Choosing Online Computer Training 2009
February 24, 2009 by Jason Kendall
Filed under Online Colleges
What might you expect the most superior Microsoft accredited suppliers to provide a trainee in the UK today? Obviously, the most supreme Gold Partner Microsoft accredited programs, presenting a selection of courses to take you into a selection of professions with IT. Perhaps you’d like to talk to industry experts, who can give you some ideas on what sort of job would suit you, and the kind of tasks that are suitable for somebody with your character and ability. Training programs should be put together to match your current skills and aptitude. Consequently, after working out the right IT job for you, your next requirement is the most suitable program that will equip you for the role.
Often, folks don’t comprehend what IT is all about. It’s stimulating, innovative, and means you’re doing your bit in the gigantic wave of technology that will affect us all over the next generation. We’ve only just begun to get an inclination of how technology will influence everything we do. The internet will massively change how we view and interact with the world around us over the coming decades.
And keep in mind that the average salary in IT in the United Kingdom is considerably more than average salaries nationally, which means you’ll be in a good position to receive a lot more once qualified in IT, than you’d expect to earn elsewhere. It’s evident that we have a significant nationwide requirement for trained and qualified IT technicians. And as growth in the industry shows little sign of contracting, it seems there’s going to be for years to come.
It’s indisputable, the computer industry promises marvellous opportunities. But, to investigate fully, what questions do we need to be posing, and what are the sectors we need to investigate?
Many companies focus completely on the certification process, and avoid focusing on the reasons for getting there – getting yourself a new job or career. Always begin with the end in mind – don’t get hung-up on the training vehicle. Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing the job for 20 years. Avoid the mistake of opting for what may seem to be a program of interest to you only to waste your life away with a job you hate!
It’s essential to keep your focus on what it is you’re trying to achieve, and build your study action-plan from that – don’t do it back-to-front. Stay focused on the end-goal and begin studying for a career that will keep you happy for many years. Always seek guidance and advice from an experienced industry advisor, even if you have to pay – as it’s a lot cheaper and safer to find out at the start if your choices are appropriate, instead of discovering following two years of study that you’ve picked the wrong track and have to return to the start of another program.
Students who consider this area of study can be very practical by nature, and don’t always take well to classrooms, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If this could be you, go for more modern interactive training, with on-screen demonstrations and labs. Where we can study while utilising as many senses as possible, then we normally see dramatically better results.
Study programs now come via DVD-ROM discs, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Using video-streaming, you can watch instructors demonstrating how to perform the required skill, followed by your chance to practice – with interactive lab sessions. Always insist on a study material demo’ from the training company. You should ask for expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and interactive labs where you get to practice.
Purely on-line training should be avoided. Always choose CD or DVD based study materials where available, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want – it’s not wise to be held hostage to a good broadband connection all the time.
One of the most important things to insist on has to be 24×7 round-the-clock support from professional mentors and instructors. Too many companies will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend. Look for training with proper support available at any time of the day or night (irrespective of whether it’s the wee hours on Sunday morning!) You want access directly to professional tutors, and not access to a call-in service which takes messages – so you’re constantly waiting for a call-back – probably during office hours.
Top training companies have many support offices from around the world. They use an online interactive interface to join them all seamlessly, irrespective of the time you login, there is always help at hand, without any problems or delays. Never make do with a lower level of service. Direct-access 24×7 support is the only kind to make the grade with IT study. Maybe late-evening study is not your thing; often though, we’re working when traditional support if offered.
Accredited exam simulation and preparation packages are vital – and really must be sought from your training company. Don’t fall foul of relying on non-accredited exam preparation systems. The type of questions asked can be completely unlike authorised versions – and often this creates real issues when the proper exam time arrives. You should make sure you check your depth of understanding by doing quizzes and practice in simulated exam environments to prepare you for taking the real thing.
Commercial certification is now, undoubtedly, already replacing the older academic routes into the industry – so why is this? Key company training (to use industry-speak) is more effective in the commercial field. The IT sector has realised that such specialised knowledge is vital to meet the requirements of a technologically complex world. Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe are the big boys in this field. Vendor training works through concentrating on the particular skills that are needed (alongside an appropriate level of related knowledge,) rather than going into the heightened depths of background ‘extras’ that degrees in computing can often find themselves doing – to pad out the syllabus.
Imagine if you were an employer – and your company needed a person with some very particular skills. What’s the simplest way to find the right person: Wade your way through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, asking for course details and which trade skills they have, or choose particular accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and make your short-list from that. You’ll then be able to concentrate on getting a feel for the person at interview – instead of having to work out if they can do the job.
Any program that you’re going to undertake really needs to work up to a nationally (or globally) recognised exam as an end-result – not some little ‘in-house’ diploma – fit only for filing away and forgetting. Unless your qualification is issued by a conglomerate such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco, then it’s likely it won’t be commercially viable – as it’ll be an unknown commodity.