheduled for normal office hours. It's not a lot of help when you've got study issues and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.

Keep your eyes open for colleges that use several support centres around the globe in several time-zones. These should be integrated to offer a simple interface as well as 24x7 access, when you want it, with no hassle.

Don't accept second best where support is concerned. Most trainees who fall by the wayside, would have had a different experience if they'd got the right support package in the first place.

Beginning from the viewpoint that we have to home-in on the area of most interest first, before we can even mull over which training program fulfils our needs, how are we supposed to find the way that suits us?

I mean, if you don't have any know-how of IT in the workplace, how can you expect to know what someone in a particular field fills their day with? Let alone decide on what educational path would be most appropriate for ultimate success.

Reflection on the following issues is imperative if you need to expose the right answer for you:

* Your individual personality as well as your interests - which working tasks please or frustrate you.

* Are you hoping to re-train for a certain raison d'etre - for example, is it your goal to work based from home (being your own boss?)?

* The income requirements that are important to you?

* With so many different sectors to gain certifications for in the IT industry - you'll need to gain some key facts on what sets them apart.

* How much time you're prepared to set aside for obtaining your certification.

To cut through all the jargon and confusion, and discover the most viable option for your success, have an informal chat with an industry expert and advisor; an individual that understands the commercial reality whilst covering the certifications.

Far too many companies only look at the plaque to hang on your wall, and completely miss what you actually need - which will always be getting the job or career you want. Always begin with where you want to get to - don't get hung-up on the training vehicle.

It's unfortunate, but the majority of trainees start out on programs that sound magnificent from the prospectus, but which delivers a career that doesn't satisfy. Talk to many college students and you'll see where we're coming from.

Never let your focus stray from where you want to get to, and formulate your training based on that - avoid getting them back-to-front. Keep your eyes on your goals and begin studying for a career that will keep you happy for many years.

All students are advised to chat with an industry professional before deciding on their training path. This gives some measure of assurance that it contains the commercially required skills for that career path. - 33394

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Courses In MCSE Networking Uncovered

By Jason Kendall

Considering an MCSE? If so, it's probable that you're in one of two situations: You're someone with a certain amount of knowledge and you should formalise your skills with an MCSE. Alternatively this could be your first step into the computer workplace, and you've found that there's a growing demand for people with the right qualifications.

When researching training colleges, steer clear of those that compromise their offerings by not upgrading their courses to the latest version from Microsoft. Ultimately, this will cost the student a lot more as they will have been educated in an out-of-date syllabus which inevitably will have to be up-dated almost immediately.

Training companies should be completely focused on finding the right path for their trainees. Mentoring education is as much concerned with guiding people on establishing which direction to go in, as much as giving them help to get there.

If you're like many of the students we talk to then you're a practical sort of person - a 'hands-on' individual. If you're like us, the painful task of reading endless manuals can be just about bared when essential, but it doesn't suit your way of doing things. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if learning from books is not your thing.

Many years of research has consistently confirmed that connecting physically with our study, is much more conducive to long-term memory.

Programs are now found via DVD-ROM discs, where everything is taught on your PC. Through video streaming, you are able to see your instructors showing you how to perform the required skill, and then have a go at it yourself - in an interactive lab.

It would be silly not to view some examples of the kind of training materials you'll be using before you sign on the dotted line. You should expect videoed instructor demonstrations and interactive audio-visual sections with practice modules.

It's usually bad advice to go for purely on-line training. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from the ISP (internet service provider) market, it makes sense to have disc based courseware (On CD or DVD).

With all the options available, is it any wonder that nearly all career changers balk at what job they will enjoy.

Working through a list of odd-sounding and meaningless job titles is just a waste of time. Most of us don't even know what our good friends do at work - so we have no hope of understanding the complexities of a particular IT career.

To work through this, there should be a discussion of several core topics:

* Which type of individual you are - which things you really enjoy, plus of course - what don't you like doing.

* Are you driven to re-train because of a specific raison d'etre - e.g. is it your goal to work based at home (being your own boss?)?

* How highly do you rate salary - is an increase your main motivator, or is job satisfaction a lot higher on your priority-list?

* Because there are so many different sectors to gain certifications for in the IT industry - you'll need to pick up some key facts on what separates them.

* It's wise to spend some time thinking about the level of commitment you're going to invest in your education.

