There are a total of 4 specialist training sectors in the overall A+ programme, of which you'll need certification in two subjects to gain A+ competency. But restricting yourself to two of the specialised areas is likely to leave your knowledge base somewhat light. At least learn about all four - for greater confidence in the world of work.
Once on the A+ computer training course you'll be taught how to build, fix, repair and work in antistatic conditions. You'll also cover fault finding and diagnostics, through both hands-on and remote access.
If you add Network+ training to your A+, you'll also learn how to take care of networks, giving you the facility to expect a better remuneration package.
Consider the points below very carefully if you've been persuaded that the sales ploy of 'guaranteeing' exams sounds like a benefit to the student:
Everybody's aware that they're ultimately paying for it - obviously it has already in the overall price charged by the college. It's certainly not free - and it's insulting that we're supposed to think it is!
Students who go in for their examinations when it's appropriate, funding them as they go are much more likely to pass. They are aware of what they've paid and revise more thoroughly to make sure they're ready.
Hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you're ready, and hang on to your cash. You'll also be able to choose where to do your exams - so you can choose somewhere closer to home.
Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for examination fees when you didn't need to? A lot of profit is made because training colleges are getting money in early for exam fees - and then cashing in when they're not all taken.
Don't forget, with 'Exam Guarantees' from most places - they control when and how often you can re-take the exam. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company's say so.
On average, exams cost approximately 112 pounds twelve months or so ago via Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra to have 'an Exam Guarantee', when common sense dictates that the responsible approach is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.
One useful service offered by some training providers is a Job Placement Assistance program. This is to help you get your first commercial position. The fact of the matter is it isn't a complex operation to land your first job - assuming you're well trained and qualified; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.
Whatever you do, avoid waiting until you have completed your exams before updating your CV. As soon as you start studying, list what you're working on and get it out there!
Getting your CV considered is more than not being known. A surprising amount of junior jobs are got by trainees (sometimes when they've only just got going.)
You can usually expect quicker service from a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service than any training course provider's national service, as they'll know the area better.
In a nutshell, if you put as much hard work into securing your first job as into studying, you're not likely to experience problems. Some people strangely put hundreds of hours into their learning program and just give up once qualified and seem to expect employers to find them.
We need to make this very clear: Always get full 24x7 instructor and mentor support. Later, you'll kick yourself if you don't.
You'll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and phone support is often to a call-centre who will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team - who'll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, when it's convenient to them. This isn't a lot of good if you're lost and confused and only have a specific time you can study.
The very best programs tend to use an online access 24x7 facility utilising a variety of support centres throughout multiple time-zones. You'll have an environment which switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres irrespective of the time of day: Support when you need it.
If you fail to get yourself support round-the-clock, you'll quickly find yourself regretting it. It may be that you don't use it throughout the night, but you may need weekends, early mornings or late evenings.
Now, why is it better to gain qualifications from the commercial sector as opposed to familiar academic qualifications gained through the state educational establishments?
Industry now recognises that to learn the appropriate commercial skills, official accreditation supplied for example by CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA often is more effective in the commercial field - for considerably less.
In essence, students are simply taught the necessary specifics in depth. Actually, it's not quite as pared down as that, but the principle objective is to concentrate on the fundamentally important skill-sets (with some necessary background) - without trying to cram in every other area (as academia often does).
Put yourself in the employer's position - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What should you do: Go through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, asking for course details and which vocational skills they have, or choose particular accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and make your short-list from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they'll fit in - rather than establishing whether they can do a specific task.
Once on the A+ computer training course you'll be taught how to build, fix, repair and work in antistatic conditions. You'll also cover fault finding and diagnostics, through both hands-on and remote access.
If you add Network+ training to your A+, you'll also learn how to take care of networks, giving you the facility to expect a better remuneration package.
Consider the points below very carefully if you've been persuaded that the sales ploy of 'guaranteeing' exams sounds like a benefit to the student:
Everybody's aware that they're ultimately paying for it - obviously it has already in the overall price charged by the college. It's certainly not free - and it's insulting that we're supposed to think it is!
Students who go in for their examinations when it's appropriate, funding them as they go are much more likely to pass. They are aware of what they've paid and revise more thoroughly to make sure they're ready.
Hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you're ready, and hang on to your cash. You'll also be able to choose where to do your exams - so you can choose somewhere closer to home.
Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for examination fees when you didn't need to? A lot of profit is made because training colleges are getting money in early for exam fees - and then cashing in when they're not all taken.
Don't forget, with 'Exam Guarantees' from most places - they control when and how often you can re-take the exam. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company's say so.
On average, exams cost approximately 112 pounds twelve months or so ago via Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra to have 'an Exam Guarantee', when common sense dictates that the responsible approach is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.
One useful service offered by some training providers is a Job Placement Assistance program. This is to help you get your first commercial position. The fact of the matter is it isn't a complex operation to land your first job - assuming you're well trained and qualified; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.
Whatever you do, avoid waiting until you have completed your exams before updating your CV. As soon as you start studying, list what you're working on and get it out there!
Getting your CV considered is more than not being known. A surprising amount of junior jobs are got by trainees (sometimes when they've only just got going.)
You can usually expect quicker service from a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service than any training course provider's national service, as they'll know the area better.
In a nutshell, if you put as much hard work into securing your first job as into studying, you're not likely to experience problems. Some people strangely put hundreds of hours into their learning program and just give up once qualified and seem to expect employers to find them.
We need to make this very clear: Always get full 24x7 instructor and mentor support. Later, you'll kick yourself if you don't.
You'll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and phone support is often to a call-centre who will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team - who'll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, when it's convenient to them. This isn't a lot of good if you're lost and confused and only have a specific time you can study.
The very best programs tend to use an online access 24x7 facility utilising a variety of support centres throughout multiple time-zones. You'll have an environment which switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres irrespective of the time of day: Support when you need it.
If you fail to get yourself support round-the-clock, you'll quickly find yourself regretting it. It may be that you don't use it throughout the night, but you may need weekends, early mornings or late evenings.
Now, why is it better to gain qualifications from the commercial sector as opposed to familiar academic qualifications gained through the state educational establishments?
Industry now recognises that to learn the appropriate commercial skills, official accreditation supplied for example by CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA often is more effective in the commercial field - for considerably less.
In essence, students are simply taught the necessary specifics in depth. Actually, it's not quite as pared down as that, but the principle objective is to concentrate on the fundamentally important skill-sets (with some necessary background) - without trying to cram in every other area (as academia often does).
Put yourself in the employer's position - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What should you do: Go through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, asking for course details and which vocational skills they have, or choose particular accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and make your short-list from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they'll fit in - rather than establishing whether they can do a specific task.
About the Author:
Written by Scott Edwards. Pop to Change-My-Career.co.uk/QCMC.html or HTML Programming.
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