The Microsoft MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) course is perfect for men and women looking to get into supporting networks. Whether you want to get going or already have knowledge but want to formalise that with an acknowledged certification, it’s possible to achieve your goals with the right training. For someone just entering the world of computers, it could be appropriate to pick up some skills ahead of getting involved in the first of the four Microsoft Certified Professional exams (MCP’s) that are required to achieve an MCSA. Look for a company that can create a bespoke package to suit you - one who will guide you to guarantee that you make the right choices.
So, why should we consider qualifications from the commercial sector rather than more traditional academic qualifications gained through the state educational establishments? The IT sector is of the opinion that for mastery of skill sets for commercial use, certified accreditation from such organisations as Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe is closer to the mark commercially - for much less time and money. The training is effectively done by concentrating on the skills that are really needed (along with a proportionate degree of associated knowledge,) instead of going into the heightened depths of background non-specific minutiae that computer Science Degrees often do - to pad out the syllabus.
The bottom line is: Accredited IT qualifications tell an employer precisely what skills you have - the title is a complete giveaway: i.e. I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Infrastructure’. Consequently an employer can identify exactly what they need and what certifications will be suitable to deal with those needs.
Frequently, a normal IT hopeful really has no clue in what direction to head in the IT industry, or even what area is worth considering for retraining. Therefore, if you’ve got no background in IT in the workplace, what chance is there for you to know what a particular IT employee actually does day-to-day? And of course decide on which certification program is the most likely for ultimate success. To get through to the essence of this, there should be a discussion of a number of core topics:
* The type of personality you have plus what interests you - what working tasks please or frustrate you.
* Why you’re looking at getting involved with IT - is it to overcome some personal goal like being self-employed for example.
* Where is the salary on a scale of importance - is it of prime importance, or does job satisfaction rate further up on your list of priorities?
* Getting to grips with what the normal career areas and markets are - including what sets them apart.
* The time and energy you’ll have available to spend on the training program.
To be honest, you’ll find the only real way to gain help on these matters is through a chat with someone who has years of experience in IT (and chiefly it’s commercial requirements.)
So many training providers focus completely on the certification process, and forget why you’re doing this - getting yourself a new job or career. Your focus should start with the final destination in mind - don’t make the vehicle more important than the destination. You could be training for only a year and end up doing the job for 20 years. Avoid the mistake of choosing what sounds like a very ‘interesting’ program and then put 10-20 years into something you don’t even enjoy!
It’s essential to keep your focus on what it is you’re trying to achieve, and create a learning-plan from that - avoid getting them back-to-front. Stay on target - making sure you’re training for an end-result that will keep you happy for many years. It’s worth seeking help from an advisor who knows the commercial realities of the sector you’ve chosen, and will be able to provide ‘A day in the life of’ explanation of the job being considered. These things are incredibly important because you obviously have to know if you’re going down the right road.
You have to make sure that all your qualifications are current and commercially required - don’t bother with courses which end up with a useless in-house certificate or plaque. From the perspective of an employer, only the major heavyweights such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or Adobe (to give some examples) provide enough commercial weight. Anything less won’t make the grade.
A useful feature that many training companies provide is a Job Placement Assistance program. It’s intention is to assist your search for your first position. It can happen though that too much is made of this feature, for it’s really not that difficult for a well trained and motivated person to secure a job in the IT industry - as employers are keen to find appropriately skilled employees.
However, what is relevant is to have CV and Interview advice and support though; also we would encourage everybody to work on polishing up their CV as soon as training commences - don’t wait till you’ve finished your exams. It’s possible that you won’t have even passed your first exam when you land your first junior support position; although this can’t and won’t happen unless you’ve posted your CV on job sites. You’ll normally experience better results from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than you’ll get from a training provider’s national service, because they will understand the local industry and employment needs.
In a nutshell, as long as you focus the same level of energy into getting your first job as into studying, you’re not going to hit many challenges. A number of students inexplicably put hundreds of hours into their training and studies and then call a halt once qualified and appear to be under the impression that jobs will come to them.