In all honesty, your only option to research these matters tends to be through a good talk with an advisor who has experience of IT (and chiefly the commercial requirements.)

Proper support is incredibly important - find a program that provides 24x7 direct access, as not obtaining this level of support will severely put a damper on the speed you move through things.

Avoid training courses that only support students via a message system after 6-9pm in the evening and during weekends. Training companies will always try to hide the importance of this issue. Essentially - you want support at the appropriate time - not as-and-when it's suitable for their staff.

We recommend that you search for study programmes that utilise many support facilities active in different time-zones. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to give a single entry point as well as 24 hours-a-day access, when you want it, with no fuss.

Never make the mistake of compromise where support is concerned. Many IT hopefuls who fall by the wayside, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).

The area most overlooked by people considering a training program is the issue of 'training segmentation'. Essentially, this is the way the course is divided up to be delivered to you, which makes a huge difference to how you end up.

You may think that it makes sense (when study may take one to three years to gain full certified status,) for your typical trainer to courier the training stage by stage, as you achieve each exam pass. But:

What could you expect if you didn't actually complete each element at the required speed? Often the staged order doesn't work as well as an alternative path could be.

For future safety and flexibility, it's normal for most trainees to make sure that every element of their training is couriered out in one package, all at the beginning. It's then your own choice in which order and at what speed you'd like to work. - 33394

About the Author:

C Programming Courses In Interactive Format Explained

By Jason Kendall

Choosing a study program that fulfils industries needs is very important in our turbulent times. In addition, it's also necessary to discover one that you will get on well with, that fits your character and ability level.

Whether it's office skills you're looking to polish up on, or want to advance your career and attain professional IT certifications, there are plain-speaking courses and back-up to help you achieve your goals.

By keeping costs to a minimum, there are now companies offering up-to-the-minute courses that feature outstanding training and assistance for considerably less money than is charged by more out-dated organisations.

A typical blunder that we encounter all too often is to focus entirely on getting a qualification, rather than starting with where they want to get to. Colleges are full of unaware students that chose a program because it looked interesting - rather than what would get them the career they desired.

You may train for one year and then end up performing the job-role for decades. Ensure you avoid the fatal error of opting for what may seem to be a very 'interesting' program and then spend decades in an unrewarding career!

Never let your focus stray from where you want to go, and then build your training requirements around that - avoid getting them back-to-front. Stay focused on the end-goal and begin studying for a career that will keep you happy for many years.

Talk to an experienced industry advisor who knows about the sector you're looking at, and could provide a detailed run-down of what you actually do in that role. Getting to the bottom of all this before beginning a learning programme has obvious benefits.

The way a programme is physically sent to you is often missed by many students. In what way are your training elements sectioned? What is the order and at what speed is it delivered?

Training companies will normally offer some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and drop-ship the materials to you piecemeal as you complete each section or exam. This sounds reasonable until you consider the following:

What would their reaction be if you find it difficult to do every section at the required speed? And maybe you'll find their order of completion doesn't work as well as an alternative path could be.

To be straight, the best solution is to have a copy of their prescribed order of study, but get everything up-front. You're then in possession of everything in case you don't finish quite as quick as they'd want.

Always expect an authorised exam preparation system included in your course.

As a lot of examination boards in IT are American, you need to become familiar with their phraseology. You can't practice properly by merely understanding random questions - it's essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format.

Why don't you analyse whether you're learning enough through tests and practice in simulated exam environments before you take the real deal.

Finding your first job in the industry can feel more straightforward with the help of a Job Placement Assistance facility. Don't get caught up in this feature - it isn't unusual for eager sales people to overplay it. Ultimately, the need for well trained IT people in the UK is what will enable you to get a job.

Get your CV updated straight-away though (advice can be sought on this via your provider). Don't procrastinate and leave it till the exams have actually been passed.

It's not uncommon to find that junior support roles have been bagged by students who are still studying and have still to get qualified. At the very least this will get you on your way.

If you don't want to travel too far to work, then you'll often find that an independent and specialised local employment service might be of more use than some national concern, as they are much more inclined to have insider knowledge of the jobs that are going locally.

Various people, so it seems, are prepared to study their hearts out (sometimes for years), only to do nothing special when attempting to secure a good job. Promote yourself... Do your best to get in front of employers. A job isn't just going to bump into you. - 33394

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