Sunday, October 4, 2009

MCSA Support Training - Insights

By Jason Kendall

The MCSA course is perfect for men and women looking to get into network support. So if you want to join the IT industry or already have experience but want to formalise that with an acknowledged certification, you can find the right training.

Identify a provider that's keen to understand you, and will help identify the correct course of action, even before they start thinking about which course. Experts will also be able to advise you where to commence based on your current skill and or lack of understanding.

Those that are drawn to this type of work are often very practical, and aren't really suited to the classroom environment, and slogging through piles of books. If this could be you, use multimedia, interactive learning, with on-screen demonstrations and labs.

Years of research and study has constantly verified that connecting physically with our study, will more likely produce memories that are deeper and longer-lasting.

The latest audio-visual interactive programs with demonstrations and practice sessions beat books hands-down. And they're far more fun.

Be sure to get a study material demo' from the school that you're considering. The materials should incorporate demo's from instructors, slideshows and interactive labs where you get to practice.

Opt for physical media such as CD or DVD ROM's where possible. Thus avoiding all the issues associated with broadband 'downtime' or slow-speeds.

Beware of putting too much emphasis, as a lot of students can, on the certification itself. Training is not an end in itself; you're training to become commercially employable. Stay focused on what it is you want to achieve.

Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing the job for 20 years. Ensure you avoid the fatal error of opting for what may seem to be an 'interesting' course and then put 10-20 years into a job you hate!

You must also consider what your attitude is towards career progression and earning potential, and if you're ambitious or not. It makes sense to understand what (if any) sacrifices you'll need to make for a particular role, what qualifications they want you to have and how to develop your experience.

The best advice for students is to speak to a skilled advisor before they make a decision on a particular study program. This is essential to ensure it features what is required for the chosen career.

Look at the following facts and pay great regard to them if you think the marketing blurb about an 'Exam Guarantee' sounds great value:

Thankfully, today we are a bit more aware of hype - and most of us cotton on to the fact that it is actually an additional cost to us (it isn't free or out of the goodness of their hearts!)

For those who want to qualify first 'go', you must fund each exam as you take it, give it the priority it deserves and be ready for the task.

Isn't it outrageous to have to pay the training course provider early for exams? Find the best exam deal or offer when you take the exam, rather than pay marked up fees - and do it locally - rather than possibly hours away from your area.

Huge profits are made by many companies that get money upfront for exam fees. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don't get to do their exams but the company keeps the money. Believe it or not, providers exist that rely on that fact - and that's how they increase their profits.

You should fully understand that re-takes with companies with an 'Exam Guarantee' are tightly controlled. You'll be required to sit pre-tests to make sure they think you're going to pass.

Paying maybe a thousand pounds extra on 'Exam Guarantees' is naive - when hard work, commitment and the right preparation via exam simulations is what will really see you through.

When was the last time you considered how safe your job is? Typically, we only think of this after something dramatic happens to shake us. But really, the lesson often learned too late is that true job security simply doesn't exist anymore, for nearly everyone now.

Now, we only experience security through a rapidly rising market, pushed forward by a lack of trained workers. These circumstances create the correct setting for market-security - definitely a more pleasing situation.

Investigating the computing market, the 2006 e-Skills investigation brought to light a more than 26 percent shortfall of skilled workers. Alternatively, you could say, this highlights that the UK only has three qualified staff for each four job positions available at the moment.

This one notion on its own reveals why the United Kingdom needs many more people to enter the industry.

Without a doubt, this really is a fabulous time to retrain into the IT industry.

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