Computer Training

When you select any computer course or training it’s crucial that the qualification you’ll be working towards is up to date with commercial requirements. In addition, ensure that the program will suit you, and your personal ability level. Whether you want to improve your computer user skills, or want to advance your career and attain professional IT certifications, there are technically advanced courses and mentoring to help you achieve your goals.

By utilising modern training techniques and keeping costs to a minimum, there’s a new style of organisation offering a finer level of training and mentoring for a fraction of the prices currently charged.

A useful feature that many training companies provide is job placement assistance. This is to help you get your first commercial position. At the end of the day it’s not as difficult as you may be led to believe to land the right work - as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications; the growing UK skills shortage sees to that.

One important thing though, don’t wait till you have qualified before bringing your CV up to date. The day you start training, enter details of your study programme and place it on jobsites! A good number of junior support jobs have been bagged by trainees who are still studying and have yet to take their exams. This will at least get you on your way. You’ll normally experience quicker results from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than you will through a training company’s employment division, because they’ll know the area better.

Various men and women, apparently, are prepared to study their hearts out (for years sometimes), only to do nothing special when attempting to secure a good job. Introduce yourself… Make an effort to let employers know about you. A job isn’t just going to bump into you.

OK, why might we choose commercially accredited qualifications rather than familiar academic qualifications gained through schools and Further Education colleges? With university education costs becoming a tall order for many, and the industry’s general opinion that key company training is often far more commercially relevant, there has been a big surge in Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA based training courses that educate students at a fraction of the cost and time involved. Patently, a necessary amount of relevant additional knowledge needs to be covered, but precise specialisation in the particular job function gives a vendor educated student a huge edge.

It’s a bit like the TV advert: ‘It does what it says on the tin’. All an employer has to do is know what areas need to be serviced, and then request applicants with the correct exam numbers. Then they’re assured that a potential employee can do exactly what’s required.

Validated exam preparation packages are crucial - and really must be sought from your training supplier. Avoid depending on unofficial preparation materials for exams. The type of questions asked can be quite different - and this could lead to potential problems when the proper exam time arrives. It’s a good idea to ask for exam preparation tools so you’ll be able to verify your understanding at all times. Practice exams log the information in your brain - so you won’t be quite so nervous at the actual exam.

Some training companies will only offer support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly. Never accept training courses that only support trainees through an out-sourced call-centre message system outside of normal office hours. Trainers will give you every excuse in the book why you don’t need this. But, no matter how they put it - you need support when you need support - not as-and-when it’s suitable for their staff.

Keep your eyes open for colleges that use several support centres across multiple time-zones. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to offer a simple interface as well as access round-the-clock, when you want it, without any problems. Never settle for a lower level of service. Direct-access 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 the majority of us however, we’re out at work when traditional support if offered.

Look at the following facts in detail if you’ve been persuaded that the sales ploy of examination guarantees seems like a good idea:

These days, we’re a bit more aware of hype - and most of us know that for sure we’re actually paying for it - they’re not just being charitable and doling out freebies! Those who take exams one at a time, paying for them just before taking them are much better placed to get through first time. They’re aware of the cost and take the necessary steps to ensure they are ready.

Isn’t it outrageous to have to pay a training college in advance for examination fees? Find the best exam deal or offer at the time, instead of paying a premium - and do it in a local testing centre - rather than possibly hours away from your area. Paying upfront for examinations (and if you’re financing your study there’ll be interest on that) is a false economy. Resist being talked into filling the training company’s account with extra money of yours just to give them more interest! Some will be pinning their hopes on the fact that you don’t even take them all - but they won’t refund the cash. Re-takes of any failed exams via organisations who offer an ‘Exam Guarantee’ are monitored with tight restrictions. They’ll insist that you take mock exams first until you’ve demonstrated an excellent ability to pass.

VUE and Prometric examinations are approximately 112 pounds in the United Kingdom today. What’s the point of paying huge charges for ‘Exam Guarantees’ (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when a quality course, support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.