It’s quite some achievement that you’ve already got this far! A small number of workers enjoy their work and find it stimulating, but the majority complain to each other and nothing happens. The fact that you’re here means it’s probable that you’re at least considering retraining, so well done to you. Now you just need to get busy to find your direction.
It’s in your interests that in advance of taking any study program, you chat with an expert who has knowledge of the industry and can point you in the right direction. They can assess your personality and give you guidance on the right role for you:
* Do you enjoy a busy working environment? Perhaps you like being a team player? Or you may prefer task-orientated work that you deal with by yourself?
* Banking and building are none too stable right now, so which industry will answer your needs?
* Is this the final time you envisage re-training, and if it is, do you suppose your new career will give you scope to do that?
* Do you believe that the training program you’ve chosen will offer you employment opportunities, and make it possible to work right up to the time you want to stop?
We ask you to consider the computer industry – there are greater numbers of jobs than staff to fill them, and it’s a rare career choice where the market sector is growing. In contrast to the opinions of certain people, it isn’t a bunch of techie geeks gazing at their computer screens all day long (some jobs are like that of course.) The vast majority of roles are taken by ordinary people who enjoy a very nice lifestyle due to better than average wages.
A successful training package will undoubtedly also offer Microsoft (or key company) simulation materials and exam preparation packages.
Due to the fact that most IT examination boards come from the United States, you must be prepared for the way exams are phrased. It isn’t good enough just going through the right questions – they must be in an exam format that exactly replicates the real thing.
Be sure to ask for testing modules so you’ll be able to verify your knowledge whenever you need to. Simulations of exams add to your knowledge bank – then the actual exam is much easier.
If you forget everything else – then just remember this: Always get full 24×7 instructor and mentor support. You will have so many problems later if you let this one slide.
Locate training schools where you can receive help at all hours of the day and night (irrespective of whether it’s the wee hours on Sunday morning!) Make sure it’s always 24×7 direct access to mentors and instructors, and not a call-centre that will take messages so you’re consistently being held in a queue for a call-back at a convenient time for them.
The most successful trainers have many support offices active in different time-zones. They use an online interactive interface to join them all seamlessly, no matter what time you login, help is just seconds away, without any contact issues or hassle.
Don’t under any circumstances take a lower level of service. Support round-the-clock is really your only option with computer-based learning. Maybe late-evening study is not your thing; but for most of us, we’re out at work at the time when most support is available.
A number of people think that the school and FE college route is still the most effective. So why then are commercially accredited qualifications becoming more popular with employers?
The IT sector is of the opinion that for an understanding of the relevant skills, the right accreditation from companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA is far more effective and specialised – and a fraction of the cost and time.
Essentially, only that which is required is learned. Actually, it’s not quite as pared down as that, but principally the objective has to be to cover the precise skills needed (alongside some required background) – without going into too much detail in everything else – in the way that academic establishments often do.
In simple terms: Authorised IT qualifications provide exactly what an employer needs – the title says it all: i.e. I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Designing Security for a Windows 2003 Network’. Consequently employers can identify just what their needs are and which qualifications are needed for the job.
The market provides an excess of employment in IT. Arriving at the correct choice in this uncertainty can be very difficult.
Flicking through long lists of different and confusing job titles is a complete waste of time. Most of us don’t really appreciate what our own family members do for a living – so we have no hope of understanding the ins and outs of a specific IT job.
To attack this, there should be a discussion of a variety of core topics:
* Your individual personality as well as your interests – the sort of work-related things you like and dislike.
* What length of time can you allocate for your training?
* Any personal or home requirements you have?
* Many students don’t properly consider the level of commitment demanded to achieve their goals.
* You need to understand the differences across each individual training area.
In all honesty, it’s obvious that the only real way to seek advice on these matters tends to be through a good talk with an advisor that understands Information Technology (and more importantly the commercial needs.)
(C) S. Edwards 2009. Visit Career Skills Advice or CareerChangeJob.co.uk.
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