In today's high speed society, support workers who are qualified to solve problems with PC's and networks, and offer daily help to users, are hugely valuable in all areas of the economy. Whereupon we become massively more beholden to our PC's, we also inevitably become more dependent on the commercially qualified network engineers, who maintain those systems.
You have to be sure that all your qualifications are current and commercially required - don't even consider studies which provide certificates that are worthless because they're 'in-house'.
From the perspective of an employer, only the top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA (for instance) provide enough commercial weight. Nothing else makes the grade.
A fatal Faux-Pas that many potential students make is to look for the actual course to take, instead of focusing on where they want to get to. Colleges have thousands of direction-less students that chose a program because it looked interesting - instead of the program that would surely get them the career they desired.
Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don't make the error of opting for what may seem to be an 'interesting' course only to spend 20 years doing something you don't even enjoy!
Set targets for what you want to earn and whether you're an ambitious person or not. This will influence which certifications will be expected and what you can expect to give industry in return.
Prior to embarking on a training course, it's good advice to discuss the specific career requirements with an experienced advisor, to make sure the training course covers all the bases.
Don't accept anything less than the current Microsoft (or Cisco, CompTIA etc.) authorised exam preparation and simulation materials.
Because a lot of IT examining boards are American, you must be prepared for the way exams are phrased. You can't practice properly by simply going through the right questions - it's essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format.
Clearly, it is really important to be confident that you've thoroughly prepared for your actual certification exam prior to doing it. Going over simulated exams logs the information in your brain and saves you time and money on wasted exam attempts.
'Exam Guarantees' are often bundled with training offers - this always means you have to pay for the exams at the start of your training. But before you get taken in by the chance of a guarantee, consider this:
These days, we have to be a tad more knowledgeable about sales gimmicks - and usually we realise that of course it is actually an additional cost to us - they're not just being charitable and doling out freebies!
If you want to pass first time, then you should pay for each exam as you go, focus on it intently and apply yourself as required.
Take your exams at a local pro-metric testing centre and go for the best offer you can find when you're ready.
Paying upfront for examinations (and if you're financing your study there'll be interest on that) is insane. Resist being talked into filling the training company's account with your money simply to help their cash-flow! A lot bank on the fact that you won't get to do them all - so they don't need to pay for them.
Also, many exam guarantees are worthless. The majority of organisations won't pay for re-takes until you can prove to them you're ready to pass.
Exams taken at VUE and Prometric centres are in the region of 112 pounds in the United Kingdom today. Why spend so much more on charges for 'Exam Guarantees' (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when a quality course, support and a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools are actually the key to your success.
You have to be sure that all your qualifications are current and commercially required - don't even consider studies which provide certificates that are worthless because they're 'in-house'.
From the perspective of an employer, only the top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA (for instance) provide enough commercial weight. Nothing else makes the grade.
A fatal Faux-Pas that many potential students make is to look for the actual course to take, instead of focusing on where they want to get to. Colleges have thousands of direction-less students that chose a program because it looked interesting - instead of the program that would surely get them the career they desired.
Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don't make the error of opting for what may seem to be an 'interesting' course only to spend 20 years doing something you don't even enjoy!
Set targets for what you want to earn and whether you're an ambitious person or not. This will influence which certifications will be expected and what you can expect to give industry in return.
Prior to embarking on a training course, it's good advice to discuss the specific career requirements with an experienced advisor, to make sure the training course covers all the bases.
Don't accept anything less than the current Microsoft (or Cisco, CompTIA etc.) authorised exam preparation and simulation materials.
Because a lot of IT examining boards are American, you must be prepared for the way exams are phrased. You can't practice properly by simply going through the right questions - it's essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format.
Clearly, it is really important to be confident that you've thoroughly prepared for your actual certification exam prior to doing it. Going over simulated exams logs the information in your brain and saves you time and money on wasted exam attempts.
'Exam Guarantees' are often bundled with training offers - this always means you have to pay for the exams at the start of your training. But before you get taken in by the chance of a guarantee, consider this:
These days, we have to be a tad more knowledgeable about sales gimmicks - and usually we realise that of course it is actually an additional cost to us - they're not just being charitable and doling out freebies!
If you want to pass first time, then you should pay for each exam as you go, focus on it intently and apply yourself as required.
Take your exams at a local pro-metric testing centre and go for the best offer you can find when you're ready.
Paying upfront for examinations (and if you're financing your study there'll be interest on that) is insane. Resist being talked into filling the training company's account with your money simply to help their cash-flow! A lot bank on the fact that you won't get to do them all - so they don't need to pay for them.
Also, many exam guarantees are worthless. The majority of organisations won't pay for re-takes until you can prove to them you're ready to pass.
Exams taken at VUE and Prometric centres are in the region of 112 pounds in the United Kingdom today. Why spend so much more on charges for 'Exam Guarantees' (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when a quality course, support and a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools are actually the key to your success.
About the Author:
Written by Scott Edwards. Hop over to Microsoft Online Training or www.ciscoccna4.co.uk.