A very small number of men and women in this country are claiming to be happy in their job. Inevitably, huge numbers will take no action. The reality ...
A very small number of men and women in this country are claiming to be happy in their job. Inevitably,
huge numbers will take no action. The reality of your getting here at least suggests that change is beckoning.
When considering retraining, it's vital that you first make a list of what you want and don't want from the job you would like to get. Ensure that you would be more satisfied before you put a lot of energy into taking a new turn. It's good sense to regard the end goal first, to make the right judgements:
* Would you like lots of contact with people? If you say yes, are you a team player or are you hoping to meet new people? Alternatively, do you like to deal with your responsibilities alone?
* Are you considering which industry you could be employed in? (In this economy, it's more important than ever to choose well.)
* Is this the final time you envisage re-training, and if it is, will your chosen career path give you scope to do that?
* Will the information you learn make it easier to find the work you're looking for, and stay employable until you choose to stop?
We would advise you to really explore the IT industry - there are a larger number of positions than employees, plus it's a rare career choice where the industry is expanding. Contrary to the beliefs of some, it isn't a bunch of techie geeks looking at screens every day (some jobs are like that of course.) Most positions are occupied by people like you and me who want to earn a very good living.
Getting into your first IT role can feel more straightforward with the help of a Job Placement Assistance program. Because of the huge skills shortage in the United Kingdom at the moment, there isn't a great need to get too caught up in this feature though. It's actually not as hard as some people make out to get a job once you're well trained and qualified.
One important thing though, avoid waiting until you have qualified before polishing up your CV. Right at the beginning of your training, list what you're working on and tell people about it! Quite frequently, you will get your first role whilst still on the course (sometimes when you've only just got going). If your course details aren't on your CV - or it's not getting in front of interviewers, then you're not even going to be known about! In many cases, a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service (who will get paid commission to place you) is going to give you a better service than a recruitment division from a training organisation. In addition, they will no doubt be familiar with the area and local employers better.
A good number of men and women, it would appear, conscientiously work through their course materials (for years sometimes), only to give up at the first hurdle when trying to get a job. Market yourself... Make an effort to get yourself known. Don't expect a job to just fall into your lap.
A fatal Faux-Pas that potential students often succumb to is to choose a career based on a course, and take their eye off the end result they want to achieve. Universities have thousands of direction-less students that chose a program because it looked interesting - instead of the program that would surely get them their end-goal of a job they enjoyed. It's an awful thing, but thousands of new students commence training that sounds magnificent from the sales literature, but which provides the end-result of a job that doesn't satisfy. Talk to many university students for a real eye-opener.
It's a good idea to understand the exact expectations industry will have. What particular qualifications you'll be required to have and how you'll build your experience level. It's definitely worth spending time assessing how far you reckon you're going to want to go as often it can control your selection of certifications. The best advice for students is to talk with experienced industry personnel before they make a decision on a particular training path. This is essential to ensure it has the required elements for the chosen career path.
The area most overlooked by people thinking about a course is 'training segmentation'. This basically means the method used to break up the program for timed release to you, which completely controls what you end up with. Many think it logical (with most training taking 1-3 years to gain full certified status,) for many training providers to send out one module at a time, as you pass each element. However: Often, the staged breakdown insisted on by the company won't suit you. And what if you don't finish all the modules inside of their particular timetable?
Truth be told, the best solution is to obtain their recommendation on the best possible order of study, but get all the study materials at the start. It's then all yours in case you don't finish as fast as they'd like.
You should only consider training programmes which will progress to commercially accepted accreditations. There's an endless list of small companies promoting 'in-house' certificates which are worthless when you start your job-search. If your certification doesn't come from a major player like Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA or Adobe, then you'll probably find it could have been a waste of time and effort - because no-one will recognise it.
Incorporating exams upfront then including an exam guarantee is a popular marketing tool with many training course providers. Consider the facts:
Obviously it's not free - you're still being charged for it - it's just been included in your package price. The honest truth is that when students fund each progressive exam, one at a time, the chances are they're going to qualify each time - since they are conscious of their investment in themselves and therefore will put more effort into their preparation.
Hold on to your money and pay for the exam at the time, and avoid college mark-up fees. In addition, it's then your choice where to do your exams - which means you can stay local. Big margins are made by a significant number of organisations who take the exam money up-front. For various reasons, many students don't take their exams and so they pocket the rest. Surprising as it sounds, providers exist who depend on students not taking their exams - as that's where a lot of their profit comes from. Remember, in the majority of cases of 'exam guarantees' - they control when and how often you can re-take the exam. They'll only allow a re-take once completely satisfied.
VUE and Prometric examinations are currently clocking in at an average of 112 pounds in Great Britain. Why spend so much more on charges for 'Exam Guarantees' (often hidden in the cost) - when the best course materials, the right level of support and study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.
