There are four specialised areas of training in the A+ syllabus, of which you need to pass two for competency in A+. However only learning about 2 of ...
There are four specialised areas of training in the A+ syllabus,
of which you need to pass two for competency in A+. However only learning about 2 of the specialised areas is likely to leave your knowledge base somewhat light. At least learn about all four - you'll be glad you did when it comes to interview time.
A+ certification without additional courses will give you the ability to fix and repair stand-alone PC's and MAC's; ones that are most often not part of a network - essentially the domestic or small business sector. Should you be thinking of being responsible for networks of computers, you should add Network+ to your A+ course. This will put you in a position to get a higher paid position. Alternatively, you may prefer the networking qualifications from Microsoft, i.e. MCP, MCSA MCSE.
Every program under consideration has to build towards a nationally accepted certification at the end - definitely not some 'in-house' printed certificate to hang in your hallway. All the major IT organisations like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco or CompTIA all have nationally renowned proficiency courses. Major-league companies like these will make your CV stand-out.
Discovering job security in this economic down-turn is incredibly rare. Businesses often remove us out of the workforce with very little notice - whenever it suits. However, a marketplace with high growth, with huge staffing demands (through a big shortfall of fully trained staff), enables the possibility of proper job security.
Taking a look at the computing industry, a key e-Skills study showed a twenty six percent skills deficit. It follows then that for every four jobs that exist throughout the computer industry, employers can only find certified professionals for 3 of the 4. Achieving proper commercial IT certification is accordingly a quick route to succeed in a life-long as well as worthwhile profession. Without a doubt, this really is such a perfect time to join Information Technology (IT).
Qualifications from the commercial sector are now, very visibly, beginning to replace the traditional academic paths into the IT industry - why then is this happening? Key company training (to use industry-speak) is far more effective and specialised. The IT sector is aware that a specialist skill-set is what's needed to service the demands of an acceleratingly technical marketplace. CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA are the dominant players. Typically, students are simply taught the necessary specifics in depth. It's not quite as straightforward as that, but the principle remains that students need to master the precisely demanded skill-sets (including a degree of required background) - without going into too much detail in all sorts of other things (as academia often does).
The crux of the matter is this: Recognised IT certifications provide exactly what an employer needs - everything they need to know is in the title: as an example - I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Infrastructure'. Consequently employers can identify exactly what they need and which qualifications are required to perform the job.
Most training companies only give support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly. Try and find training where you can access help at any time of day or night (even if it's early hours on Sunday morning!) You want access directly to professional tutors, and not a message system as this will slow you down - parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back when it's convenient for them.
As long as you look hard, you will find the very best companies who recommend and use online support 24x7 - no matter what time of day it is. Always choose a trainer that is worth purchasing from. Only proper live 24x7 support provides the necessary backup.
