SonicCare Toothbrushes

Everybody is busy these days, and usually should we have cause to improve our career prospects, training at the same time as holding down a job is what we’re faced with. Training tracks certified by Microsoft can fill that gap.

It’s a good idea to find a training advisor, who could offer counsel on what sort of job would suit you most, and what sort of tasks are a good match for someone with a personality like yours.

Training must be customised to make the most of your skills and abilities. Consequently, once you’ve decided on the most fruitful career for you, your next requirement is the most suitable program that will get you into that job.

Considering how a program is ‘delivered’ to you isn’t always given the appropriate level of importance. 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?

Often, you will purchase a course that takes between and 1 and 3 years and get sent one module each time you pass an exam. This may seem sensible until you think about these factors:

What if there are reasons why you can’t finish every single section? What if you don’t find their order of learning is ideal for you? Due to no fault of yours, you may not meet the required timescales and not get all the study materials as a result.

In a perfect world, you’d ask for every single material to be delivered immediately – enabling you to have them all to return to any point – as and when you want. This allows a variation in the order that you complete your exams if another more intuitive route presents itself.

Some training providers will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance facility, to help you get your first job. However sometimes people are too impressed with this facility, as it is actually not that hard for any motivated and trained individual to get work in the IT environment – because companies everywhere are seeking qualified personnel.

Help with your CV and interview techniques may be available (if not, see one of our sites for help). Make sure you update that dusty old CV straight away – not after you’ve qualified!

It’s possible that you won’t have even taken your exams when you land your first junior support job; although this is not possible unless your CV is with employers.

The most efficient companies to help get you placed are generally independent and specialised local recruitment services. As they will get paid by the employer when they’ve placed you, they’re perhaps more focused on results.

Do ensure you don’t spend hundreds of hours on your training and studies, and then just stop and imagine someone else is miraculously going to secure your first position. Take responsibility for yourself and get out there. Channel the same energy and enthusiasm into securing your first job as it took to pass the exams.

It’s likely that you’ve always enjoyed practical work – the ‘hands-on’ individual. If you’re anything like us, the trial of reading reference books and manuals can be just about bared when essential, but it’s not ideal. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if book-based learning really isn’t your style.

Studies have always shown that becoming involved with our studies, to utilise all our senses, is far more likely to produce long-lasting memories.

Search for a course where you’re provided with an array of DVD-ROM’s – you’ll begin by watching videos of instructors demonstrating the skills, with the facility to use virtual lab’s to practice your new skills.

Each company you’re contemplating should be able to show you a few samples of the type of training materials they provide. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and a wide selection of interactive elements.

Many companies provide online training only; while you can get away with this much of the time, consider how you’ll deal with it if your access to the internet is broken or you get slow speeds and down-time etc. It’s much safer to rely on CD and DVD ROM materials that don’t suffer from these broadband issues.

Ensure all your accreditations are current and also valid commercially – don’t bother with courses that only give in-house certificates.

Only nationally recognised examinations from the major players like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe and CompTIA will open the doors to employers.

(C) 2009 Scott Edwards. Visit CareerQualifications.co.uk/gcarqua.html or PC Repair Course.

No related posts.