by Jason Kendall
PC and network support staff are ever more sought after in the UK, as businesses are becoming more reliant upon their knowledge and skills. Whilst our society becomes growingly reliant on technology, we simultaneously become more dependent on the well trained network engineers, who ensure the systems function properly.
How are we supposed to go about making an informed decision then? With so many opportunities, we have to know where we should be looking – and of course, what to actually be searching for.
A typical blunder that many potential students make is to focus entirely on getting a qualification, rather than starting with the desired end-result. Schools are stacked to the hilt with unaware students who chose a course based on what sounded good – in place of something that could gain them the job they want. Don’t let yourself become part of the group that choose a course that sounds really ‘interesting’ and ‘fun’ – and end up with a certification for a career they’ll never really get any satisfaction from.
Stay focused on what you want to achieve, and formulate your training based on that – not the other way round. Stay on target and ensure that you’re training for an end-result that’ll reward you for many long and fruitful years. It’s worth seeking help from someone who can explain the market you think may suit you, and is able to give you ‘A day in the life of’ outline of what you actually do on the job. All of these things are essential because you obviously have to know if this change is right for you.
Proper support should never be taken lightly – find a program providing 24×7 full access, as anything else will annoy you and definitely hamper your progress. Email support is too slow, and telephone support is usually to a call-centre that will chat nicely with you for 5 minutes to ask what the issue is and then simply send an email to an instructor – who will attempt to call you within 24-48 hrs, at a time suitable for them. This is no good if you’re stuck and can’t continue and can only study at specific times.
It’s possible to find professional companies which offer online support 24×7 – including evenings, nights and weekends. You can’t afford to accept less than you need and deserve. Support round-the-clock is the only kind that ever makes the grade when it comes to computer-based study. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; often though, we’re out at work while the support is live.
Students who consider this area of study often have a very practical outlook on work, and don’t really enjoy classrooms, and poring through books and manuals. If you identify with this, go for more modern interactive training, where learning is video-based. Our ability to remember is increased when multiple senses are involved – experts have been clear on this for decades now.
Learning is now available in disc format, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Video streaming means you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how it’s all done, and then have a go at it yourself – in a virtual lab environment. It’s wise to view some of the typical study materials provided before you sign the purchase order. You should expect video tutorials, instructor demo’s and audio-visual elements backed up by interactive lab’s.
It’s usually bad advice to choose training that is only available online. Connection quality and reliability varies hugely across your average broadband company, ensure that you have access to disc based courseware (On CD or DVD).
Many certification companies are still using the rather old-fashioned idea of classroom lessons. Very often portrayed as a huge benefit, if you talk to a student who has had to attend a few, you’ll most likely hear about many or all of these issues:
* Loads of travelling – many trips and quite often hundreds of miles each time.
* Asking for frequent time off work – a lot of schools provide weekday availability and link several days together. This isn’t ideal for most people who work, especially if you include the travel time on top.
* Don’t overlook lost vacation time. We typically get 4 weeks annual leave. If over 50 percent is used in classes, then there’s very little left over for us.
* Training events fill up fast and can sometimes be too big – so they’re not personal enough.
* Workshop pace – classes can contain trainees of varied abilities, therefore there is often tension between those that want to go quickly as opposed to the ones who need a little longer.
* A lot of trainees tell us of the considerable cost of all the travelling back and forth to the centre and paying for food and accommodation can get very expensive.
* We all enjoy our privacy. We wouldn’t want to run the risk of throwing away any possible promotion at our current place of work because we’re getting trained in a different area.
* Don’t think it’s unusual for trainees to not ask questions they want answered – simply because they’re surrounded by fellow attendees.
* For students working away from home occasionally, it’s a fact of life that events are now very hard to attend – and yet, the money has already been paid.
It really does make more sense to be trained when it’s convenient for you – not the company – and exploit instructor-led videos with interactive lab’s. Just imagine… Utilising a laptop then you’re free to learn wherever you happen to be at that time. And live 24 hr-a-day support is only a web-click away in case of difficulty. Just watch and re-watch the modules whenever you want to. There’s absolutely no need to jot down any notes as the teaching is yours forever. The final outcome: Reduced hassle and stress, saved money, and absolutely no travelling.
Let’s face it: There really is absolutely no individual job security available anymore; there’s only industry and sector security – any company is likely to let anyone go if it suits the business’ trade needs. Security only exists now in a swiftly rising marketplace, driven by a lack of trained workers. It’s this alone that creates the appropriate setting for a secure market – definitely a more pleasing situation.
The computer industry skills-gap around the UK clocks in at roughly twenty six percent, as reported by the 2006 e-Skills survey. This shows that for every 4 jobs that exist in Information Technology (IT), we’ve only got three properly trained pro’s to fulfil that role. This worrying fact clearly demonstrates the requirement for more properly certified computing professionals in the country. It’s unlikely if a better time or market state of affairs will exist for gaining qualification for this rapidly emerging and developing business.
About the Author:
The author: Jason Kendall has worked in IT for 20 yrs. He now consults around training and accreditation. If you’re interested in
Network+ Certification, visit LearningLolly
Comptia Network+.