Network and PC support staff are ever more in demand in the UK, as organisations are becoming more reliant upon their knowledge and capacity to solve problems. With the increasingly complex nature of technology, greater numbers of IT professionals are being looked for to look after the many areas we need to be sure will work effectively.
Usually, a average student doesn’t have a clue where to start with Information Technology, or which market they should be considering getting trained in.
How likely is it for us to understand the day-to-day realities of any IT job when it’s an alien environment to us? We normally don’t know someone who does that actual job anyway.
Often, the key to unlocking this issue properly flows from an in-depth chat, covering several areas:
* What nature of individual you reckon you are - which things you find interesting, and on the other side of the coin - what you definitely don’t enjoy.
* What time-frame are you looking at for retraining?
* Is your income higher on your wish list than some other areas.
* Understanding what typical IT types and sectors are - plus how they’re different to each other.
* It makes sense to understand the differences across the myriad of training options.
When all is said and done, the best way of understanding everything necessary is through a good talk with someone that understands the market well enough to lead you to the correct decision.
Be watchful that any certifications you’re considering doing are recognised by industry and are the most recent versions. ‘In-house’ exams and the certificates they come with are not normally useful in gaining employment.
Only nationally recognised certification from the major players like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco and CompTIA will be useful to a future employer.
How the program is actually delivered to you is often missed by many students. In what way are your training elements sectioned? And in what sequence and do you have a say in when you’ll get each part?
By and large, you will purchase a course staged over 2 or 3 years and receive one element at a time until graduation. This may seem sensible until you think about these factors:
Maybe the order of study pushed by the company’s salespeople doesn’t suit all of us. You may find it a stretch to finalise all the modules within the time limits imposed?
Put simply, the very best answer is to have their ideal ‘order’ of training laid out, but make sure you have all of your learning modules right from the beginning. Everything is then in your possession in case you don’t finish within their ideal time-table.
The sometimes daunting task of securing your first computer related job is often eased by some training providers because they offer a Job Placement Assistance programme. Sometimes, too much is made of this feature, because it is genuinely quite straightforward for well qualified and focused men and women to find work in this industry - as employers are keen to find appropriately qualified personnel.
Help with your CV and interview techniques should be offered (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). It’s essential that you update that dusty old CV today - don’t leave it till you pass the exams!
It can happen that you haven’t even passed your first exam when you’ll secure your initial junior support position; although this is not possible unless you’ve posted your CV on job sites.
If you don’t want to travel too far to work, then it’s quite likely that a local (but specialised) recruitment consultancy might be more appropriate than the trainer’s recruitment division, because they’re going to be familiar with the jobs that are going locally.
Do ensure you don’t spend hundreds of hours on your training and studies, then call a halt and leave it up to everyone else to find you a job. Take responsibility for yourself and make your own enquiries. Channel as much time and energy into getting your first job as you did to gain the skills.
(C) Jason Kendall. Go to LearningLolly.com for smart career advice. IT Training Course or Comptia Network+ Certification.
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