As you've arrived here it's possible that either you want to get into networking and you've heard good things about MCSE's, or you're already a profes...
As you've arrived here it's possible that either you want to get into networking and you've heard good things about MCSE's,
or you're already a professional and you've realised that you can't get any further without the MCSE certification.
As you try to find out more, you'll come across training companies that reduce their costs by not upgrading their courses to the latest version from Microsoft. Steer clear of these companies as you'll have problems in the exam. If your knowledge is of an out-of-date syllabus, it will be hard to pass. Don't get bullied into a training program before you feel comfortable. Find a computer training company that will ensure you are on an appropriate training track for your requirements.
Several companies offer a Job Placement Assistance program, to assist your search for your first position. Don't get overly impressed with this service - it's easy for eager sales people to overplay it. Ultimately, the huge shortage of staff in this country is the reason you'll find a job.
However, what is relevant is to have CV and Interview advice and support though; and we'd recommend all students to work on polishing up their CV as soon as training commences - don't delay until you've qualified. You may not have got to the stage where you've passed your first exam when you land your first junior support role; but this can't and won't happen if interviewers don't get sight of your CV. The top companies to help get you placed are most often local IT focused employment agencies. As they will get paid by the employer when they've placed you, they'll work that much harder to get a result.
A good number of trainees, it seems, spend evenings and weekends on their training and studies (for years sometimes), and just give up when it comes to finding a job. Introduce yourself... Do your best to get yourself known. A job isn't just going to bump into you.
Many students presume that the tech college or university route is still the best way into IT. Why then are commercial certificates beginning to overtake it? With a growing demand for specific technological expertise, industry has had to move to specific, honed-in training that can only come from the vendors - for example companies like CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. This frequently provides reductions in both cost and time. Of course, an appropriate portion of associated knowledge has to be covered, but core specifics in the particular job function gives a vendor educated person a massive advantage.
Just as the old advertisement said: 'It does what it says on the tin'. Employers simply need to know what they need doing, and then advertise for someone with the specific certification. They'll know then that all applicants can do what they need.
An all too common mistake that potential students often succumb to is to concentrate on the course itself, and take their eye off the end result they want to achieve. Training academies are stacked to the hilt with direction-less students who chose a course based on what sounded good - instead of the program that would surely get them an enjoyable career or job. It's not unheard of, for instance, to obtain tremendous satisfaction from a year of studying only to end up putting 20 long years into a career that does nothing for you, as an upshot of not doing the correct research when you should've - at the outset.
Never let your focus stray from where you want to get to, and formulate your training based on that - not the other way round. Keep your eyes on your goals - making sure you're training for an end-result that'll reward you for many long and fruitful years. Sense dictates that you take guidance from a skilled professional before settling on a study path, so you're sure from the outset that the content of a learning package provides the skills for the job being sought.
'Exam Guarantees' are often bundled with training offers - inevitably that means paying for the exams at the very beginning of your studies. Before you jump at a course with such a promise, why not consider this:
In this day and age, we tend to be a tad more knowledgeable about sales gimmicks - and the majority of us ought to realise that of course we are actually being charged for it - they're not just being charitable and doling out freebies! If it's important to you to qualify first 'go', you must fund each exam as you take it, give it the necessary attention and be ready for the task.
Do your exams as locally as possible and find the best exam deal or offer available then. Paying upfront for exam fees (which also includes interest if you've taken out a loan) is insane. It's not your job to boost the training company's account with additional funds just to give them a good cash-flow! A lot bank on the fact that you will never make it to exams - so they don't need to pay for them. It's worth noting, with 'Exam Guarantees' from most places - they control when and how often you can re-take the exam. You'll have to prove conclusively that you can pass before they'll pay for another exam.
With the average price of Pro-metric and VUE exams costing in the region of 112 pounds in this country, it makes sense to pay as you go. Not to fork out thousands extra in up-front costs. Consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.
