Computer and network support technicians are constantly in demand in the United Kingdom, as organisations rely heavily on their technical advice and fixing and repairing abilities. As we’re all becoming more and more dependent on our PC’s, we additionally emerge as increasingly more reliant upon the skilled and qualified networking professionals, who keep the systems going.
Your training program should always include the very latest Microsoft (or Cisco, CompTIA etc.) authorised simulation materials and exam preparation packages.
Students regularly can be thrown off course by practising exam questions that don’t come from the authorised examining boards. Often, the way questions are phrased can be quite different and you need to be ready for this.
A way to build self-confidence is if you test your knowledge through quizzes and mock ups of exams prior to taking the proper exam.
Be watchful that any exams that you’re considering will be commercially viable and are bang up to date. The ‘in-house’ certifications provided by many companies are often meaningless.
Only nationally recognised certification from companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe and CompTIA will mean anything to employers.
A typical blunder that many potential students make is to concentrate on the course itself, and not focus on the desired end-result. Universities 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 career they desired.
It’s common, for example, to thoroughly enjoy one year of training but end up spending 10 or 20 years in a tiresome job role, simply because you did it without some quality research when you should’ve - at the outset.
You must also consider how you feel about career development, earning potential, and if you’re ambitious or not. You should understand what (if any) sacrifices you’ll need to make for a particular role, what particular exams are required and how you’ll gain real-world experience.
Our recommendation would be to seek guidance and advice from an experienced advisor before making your final decision on some particular learning program, so you’re sure from the outset that the chosen route will give you the skills for the job being sought.
A subtle way that course providers make extra profits is by charging for exams up-front then giving it ‘Exam Guarantee’ status. It looks like a good deal, but let’s just examine it more closely:
It’s become essential these days that we tend to be a little more ‘marketing-savvy’ - and usually we cotton on to the fact that we are actually being charged for it - it’s not because they’re so generous they want to give something away!
The honest truth is that when trainees fund their own exams, at the time of taking them, there’s a much better chance they’ll pass every time - as they are conscious of their investment in themselves and will therefore apply themselves appropriately.
Don’t you think it’s more sensible to hold on to your money and pay for the exam at the time, instead of paying a premium to the training college, and to take it closer to home - instead of miles away at the college’s beck and call?
A great deal of money is made by some training companies who take the exam money up-front. Many students don’t take them for one reason or another and so the company is quids-in. Surprising as it sounds, there are companies around who depend on students not taking their exams - as that’s where a lot of their profit comes from.
In addition to this, you should consider what an ‘exam guarantee’ really means. Many training companies won’t be prepared to pay for re-takes until you’re able to demonstrate an excellent mock pass rate.
Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on ‘Exam Guarantees’ is naive - when study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really see you through.
(C) S. Edwards 2009. Pop to CLICK HERE or PHP Courses.
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