These days, many workplaces would be severely hampered were it not for support workers solving problems with PC’s and networks, while advising users on a constant basis. Because of the daunting complexities of technological advances, greater numbers of competent professionals are needed to run the various different areas we’ve become dependent on.
Without a doubt, the IT industry shows unparalleled opportunities. However, to investigate fully, which questions should we pose, and which are the most important considerations?
A typical blunder that many potential students make is to focus entirely on getting a qualification, rather than starting with the desired end-result. Schools are stacked to the hilt with unaware students who chose a course based on what sounded good – in place of something that could gain them the job they want. Don’t let yourself become part of the group that choose a course that sounds really ‘interesting’ and ‘fun’ – and end up with a certification for a career they’ll never really get any satisfaction from.
Be honest with yourself about what you want to earn and whether you’re an ambitious person or not. Usually, this will point the way to what precise accreditations will be required and what industry will expect from you in return. Always seek guidance and advice from a skilled professional, even if you have to pay a small fee – it’s considerably cheaper and safer to discover early on if a chosen track will suit, instead of discovering following two years of study that you’ve picked the wrong track and have wasted years of effort.
There is no way of over emphasising this: It’s essential to obtain proper 24×7 round-the-clock instructor support. You will have so many problems later if you don’t heed this. Beware of institutions that use ‘out-of-hours’ messaging systems – where you’ll get called back during normal office hours. This is no use if you’re stuck and want support there and then.
It’s possible to find professional companies which offer online support 24×7 – including evenings, nights and weekends. You can’t afford to accept 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 study. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; often though, we’re out at work while the support is live.
We’d hazard a guess that you probably enjoy fairly practical work – the ‘hands-on’ personality type. If you’re like us, the world of book-reading and classrooms can be just about bared when essential, but it’s not ideal. You should use video and multimedia based materials if book-based learning really isn’t your style. Years of research and study has time and time again confirmed that connecting physically with our study, will more likely produce memories that are deeper and longer-lasting.
Top of the range study programs now offer interactive CD and DVD ROM’s. Real-world classes from the instructors will mean you’ll find things easier to remember via their teaching and demonstrations. You can then test yourself by practicing and interacting with the software. It would be silly not to view a small selection of training examples before you sign on the dotted line. Always insist on instructor demonstrations, video tutorials and interactive modules with audio-visual elements.
It’s usually bad advice to choose training that is only available online. Connection quality and reliability varies hugely across your average broadband company, ensure that you have access to disc based courseware (On CD or DVD).
Many training schools are still using one of the most out-dated training concepts – classroom lessons. Very often portrayed as a huge benefit, following a chat with most students who’ve had to attend a couple, you’ll most likely hear about many or most of these problems:
* The amount of travel required – lots of visits and sometimes over 100 miles a pop.
* Getting time off work – typical colleges can only give Mon-Fri workshop availability and often group days together in a clump. If you’re working then this can be difficult, even more so when travel time is included.
* Annual leave lost – many working people only have 20 days holiday. If over half of it is swallowed up by training classes, vacation time is going to be quite short for the student.
* Training events sometimes become quickly full, leaving us with the ‘2nd best’ solution.
* You may prefer to move at a slower or quicker pace than the rest of the class. This can create a classic case of ‘classroom tension’.
* Don’t disregard the increased cost of driving or taking public transport and several days accommodation either. This may well run to a lot of money – from hundreds to thousands. Take some time to add it all up – you may be surprised.
* The majority of attendees want their studies to remain private thus avoiding all come-back from their current employer.
* It’s very common for people to hide the fact that they want to raise a question – purely because they’re amongst other classmates.
* For students working away from home occasionally, it’s a fact of life that events are now very hard to attend – and yet, the money has already been paid.
It really does make more sense to be trained when it’s convenient for you – not the company – and exploit instructor-led videos with interactive lab’s. Just imagine… Utilising a laptop then you’re free to learn wherever you happen to be at that time. And live 24 hr-a-day support is only a web-click away in case of difficulty. Just watch and re-watch the modules whenever you want to. There’s absolutely no need to jot down any notes as the teaching is yours forever. The final outcome: Reduced hassle and stress, saved money, and absolutely no travelling.
Let’s face it: There really is absolutely no individual job security available anymore; there’s only industry and sector security – any company is likely to let anyone go if it suits the business’ trade needs. Security only exists now in a swiftly rising marketplace, driven by a lack of trained workers. It’s this alone that creates the appropriate setting for a secure market – definitely a more pleasing situation.
Reviewing the computing industry, the 2006 e-Skills survey highlighted a more than 26 percent shortage in trained professionals. Therefore, for every four jobs existing across computing, organisations are only able to locate properly accredited workers for three of them. Accomplishing proper commercial computing accreditation is consequently a fast-track to achieve a long-lasting as well as pleasing career. For sure, this really is such a perfect time to consider retraining into the IT industry.