In total, there are 4 A+ examinations and sections to study, but your only requirement is to get your exams in 2 of them for qualification purposes. This is why the majority of training providers only offer 2 paths. But giving you all four options will give you a much wider knowledge and understanding of it all, something you’ll discover is an important asset in industry.
Courses in A+ computer training cover fault-finding and diagnostics - both through hands-on and remote access, in addition to building and fixing and understanding antistatic conditions. It could be a good idea to think about supplementing the A+ with Network + as it will give you the knowledge to work with networks, and become a more senior IT professional.
Sometimes, individuals don’t understand what information technology is about. It is stimulating, innovative, and puts you at the fore-front of developments in technology that will impact the whole world for generations to come. We are really only just beginning to get to grips with how all this change will affect us. The way we interact with the world will be profoundly affected by computers and the web.
If earning a good living is high on your scale of wants, then you’ll be happy to know that the regular income of the majority of IT staff is much greater than with the rest of the economy. There is a considerable UK-wide requirement for trained and qualified IT technicians. Also, with the marketplace continuing to expand, it appears there will be for quite some time to come.
How do we make an educated choice then? With all this potential, it’s imperative to understand where to be looking - and what it is we should be looking for.
If your advisor doesn’t ask you a lot of questions - it’s likely they’re just a salesperson. If they wade straight in with a specific product before getting to know your background and current experience level, then you know you’re being sold to. Where you have a strong background, or perhaps a bit of live experience (possibly even some previous certification?) then it’s likely your starting level will vary from a student that is completely new to the industry. Starting with a foundation program first will sometimes be the most effective way to get up and running on your computer programme, depending on your skill level at the moment.
It’s so important to understand this key point: You absolutely must have proper 24×7 instructor and mentor support. We can tell you that you’ll strongly regret it if you don’t adhere to this. Be wary of any training providers who use ‘out-of-hours’ messaging systems - with the call-back coming in during typical office hours. This is useless when you’re stuck and need an answer now.
We recommend looking for study programmes that utilise many support facilities from around the world. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to give a single entry point as well as 24 hours-a-day access, when it suits you, with no hassle. Search out a training provider that cares. As only live 24×7 support gives you the confidence to make it.
It’s likely that you’ve always enjoyed practical work - a ‘hands-on’ type. If you’re anything like us, the trial of reading reference books and manuals would be considered as a last resort, but you’d hate it. Consider interactive, multimedia study if learning from books is not your thing. Learning psychology studies show that much more of what we learn in remembered when we receive multi-sensorial input, and we get physically involved with the study process.
Study programs now come in disc format, where everything is taught on your PC. Through video streaming, you are able to see your instructors showing you how something is done, followed by your chance to practice - in a virtual lab environment. All companies must be able to demonstrate some examples of their courseware. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and interactive areas to practice in.
It is generally unwise to choose training that is only available online. Connection quality and reliability varies hugely across your average broadband company, it makes sense to have actual CD or DVD ROM’s.
It’s usual for students to get confused with one aspect of their training which doesn’t even occur to them: The method used to ’segment’ the courseware before being delivered to your home. Normally, you will join a program taking 1-3 years and receive a module at a time. This sounds logical on one level, until you consider this: Maybe the order of study prescribed by the provider doesn’t suit you. And what if you don’t finish all the elements inside of their particular timetable?
For the perfect solution, you’d get ALL the training materials right at the beginning - meaning you’ll have all of them to come back to at any time in the future - whenever it suits you. Variations can then be made to the order that you complete each objective as and when something more intuitive seems right for you.
Authorised simulation materials and exam preparation packages are essential - and absolutely ought to be offered by your course provider. Be sure that the simulated exams haven’t just got questions in the right areas, but are also posing them in the way the real exams will phrase them. This completely unsettles trainees if the phraseology and format is completely different. Why don’t you verify your depth of understanding by doing tests and mock ups of exams to get you ready for the proper exam.
A useful feature that several companies offer is a programme of Job Placement assistance. It’s intention is to steer you into your first IT role. Don’t get overly impressed with this service - it isn’t unusual for training companies to overstate it’s need. Ultimately, the massive skills shortage in Britain is why employers will be interested in you.
CV and Interview advice and support should be offered (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). Make sure you work on your old CV immediately - don’t wait until you’ve finished your exams! Quite often, you will be offered your first role whilst still on the course (occasionally right at the beginning). If you haven’t updated your CV to say what you’re studying - or it’s not getting in front of interviewers, then you aren’t even in the running! If you don’t want to travel too far to work, then it’s quite likely that a local (but specialised) recruitment consultancy can generally be more appropriate than a national service, because they’re far more likely to be familiar with what’s available near you.
A slight grievance of various training companies is how much people are focused on studying to get top marks in their exams, but how un-prepared they are to work on getting the role they have acquired skills for. Have confidence - the IT industry needs YOU.
Viewed 62 times by 25 viewers
