If you’re reading this it’s possible that you’d like to enter the world of computers and you’ve heard good things about MCSE’s, or you’re already in a networking related industry and it’s apparent that you need the Microsoft qualification.
As you do your searches, you will discover companies that compromise their offerings by failing to use the latest Microsoft version. Steer clear of training companies like these as you’ll experience challenges in the exam. If you’ve been taught the wrong syllabus, it could be impossible to pass. Steer clear of providers who’re just out to sell you anything. You deserve time, expertise and advice to be sure you are on the right course for you. Guard against being rushed into some generic product by some pushy sales person.
Looking at the myriad of choice out there, there’s no surprise that a large majority of career changers have no idea which career they could be successful with. Because with no solid background in Information Technology, how should we possibly understand what anyone doing a particular job actually does? To attack this, a discussion is necessary, covering a variety of definitive areas:
* What hobbies you have and enjoy - often these show the areas will satisfy you.
* Why it seems right stepping into IT - maybe you’d like to conquer a particular goal such as being your own boss maybe.
* The income requirements you may have?
* Understanding what typical Information technology types and markets are - including what sets them apart.
* How much time you will commit getting qualified.
To cut through the confusing industry jargon, and discover the best path to success, have an informal chat with an industry expert and advisor; someone that understands the commercial reality while explaining all the qualifications.
Typically, a new trainee will not know to ask about something of absolutely vital importance - the way their training provider divides up the physical training materials, and into how many separate packages. Many companies enrol you into some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and send out each piece as you get to the end of each exam. On the surface this seems reasonable - until you consider the following: With thought, many trainees understand that their providers usual training route isn’t as suitable as another. They might find varying the order of study will be far more suitable. And what happens if they don’t finish within their exact timetable?
An ideal situation would be to have all the learning modules couriered to your address right at the beginning; the complete package! Then, nothing can hinder your ability to finish.
Of course: a actual training or the accreditation isn’t the end-goal; the job or career that you’re getting the training for is. A lot of colleges seem to completely prioritise the certificate itself. You could be training for only a year and end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Avoid the mistake of choosing what sounds like an ‘interesting’ training program only to spend 20 years doing a job you don’t like!
It’s well worth a long chat to see what industry will expect from you. Which exams you’ll need and in what way you can gain some industry experience. It’s definitely worth spending time thinking about how far you’d like to get as it may force you to choose a particular set of certifications. Take guidance from a skilled advisor, even if you have to pay a small fee - as it’s a lot cheaper and safer to find out at the start whether something is going to suit and interest you, rather than find out after 2 years that you’ve picked the wrong track and have wasted years of effort.
A question; why should we consider qualifications from the commercial sector as opposed to more traditional academic qualifications taught at schools and Further Education colleges? Key company training (as it’s known in the industry) is more effective in the commercial field. Industry has realised that specialisation is essential to cope with an acceleratingly technical world. Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe are the big boys in this field. University courses, as a example, clog up the training with a great deal of background study - and much too wide a syllabus. This prevents a student from learning the core essentials in sufficient depth.
As long as an employer knows what they’re looking for, then all they have to do is advertise for the exact skill-set required to meet that need. The syllabuses are set to exacting standards and do not vary between trainers (in the way that degree courses can).
A sneaky way that training providers make more money is by charging for exams up-front and offering an exam guarantee. This sounds impressive, until you think it through:
Everyone knows they’re still footing the bill for it - obviously it has been added into the overall price charged by the training provider. It’s certainly not free - and it’s insulting that we’re supposed to think it is! For those who want to qualify first ‘go’, then the most successful route is to pay for each exam as you go, give it the priority it deserves and apply yourself as required.
Isn’t it in your interests to find the best exam deal or offer at the time, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance to a training course provider, and to do it locally - instead of miles away at the college’s beck and call? Many current training colleges secure a great deal of profit through getting paid for examinations upfront and cashing in if they’re not all taken. Pay heed to the fact that, with ‘Exam Guarantees’ from most places - the company controls how often and when you are allowed to have another go. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company’s say so.
Exam fees averaged around the 112 pounds mark last year through VUE or Pro-metric centres in the UK. Therefore, why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra to have ‘an Exam Guarantee’, when common sense dictates that what’s really needed is consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software.