There are four specialised areas of training in the full CompTIA A+ syllabus, of which 2 passes are needed to gain A+ competency. But restricting yourself to two of the study sections is likely to leave your knowledge base somewhat light. Choose a course with all 4 subjects - you’ll be glad you did when it comes to interview time.
When you embark on the A+ computer training course you will develop an understanding of how to work in antistatic conditions and build and fix computers. Fault finding and diagnostic techniques through hands on and remote access are also covered. Perhaps you see yourself as the kind of individual who works for a larger company - in network support, you’ll need to add CompTIA Network+, or alternatively look at doing an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft to give you a deeper understanding of how networks function.
The classroom style of learning we remember from school, using textbooks and whiteboards, is an up-hill struggle for the majority of us. If all this is ringing some familiar bells, dig around for more practical courses that are multimedia based. Learning psychology studies show that long term memory is improved when we receive multi-sensorial input, and we put into practice what we’ve been studying.
Start a study-program in which you’ll get a host of DVD-ROM’s - you’ll be learning from instructor videos and demo’s, and be able to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions. Any company that you’re considering must be able to demonstrate a few examples of the type of training materials they provide. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and interactive areas to practice in.
Often, companies will only use just online versions of their training packages; and although this is okay the majority of the time, consider how you’ll deal with it if you lose your internet access or you get a slow connection speed. It’s much safer to rely on DVD or CD discs which will solve that problem.
Most commercial training providers will only offer support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; most won’t answer after 8-9pm at the latest and frequently never at the weekends. Many only provide email support (too slow), and phone support is usually just a call-centre that will chat nicely with you for 5 minutes to ask what the issue is and then simply send an email to an instructor - who will call back over the next day or so (assuming you’re there), when it suits them. This is no good if you’re stuck with a particular problem and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.
The very best training providers have many support offices active in different time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, irrespective of the time you login, help is at hand, without any contact issues or hassle. You can’t afford to accept less than you need and deserve. 24×7 support is the only kind to make the grade when it comes to technical learning. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; but for most of us, we’re at work while the support is live.
Validated exam simulation and preparation software is vital - and should definitely be obtained from your training provider. As most IT examination boards are from the USA, it’s essential to understand how exam questions will be phrased and formatted. It’s not sufficient just understanding random questions - they have to be in the same format as the actual exams. ‘Mock’ or practice exams are invaluable as a tool for logging knowledge into your brain - so when it comes to taking your actual exams, you won’t be worried.
Some training providers supply a practical Job Placement Assistance facility, to assist your search for your first position. But don’t place too much emphasis on it - it’s quite easy for eager sales people to overstate it’s need. In reality, the need for well trained IT people in Great Britain is the reason you’ll find a job.
Whatever you do, avoid waiting until you have finished your training before bringing your CV up to date. As soon as you start a course, enter details of your study programme and get it out there! A good number of junior support roles are offered to trainees who are still learning and haven’t got any qualifications yet. At the very least this will get you on your way. Normally you’ll get quicker results from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than you’ll get from a course provider’s employment division, as they’ll know the local area and commercial needs better.
Essentially, if you put as much hard work into getting your first job as into training, you won’t find it too challenging. Some students strangely conscientiously work through their learning program and do nothing more once qualified and seem to expect employers to find them.
What is the reason why traditional degrees are now falling behind more commercially accredited qualifications? As we require increasingly more effective technological know-how, industry has moved to specific, honed-in training that the vendors themselves supply - that is companies like Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe. Often this saves time and money for the student. Many degrees, as a example, clog up the training with vast amounts of loosely associated study - and a syllabus that’s too generalised. This prevents a student from learning the core essentials in sufficient depth.
When it comes down to the nitty-gritty: Recognised IT certifications provide exactly what an employer needs - it says what you do in the title: for example, I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Managing and Maintaining Windows Server 2003′. Consequently companies can look at the particular needs they have and which qualifications are required to perform the job.
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