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There are four A+ exams and specialised sectors, but you’re just expected to achieve certification in two to be thought of as qualified. Because of this, a great number of colleges restrict their course to just 2 areas. But giving you all four options will provide you with a far greater perspective of the subject, which you’ll come to realise is essential in professional employment.

As well as being taught about building and fixing computers, trainees involved in this training will be taught how to work in antistatic conditions, along with remote access, fault finding and diagnostics.

If you add Network+ training to your A+, you’ll also learn how to take care of networks, giving you the facility to expect a better remuneration package.

One crafty way that course providers make a big mark-up is by charging for exams up-front and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. This looks like a great idea for the student, until you think it through:

Everybody’s aware that they’re ultimately paying for it – obviously it has already in the overall price charged by the college. It’s certainly not free – and it’s insulting that we’re supposed to think it is!

It’s everybody’s ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Entering examinations one by one and paying for them just before taking them puts you in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt – you put the effort in and are mindful of the investment you’ve made.

Do your exams as locally as possible and don’t pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you’re ready.

A lot of current training course providers make huge amounts of money through getting in the money for exam fees early then hoping you won’t see them all through.

Most companies will insist that you take mock exams first and not allow you to re-take an exam until you’ve demonstrated an excellent ability to pass – which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.

VUE and Prometric examinations are in the region of 112 pounds in Great Britain. Why spend so much more on fees for ‘exam guarantees’ (usually wrapped up in the course package price) – when good quality study materials, the proper support and a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools are actually the key to your success.

One useful service offered by some training providers is a Job Placement Assistance program. This is to help you get your first commercial position. The fact of the matter is it isn’t a complex operation to land your first job – assuming you’re well trained and qualified; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.

Advice and support about getting interviews and your CV might be provided (if not, see one of our sites for help). It’s essential that you update that dusty old CV straight away – don’t leave it till you pass the exams!

You might not even have passed your first exam when you will be offered your first junior support role; yet this won’t be the case unless you’ve posted your CV on job sites.

You can usually expect quicker service from a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service than any training course provider’s national service, as they’ll know the area better.

A big frustration for a number of course providers is how hard trainees are prepared to study to get qualified, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the job they’ve acquired skills for. Get out there and hustle – you might find it’s fun.

Student support is absolutely essential – locate a good company offering 24×7 direct access to instructors, as anything less will not satisfy and will also hamper your progress.

Don’t accept certification programs which can only support students with a call-centre messaging system when it’s outside of usual working hours. Companies will defend this with all kinds of excuses. Essentially – you need support when you need support – not when it’s convenient for them.

Keep your eyes open for colleges that utilise many support facilities across multiple time-zones. Each one should be integrated to enable simple one-stop access together with 24 hours-a-day access, when it’s convenient for you, with no fuss.

Never compromise when it comes to your support. The majority of IT hopefuls who give up, are in that situation because of a lack of support.

Now, why is it better to gain qualifications from the commercial sector as opposed to familiar academic qualifications gained through the state educational establishments?

As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, industry has been required to move to the specialised core-skills learning that the vendors themselves supply – in other words companies such as CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. This usually turns out to involve less time and financial outlay.

In essence, students are simply taught the necessary specifics in depth. Actually, it’s not quite as pared down as that, but the principle objective is to concentrate on the fundamentally important skill-sets (with some necessary background) – without trying to cram in every other area (as academia often does).

Put yourself in the employer’s position – and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What should you do: Go through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, asking for course details and which vocational skills they have, or choose particular accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and make your short-list from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they’ll fit in – rather than establishing whether they can do a specific task.

(C) 2009 Scott Edwards. Navigate to HTML Programming or Click HERE.

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