UK CompTIA A Plus Training - Thoughts

There are actually 4 different sectors in the full CompTIA A+ syllabus, of which 2 passes are needed for your A+ qualification. However only learning about 2 of the specialised areas might well not equip you for a job. Try to cover all four - for greater confidence in the world of work.

In addition to learning how to build and fix computers, students on A+ courses will have instruction on how to work in antistatic conditions, along with remote access, fault finding and diagnostics.

If your ambition is taking care of computer networks, add the excellent Network+ to your training package. Taking this course as well will prepare you to assist you greatly in the job market. You may also want to consider the route to networking via Microsoft, in the form of MCP's, MCSA or the full MCSE.

Students will sometimes miss checking on something of absolutely vital importance - how their training provider divides up the physical training materials, and into how many separate packages.

Many think it logical (with a typical time scale of 1-3 years for a full commercial certification,) for many training providers to send out the courseware in stages, as you pass each element. However:

How would they react if you didn't complete each section within the time limits imposed? And maybe you'll find their order of completion doesn't work as well as some other structure would for you.

For future safety and flexibility, it's not unusual for students to make sure that every element of their training is posted to them in one go, with nothing held back. That means it's down to you how fast or slow and in what order you'd like to take your exams.

We're often asked why qualifications from colleges and universities are being replaced by more qualifications from the commercial sector?

Vendor-based training (in industry terminology) is most often much more specialised. Industry is aware that this level of specialised understanding is vital to meet the requirements of an increasingly more technical workplace. Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA dominate in this arena.

Many degrees, for instance, often get bogged down in too much background study - with a syllabus that's far too wide. Students are then held back from understanding the specific essentials in enough depth.

It's rather like the advert: 'It does what it says on the label'. All an employer has to do is know what they need doing, and then match up the appropriate exam numbers as a requirement. That way they can be sure they're interviewing applicants who can do the job.

A service offered by some training providers is a Job Placement Assistance program. It's intention is to help you find your first job in the industry. However sometimes there is more emphasis than is necessary on this service, for it is genuinely quite straightforward for any focused and well taught person to get a job in the IT industry - because there's a great need for qualified personnel.

Having said that, it's important to have help with your CV and interview techniques though; also we would encourage everyone to get their CV updated the day they start training - don't procrastinate and leave it for when you're ready to start work.

Quite often, you'll secure your first role while still studying (even when you've just left first base). If your course details aren't on your CV (and it hasn't been posted on jobsites) then you're not even going to be known about!

If you'd like to get employment in your home town, then you may well find that a local (but specialised) recruitment consultancy can generally serve you better than the trainer's recruitment division, due to the fact that they're far more likely to know the jobs that are going locally.

Please be sure that you don't conscientiously work through your course materials, and then just stop and leave it up to everyone else to find you a job. Get off your backside and start looking for yourself. Put as much energy and enthusiasm into landing your new role as you did to get trained.

Traditional teaching in classrooms, utilising reference manuals and books, is often a huge slog for most of us. If you're nodding as you read this, dig around for more practical courses which feature interactive and multimedia modules.

Our ability to remember is increased when all our senses are brought into the mix - experts have been clear on this for many years.

Courses are now available on CD and DVD discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Through video streaming, you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how it's all done, with some practice time to follow - in a virtual lab environment.

It would be silly not to view some of the typical study materials provided before you sign on the dotted line. What you want are videoed instructor demonstrations and interactive modules with audio-visual elements.

Seek out CD and DVD ROM based physical training media wherever available. Thus avoiding all the issues associated with the variability of broadband quality and service.

(C) Jason Kendall. Pop over to LearningLolly.com for smart career tips. IT Training Company or A+ Training.