In the UK today, industry would struggle were it not for support workers mending networks and computers, while advising users on a day to day basis. As we get to grips with the daunting complexities of technology, greater numbers of trained staff are being sought to dedicate themselves to the various different areas we rely on.
It only makes sense to consider retraining paths that’ll lead to industry approved qualifications. There are way too many minor schools offering unknown ‘in-house’ certificates which are worthless when you start your job-search.
Only nationally recognised examinations from the likes of Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe and CompTIA will open the doors to employers.
With all the options available, it’s not really surprising that a large percentage of trainees don’t really understand the best career path they should even pursue.
As having no commercial skills in computing, in what way could we be expected to know what someone in a particular job does?
The key to answering this dilemma appropriately flows from a deep discussion of several areas:
* Personality factors plus what interests you – the sort of work-oriented areas please or frustrate you.
* Are you driven to get certified due to a specific raison d’etre – for example, is it your goal to work from home (self-employment?)?
* What are your thoughts on salary vs job satisfaction?
* With so many different sectors to gain certifications for in computing – there’s a need to get some key facts on what sets them apart.
* It makes sense to take in what is different for each area of training.
At the end of the day, the best way of investigating all this is through a meeting with a professional that has enough background to be able to guide you.
The way a programme is physically sent to you is often missed by many students. How many stages do they break the program into? And in what order and do you have a say in when you’ll get each part?
Most companies will sell you a program spread over 1-3 years, and courier the materials in pieces as you pass each exam. On the surface this seems reasonable – until you consider the following:
With thought, many trainees understand that their providers typical path to completion isn’t ideal for them. 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?
In all honesty, the very best answer is to have a copy of their prescribed order of study, but get all the study materials at the start. Meaning you’ve got it all in the event you don’t complete everything quite as quick as they’d want.
A number of men and women assume that the state educational path is the right way even now. So why then is commercial certification beginning to overtake it?
Key company training (to use industry-speak) is far more effective and specialised. The IT sector has acknowledged that specialisation is what’s needed to handle a technically advancing workplace. Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA are the dominant players.
This is done by focusing on the skill-sets required (together with a proportionate degree of background knowledge,) as opposed to spending months and years on the background ‘padding’ that degree courses can get bogged down in (to fill up a syllabus or course).
Put yourself in the employer’s position – and you required somebody who had very specific skills. Which is the most straightforward: Go through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, having to ask what each has covered and which vocational skills they’ve mastered, or pick out specific commercial accreditations that precisely match your needs, and make your short-list from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they’ll fit in – instead of having to work out if they can do the job.
(C) Jason Kendall. Try LearningLolly.com for quality advice. A+ Courses or CLICK HERE.
