IT Courses - Thoughts

There are four specialised areas of training in the full CompTIA A+ syllabus, of which 2 passes are needed for your A+ qualification. However restricting yourself to two of the four specialities is likely to leave your knowledge base somewhat light. At least learn about all four - employers will notice the difference.

As well as learning how to build PC's and fix them, students of A+ will learn how to operate in antistatic conditions, how to fault find, to diagnose and to remotely access problems.

It could be a good idea to think about adding the CompTIA Network+ training as it will enable you to work with networks, and have a more responsible working role.

Getting your first commercial position can feel more straightforward if you're supported with a Job Placement Assistance program. The fact of the matter is it's not as hard as some people make out to secure the right work - once you're trained and certified; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.

Nevertheless, avoid waiting until you've finished your training before getting your CV updated. The day you start training, list what you're working on and get it out there!

Getting onto the 'maybe' pile of CV's is far better than not even being known about. Often junior support jobs are given to students (who've only just left first base.)

Generally, you'll receive quicker service from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than you'll experience from any course provider's employment division, as they will understand the local industry and employment needs.

Many trainees, it seems, put a great deal of effort into their studies (sometimes for years), and then just stop instead of looking for a job. Sell yourself… Do your best to let employers know about you. Don't expect a job to just fall into your lap.

Beware of putting too much emphasis, as many people do, on the certification itself. Training for training's sake is generally pointless; you're training to become commercially employable. You need to remain focused on where you want to go.

You may train for one year and then end up doing the job for 20 years. Avoid the mistake of finding what seems like a very 'interesting' program only to spend 20 years doing a job you hate!

Stay focused on where you want to go, and then build your training requirements around that - not the other way round. Keep your eyes on your goals and ensure that you're training for something you'll still be enjoying many years from now.

Take advice from an experienced advisor, even if you have to pay a small fee - as it's a lot cheaper and safer to find out at the start if you've chosen correctly, rather than find out after several years of study that the job you've chosen is not for you and have to return to the start of another program.

Considering how a program is 'delivered' to you is often missed by many students. How many stages do they break the program into? What is the order and at what speed is it delivered?

Usually, you'll join a programme staged over 2 or 3 years and receive a module at a time. This sounds logical on one level, until you consider this:

Many students find that the trainer's 'standard' path of training isn't as suitable as another. They might find varying the order of study will be far more suitable. And what if you don't get to the end at the pace they expect?

To be in the best situation you would have all the learning modules packed off to your address right at the beginning; the whole caboodle! Thus avoiding any future problems that could impede the reaching of your goals.

It's likely that you've always enjoyed practical work - a 'hands-on' individual. Typically, the trial of reading reference books and manuals can be just about bared when essential, but you'd hate it. You should use video and multimedia based materials if you'd really rather not use books.

Research has always verified that becoming involved with our studies, to utilise all our senses, is proven to produce longer-lasting and deeper memory retention.

The latest home-based training features interactive discs. Instructor-led tutorials will mean you'll find things easier to remember by way of their teaching and demonstrations. Then you test your knowledge by interacting with the software and practicing yourself.

It would be silly not to view a small selection of training examples before you purchase a course. You should expect video tutorials, instructor demo's and audio-visual elements backed up by interactive lab's.

Pick CD and DVD ROM based physical training media every time. This then avoids all the potential pitfalls with broadband 'downtime' or slow-speeds.

Written by Scott Edwards. Browse around Flash Courses or CLICK HERE.