Author: Jason Kendall
Computer and network support staff are ever more sought after in the United Kingdom, as organisations have come to depend on their technical advice and ability to fix and repair. Whereupon we’re all becoming massively more dependent on our PC’s, we simultaneously emerge as more dependent on the commercially qualified IT networkers, who keep the systems going.
Does job security really exist anymore? Here in the UK, with businesses changing their mind at alarming speeds, it seems increasingly unlikely. Security only exists now via a rapidly increasing market, driven forward by a shortage of trained workers. It’s this shortage that creates the appropriate setting for a secure market – a far better situation.
Using the computing business for instance, the 2006 e-Skills analysis highlighted a national skills shortage throughout the United Kingdom of around 26 percent. Therefore, out of each 4 positions in existence across Information Technology (IT), employers can only source certified professionals for 3 of the 4. Appropriately qualified and commercially accredited new staff are consequently at an absolute premium, and it seems it will continue to be so for many years to come. It would be hard to imagine if a better time or market circumstances is ever likely to exist for obtaining certification in this hugely expanding and budding market.
How can we go about making a good choice then? With all these possibilities, it’s important to know where to investigate – and what it is we should be digging for.
Far too many companies focus completely on the certification process, and forget why you’re doing this – which will always be getting the job or career you want. Always start with the end in mind – don’t make the journey more important than where you want to get to. It’s not unheard of, in many cases, to thoroughly enjoy one year of training and then find yourself trapped for decades in a career that does nothing for you, as a consequence of not performing the correct level of soul-searching at the beginning.
Spend some time thinking about how much you want to earn and the level of your ambition. Usually, this will point the way to which particular qualifications will be expected and what’ll be expected of you in your new role. Have a chat with a skilled professional that knows about the sector you’re looking at, and could provide an in-depth explanation of what you’re going to be doing in that job. Getting all these things right before beginning a retraining programme will prevent a lot of wasted time and effort.
Some training companies will only offer support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; It’s rare to find someone who offers late evening or full weekend cover. Beware of institutions which use call-centres ‘out-of-hours’ – where an advisor will call back during standard office hours. This is no use if you’re stuck and need an answer now.
The best trainers have many support offices active in different time-zones. Online access provides the interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, no matter what time you login, help is at hand, without any contact issues or hassle. If you opt for less than support round-the-clock, you’ll regret it. You may avoid using the support late at night, but consider weekends, late evenings or early mornings
Traditional teaching in classrooms, using textbooks and whiteboards, is usually pretty hard going. If this sounds like you, find training programs that are multimedia based. Where possible, if we can involve all our senses in the learning process, then the results are usually dramatically better.
Fully interactive motion videos utilising video demo’s and practice lab’s beat books hands-down. And you’ll find them fun and interesting. All companies must be able to demonstrate a few examples of the materials provided for study. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and a wide selection of interactive elements.
It’s usually bad advice to choose training that is only available online. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from most broadband providers, make sure you get actual CD or DVD ROM’s.
Many men and women assume that the traditional school, college or university path is still the best way into IT. So why is commercial certification beginning to overtake it? With an ever-increasing technical demand on resources, the IT sector has been required to move to specialist courses only available through the vendors themselves – namely companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA. This usually turns out to involve less time and financial outlay. They do this by focusing on the actual skills required (along with a relevant amount of background knowledge,) as opposed to spending months and years on the background ‘extras’ that computer Science Degrees can get bogged down in – to fill a three or four year course.
Imagine if you were an employer – and your company needed a person with some very particular skills. What is easier: Pore through reams of different degrees and college qualifications from graduate applicants, asking for course details and which workplace skills they have, or choose particular accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and make your short-list from that. You can then focus on how someone will fit into the team at interview – instead of having to work out if they can do the job.
A key training package will undoubtedly also offer Microsoft (or key company) simulation materials and exam preparation packages. Don’t go for training programs depending on unauthorised exam papers and questions. The type of questions asked can be completely unlike authorised versions – and sometimes this can be a real headache when it comes to taking the real exam. Clearly, it is vital to make sure you’re absolutely ready for your actual certification exam before embarking on it. Rehearsing simulated tests logs the information in your brain and will avoid you getting frustrated with thwarted exam entries.
Many training companies will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance program, to help you get your first job. The honest truth is that it’s not as hard as some people make out to secure a job – once you’re trained and certified; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.
Nevertheless, don’t procrastinate and wait until you have qualified before updating your CV. Right at the beginning of your training, list what you’re working on and place it on jobsites! You might not even have passed your first exam when you will be offered your first junior support job; but this won’t be the case unless your CV is with employers. You’ll normally experience quicker service from a specialist independent regional employment service than any training company’s employment division, because they’ll know the area better.
A common grievance of a number of training course providers is how hard people are prepared to study to get qualified, but how un-prepared that student is to get the role they’re trained for. Get out there and hustle – you might find it’s fun.
After 2 Decades in IT, Jason Kendall has focused himself on computer training (UK based) consultancy. To investigate IT Training, visit LearningLolly Computer Courses.