In the fast-paced world we live in, support workers who are qualified to solve problems with networks and PC's, plus give constant help to users, are hugely valuable in all sections of industry. Industry's need for better commercially qualified individuals is growing, as we become vastly more reliant on computers in the modern world.
It can be a nerve-racking task, but finding your first job can be made easier by some companies, via a Job Placement Assistance programme. The need for this feature can be bigged up out of proportion though - it's easy for their marketing department to make too much of it. Ultimately, the huge shortage of staff in the United Kingdom is what will make you attractive to employers.
Bring your CV up to date as soon as possible however (advice and support for this should come from your course provider). Don't delay for when you're ready to start work.
Getting onto the 'maybe' pile of CV's is more than not being known. A decent number of junior positions are got by students in the early stages of their course.
The most reliable organisations to help get you placed are normally specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. As they will get paid by the employer when they've placed you, they'll work that much harder to get a result.
Essentially, if you put as much hard work into getting a job as into training, you're not likely to experience problems. A number of people strangely put hundreds of hours into their training course and just give up once they've passed their exams and seem to expect employers to find them.
It's usual for students to get confused with a single courseware aspect which is often not even considered: The way the training is divided into chunks and delivered to your home.
Drop-shipping your training elements piece by piece, as you pass each exam is the typical way that your program will arrive. This sounds sensible, but you must understand the following:
What if for some reason you don't get to the end of every single section? And what if you find the order of the modules counter-intuitive? Through no fault of your own, you may not meet the required timescales and not get all the study materials as a result.
To avoid any potential future issues, most students now choose to have all their training materials (which they've now paid for) couriered out in one package, all at the beginning. You can then decide in which order and at what speed you'd like to take your exams.
Remember: the training itself or the accreditation is not what you're looking for; the career that you want is. Far too many training organisations completely prioritise just the training course.
Never let yourself become part of the group who choose a training program that on the surface appears interesting - and end up with a plaque on the wall for a career they'll never really get any satisfaction from.
Be honest with yourself about earning potential and what level of ambition fits you. This will influence what precise exams you'll need to attain and how much effort you'll have to give in return.
Always seek guidance and advice from an experienced industry professional, even if you have to pay a small fee - it's considerably cheaper and safer to investigate at the start if your choices are appropriate, instead of discovering after several years of study that you've picked the wrong track and have wasted years of effort.
It's likely that you're a practical sort of person - a 'hands-on' individual. If you're like us, the unfortunate chore of reading reference guides is something you'll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you'd hate it. Consider interactive, multimedia study if book-based learning really isn't your style.
Research into the way we learn shows that memory is aided when we use all our senses, and we put into practice what we've been studying.
The latest audio-visual interactive programs utilising video demo's and practice lab's beat books hands-down. And you'll find them fun and interesting.
Every company that you look at should willingly take you through some samples of their courseware. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and a wide selection of interactive elements.
Purely on-line training should be avoided. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where possible, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want - ISP quality varies, so you don't want to be totally reliant on a good broadband connection all the time. - 33376
It can be a nerve-racking task, but finding your first job can be made easier by some companies, via a Job Placement Assistance programme. The need for this feature can be bigged up out of proportion though - it's easy for their marketing department to make too much of it. Ultimately, the huge shortage of staff in the United Kingdom is what will make you attractive to employers.
Bring your CV up to date as soon as possible however (advice and support for this should come from your course provider). Don't delay for when you're ready to start work.
Getting onto the 'maybe' pile of CV's is more than not being known. A decent number of junior positions are got by students in the early stages of their course.
The most reliable organisations to help get you placed are normally specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. As they will get paid by the employer when they've placed you, they'll work that much harder to get a result.
Essentially, if you put as much hard work into getting a job as into training, you're not likely to experience problems. A number of people strangely put hundreds of hours into their training course and just give up once they've passed their exams and seem to expect employers to find them.
It's usual for students to get confused with a single courseware aspect which is often not even considered: The way the training is divided into chunks and delivered to your home.
Drop-shipping your training elements piece by piece, as you pass each exam is the typical way that your program will arrive. This sounds sensible, but you must understand the following:
What if for some reason you don't get to the end of every single section? And what if you find the order of the modules counter-intuitive? Through no fault of your own, you may not meet the required timescales and not get all the study materials as a result.
To avoid any potential future issues, most students now choose to have all their training materials (which they've now paid for) couriered out in one package, all at the beginning. You can then decide in which order and at what speed you'd like to take your exams.
Remember: the training itself or the accreditation is not what you're looking for; the career that you want is. Far too many training organisations completely prioritise just the training course.
Never let yourself become part of the group who choose a training program that on the surface appears interesting - and end up with a plaque on the wall for a career they'll never really get any satisfaction from.
Be honest with yourself about earning potential and what level of ambition fits you. This will influence what precise exams you'll need to attain and how much effort you'll have to give in return.
Always seek guidance and advice from an experienced industry professional, even if you have to pay a small fee - it's considerably cheaper and safer to investigate at the start if your choices are appropriate, instead of discovering after several years of study that you've picked the wrong track and have wasted years of effort.
It's likely that you're a practical sort of person - a 'hands-on' individual. If you're like us, the unfortunate chore of reading reference guides is something you'll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you'd hate it. Consider interactive, multimedia study if book-based learning really isn't your style.
Research into the way we learn shows that memory is aided when we use all our senses, and we put into practice what we've been studying.
The latest audio-visual interactive programs utilising video demo's and practice lab's beat books hands-down. And you'll find them fun and interesting.
Every company that you look at should willingly take you through some samples of their courseware. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and a wide selection of interactive elements.
Purely on-line training should be avoided. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where possible, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want - ISP quality varies, so you don't want to be totally reliant on a good broadband connection all the time. - 33376
About the Author:
(C) Jason Kendall. Go to www.adult-retraining.co.uk for clear career tips on Adult Careers Advice & IT Training.
