Are you toying with the idea of doing an MCSE? It's very possible then that it's likely you'll come into one of two categories: You're currently an IT professional and you'd like to gain accreditation with the Microsoft qualification. Alternatively you might be just about to enter the IT environment, and you've found that there are many opportunities for certified networking professionals.
When researching training companies, don't use those that cut costs by not providing the latest version from Microsoft. In the long-run, this will end up costing the student a great deal more because they've been taught from an outdated MCSE course which inevitably will have to be up-dated pretty much straight away.
Avoid businesses who're just out to sell you anything. You should be given detailed advice to ensure you are on the right course for you. Don't allow yourself to be sold some generic product by some pushy sales person.
A study programme really needs to work up to a nationally (or globally) recognised certification as an end-result - definitely not some 'in-house' plaque for your wall.
From a commercial standpoint, only the big-boys like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco or CompTIA (for instance) will get you into the interview seat. Nothing else makes the grade.
A service that many training companies provide is job placement assistance. This is to assist your search for your first position. The need for this feature can be bigged up out of proportion though - it's quite easy for eager sales people to overplay it. The fact of the matter is, the still growing need for IT personnel in the UK is why employers will be interested in you.
Help with your CV and interview techniques may be available (if not, see one of our sites for help). Make sure you work on your old CV today - don't wait until you've finished your exams!
It can happen that you haven't even passed your first exam when you will get your initial junior support role; yet this is not possible unless you've posted your CV on job sites.
Generally, a specialist locally based employment service (who will get paid commission to place you) will perform better than any division of a training company. They should, of course, also know the local industry and employment needs.
A regular aggravation of a number of training providers is how much men and women are prepared to study to get top marks in their exams, but how un-prepared they are to work on getting the position they're qualified for. Have confidence - the IT industry needs YOU.
Commercial certification is now, without a doubt, taking over from the traditional academic paths into the IT sector - but why should this be?
Industry is of the opinion that for an understanding of the relevant skills, certified accreditation supplied for example by Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe most often has much more specialised relevance - and a fraction of the cost and time.
University courses, for instance, can often get caught up in a lot of loosely associated study - and much too wide a syllabus. Students are then prevented from learning the core essentials in sufficient depth.
Assuming a company is aware what they're looking for, then all it takes is an advert for the particular skill-set required. The syllabuses are set to exacting standards and can't change from one establishment to the next (as academic syllabuses often do).
One thing you must always insist on is 24x7 round-the-clock support via professional mentors and instructors. So many companies we come across will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend.
Don't buy study programmes that only provide support to trainees via a message system when it's outside of usual working hours. Training organisations will give you every excuse in the book why you don't need this. Essentially - support is required when it's required - not as-and-when it's suitable for their staff.
As long as you look hard, you will find professional training packages that provide their students online support around the clock - no matter what time of day it is.
Don't accept second best when you're looking for the right support service. Most IT hopefuls who throw in the towel, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).
When researching training companies, don't use those that cut costs by not providing the latest version from Microsoft. In the long-run, this will end up costing the student a great deal more because they've been taught from an outdated MCSE course which inevitably will have to be up-dated pretty much straight away.
Avoid businesses who're just out to sell you anything. You should be given detailed advice to ensure you are on the right course for you. Don't allow yourself to be sold some generic product by some pushy sales person.
A study programme really needs to work up to a nationally (or globally) recognised certification as an end-result - definitely not some 'in-house' plaque for your wall.
From a commercial standpoint, only the big-boys like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco or CompTIA (for instance) will get you into the interview seat. Nothing else makes the grade.
A service that many training companies provide is job placement assistance. This is to assist your search for your first position. The need for this feature can be bigged up out of proportion though - it's quite easy for eager sales people to overplay it. The fact of the matter is, the still growing need for IT personnel in the UK is why employers will be interested in you.
Help with your CV and interview techniques may be available (if not, see one of our sites for help). Make sure you work on your old CV today - don't wait until you've finished your exams!
It can happen that you haven't even passed your first exam when you will get your initial junior support role; yet this is not possible unless you've posted your CV on job sites.
Generally, a specialist locally based employment service (who will get paid commission to place you) will perform better than any division of a training company. They should, of course, also know the local industry and employment needs.
A regular aggravation of a number of training providers is how much men and women are prepared to study to get top marks in their exams, but how un-prepared they are to work on getting the position they're qualified for. Have confidence - the IT industry needs YOU.
Commercial certification is now, without a doubt, taking over from the traditional academic paths into the IT sector - but why should this be?
Industry is of the opinion that for an understanding of the relevant skills, certified accreditation supplied for example by Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe most often has much more specialised relevance - and a fraction of the cost and time.
University courses, for instance, can often get caught up in a lot of loosely associated study - and much too wide a syllabus. Students are then prevented from learning the core essentials in sufficient depth.
Assuming a company is aware what they're looking for, then all it takes is an advert for the particular skill-set required. The syllabuses are set to exacting standards and can't change from one establishment to the next (as academic syllabuses often do).
One thing you must always insist on is 24x7 round-the-clock support via professional mentors and instructors. So many companies we come across will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend.
Don't buy study programmes that only provide support to trainees via a message system when it's outside of usual working hours. Training organisations will give you every excuse in the book why you don't need this. Essentially - support is required when it's required - not as-and-when it's suitable for their staff.
As long as you look hard, you will find professional training packages that provide their students online support around the clock - no matter what time of day it is.
Don't accept second best when you're looking for the right support service. Most IT hopefuls who throw in the towel, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).
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