Computer Training – Networking (110509)

by Jason Kendall

Finding the right training course to match industries needs is vital in this day and age. However, it's equally relevant to discover one that you will get on well with, that suits your personality and abilities. There are courses covering Microsoft User Skills up to Web Design, Databases, Programming and Networking. There is so much choice and that means you'll be likely to need to discuss your requirements with an experienced advisor before you confirm the course you want: the last thing you want to do is get on the wrong course for an area that you don't enjoy!

State-of-the-art training techniques currently enable students to learn on a new style of course, that is far less expensive than old-school courses. The great value of these quality courses means anyone can afford them.

It's indisputable, the UK Information Technology (IT) market provides impressive prospects. However, to investigate it properly, which questions do we need to raise, and which elements are the most important?

Make sure you don't get caught-up, as can often be the case, on the certification itself. Your training isn't about getting a plaque on your wall; you should be geared towards the actual job at the end of it. Focus on the end-goal. It's a testament to the marketing skills of the big companies, but a great many students commence training that sounds marvellous from the syllabus guide, but which delivers a career that doesn't fulfil at all. Try talking to typical college leavers for examples.

Prioritise understanding the exact expectations industry will have. What precise accreditations you'll need and in what way you can gain some industry experience. You should also spend a little time considering how far you wish to build your skill-set as often it can affect your choice of accreditations. The best advice for students is to chat with an experienced industry professional before they make a decision on a particular study program. This helps to ensure it contains the commercially required skills for the chosen career path.

One thing you must always insist on is proper direct-access 24x7 support via professional mentors and instructors. Too many companies only provide office hours (or extended office hours) support. Never purchase certification programs which can only support trainees via a call-centre messaging system after 6-9pm in the evening and during weekends. Training schools will defend this with all kinds of excuses. The bottom line is - support is needed when it's needed - not at their convenience.

The very best training providers use multiple support centres around the globe in several time-zones. They use an online interactive interface to provide a seamless experience, at any time you choose, help is just a click away, without any contact issues or hassle. If you accept anything less than direct-access round-the-clock support, you'll end up kicking yourself. It may be that you don't use it late at night, but you're bound to use weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.

Students who consider this area of study are usually quite practically-minded, and don't really enjoy classrooms, and endless reading of dry academic textbooks. If you identify with this, try the newer style of interactive study, where you can learn everything on-screen. Studies in learning psychology have shown that much more of what we learn in remembered when we use all our senses, and we get physically involved with the study process.

Top of the range study programs now offer interactive discs. Instructor-led tutorials will mean you'll absorb the modules, one by one, via the demonstrations and explanations. Then you test your knowledge by interacting with the software and practicing yourself. Always insist on a look at some courseware examples from the school that you're considering. You should ask for slide-shows, instructor-led videos and virtual practice lab's for your new skills.

You'll find that many companies will only provide online training only; while you can get away with this much of the time, consider what happens if your access to the internet is broken or you get a slow connection speed. It's preferable to have DVD or CD discs which will solve that problem.

In first place for the most common difficulty in the IT training sector is often the 'in-centre' workshop requirement. Most training schools push the so-called 'benefits' of these classes, however, they quickly become a major problem because of:

* The amount of travel required - frequent trips and often 100's of miles each time.

* Workshop availability; frequently Monday to Friday and sometimes 2-3 days at a time. It's not easy to get the work-leave.

* Annual leave lost - the majority of employed people only have 20 days holiday. If over half of it is swallowed up by study events, vacation time is going to be quite short for the family as a whole.

* Training events sometimes are over-subscribed, meaning we have to accept the '2nd best' solution.

* A lot of trainees want to work as quickly as possible, while others are looking to take a more 'steady' pace and not be pushed beyond their comfort-zone. This brings tension and difficulty a lot of the time.

* You shouldn't ignore the extra expense of driving or taking public transport or accommodation for the duration either. This can run to a lot of money - from hundreds to thousands. Work it out - you'll get a shock.

* Training privacy can be very important to most students. Why sacrifice any possible promotions, pay-rises or success with your current employer just because you're retraining. If your employer knows you're taking steps towards qualification in another area entirely, what will they think?

* It's not unusual to find that, at times, it's uncomfortable to raise questions in a class full of our fellow students - because none of us wants to look like we don't understand.

* Living away for part of your working week - a minority of trainees find they're living or working somewhere else for sections of the programme. Classes are therefore very difficult then, yet you've already coughed up the readies in your initial payment.

Surely it makes a lot more sense to be trained when it suits you -- not the training company - and use virtual lab environments with videos of your instructors. Do them at home on your PC or why not in the garden on a laptop. If you have any questions, then get onto the live 24x7 support (that should come with any technical program.) All the lessons can be repeated whenever you like - repetition is good for memory. And note-taking is gone forever - everything is laid on. The final result: Less hassle and stress, money saved, and no wasted travelling time.

Many people don't understand what IT is doing for all of us. It is thrilling, changing, and means you're doing your bit in the gigantic wave of technology that will change our world over the next few decades. Computer technology and interaction on the internet will radically affect our lifestyles in the near future; remarkably so.

Always remember that typical remuneration in the IT market in Great Britain is considerably more than the national average salary, therefore you'll most likely earn considerably more as an IT specialist, than you could reasonably hope to achieve elsewhere. Experts agree that there's a substantial UK-wide need for trained and qualified IT technicians. It follows that with the constant growth in the marketplace, it seems this pattern will continue for a good while yet.

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