Should you be looking for Microsoft certified training, then you’ll naturally expect training companies to supply a wide selection of the most superior training courses available today.
Additionally you might like to be given advice on the sort of careers you might go for once you’ve qualified, and the kind of person those jobs may be appropriate for. The majority of students prefer to discuss what they might be good at.
Be sure your training is tailored to your needs and abilities. The best companies will make sure that the course is relevant to the career you want to get into.
Speak with almost any capable consultant and we’d be amazed if they couldn’t provide you with many terrible tales of students who’ve been sold completely the wrong course for them. Only deal with a skilled professional that digs deep to uncover the best thing for you – not for their wallet! You must establish an ideal starting-point that fits you.
With a bit of real-world experience or some accreditation, your starting-point of learning is very different to someone completely new.
If this is going to be your initial stab at studying to take an IT exam then you may want to practice with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first.
A subtle way that colleges make more money is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course and offering an exam guarantee. This sounds impressive, till you look at the facts:
Obviously it’s not free – you’re still coughing up for it – the cost has just been rolled into the whole training package.
If it’s important to you to qualify first ‘go’, you must pay for each exam as you go, prioritise it appropriately and give the task sufficient application.
Isn’t it outrageous to have to pay a training company in advance for exams? Go for the best offer at the appropriate time, instead of paying any mark-up – and do it in a local testing centre – instead of miles away at the college’s beck and call.
Big margins are netted by some training companies that get money upfront for exam fees. A number of students don’t take them for various reasons but the company keeps the money. Astoundingly enough, providers exist that depend on students not taking their exams – as that’s very profitable for them.
Additionally, ‘Exam Guarantees’ often aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. Many training companies will not pay for re-takes until you’ve completely satisfied them that you’re ready this time.
VUE and Prometric examinations are in the region of 112 pounds in this country. Why spend so much more on charges for ‘Exam Guarantees’ (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) – when a quality course, support and study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.
Each programme of learning must provide a nationally (or globally) recognised qualification at the finale – not some little ‘in-house’ piece of paper.
Unless the accreditation comes from a company like Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco, then chances are it won’t be commercially viable – as no-one will have heard of it.
Frequently, the average student doesn’t have a clue what way to go about starting in the IT industry, or even which sector to focus their retraining program on.
Reading lists of IT career possibilities is just a waste of time. The vast majority of us don’t even know what our good friends do at work – let alone understand the ins and outs of a particular IT career.
Usually, the way to come at this problem properly stems from a thorough discussion of some important points:
* Personality factors and interests – the sort of working tasks please or frustrate you.
* Are you hoping to re-train for a particular reason – for example, do you aim to work based from home (being your own boss?)?
* The income needs that are important to you?
* Always think in-depth about the level of commitment required to attain their desired level.
* Taking a cold, hard look at how much time and effort that you’re going to put into it.
When all is said and done, the best way of checking this all out is through a meeting with someone that has enough background to be able to guide you.
(C) Jason Kendall. Look at LearningLolly.com for superb ideas on SQL Server Training and MCITP Training.
