All of us are short of time, and most often if we want to study for a new career, taking a course in addition to a 40 hour week is what we have to do....
All of us are short of time,
and most often if we want to study for a new career, taking a course in addition to a 40 hour week is what we have to do. Microsoft authorised training could be the answer. Perhaps you'd like to find a training advisor, who could help you sort out what sort of job would be right for you, and the kind of tasks that are suitable for someone with your personality. Once you've decided on the career path you want, an applicable training course must be singled out that's goes with your skills and abilities. Make sure it's well designed for you as an individual.
Don't get hung-up, as can often be the case, on the certification itself. You're not training for the sake of training; this is about gaining commercial employment. You need to remain focused on where you want to go. You may train for one year and then end up doing a job for a lifetime. Avoid the mistake of choosing what sounds like a program of interest to you only to waste your life away with an unrewarding career!
You need to keep your eye on what you want to achieve, and create a learning-plan from that - don't do it back-to-front. Keep on track and begin studying for a job that'll reward you for many long and fruitful years. Before you embark on a study program, you'd be well advised to discuss specific job requirements with an experienced professional, to make sure the study course covers all the bases.
Quite often, students have issues with a single courseware aspect which doesn't even occur to them: The way the training is divided into chunks and physically delivered to you. Most companies will sell you a 2 or 3 year study programme, and send out each piece as you finish each section. If you think this sound logical, then consider this: It's not unusual for trainees to realise that the company's standard order of study doesn't suit. It's often the case that varying the order of study will be far more suitable. Perhaps you don't make it within their exact timetable?
Put simply, the best solution is to have a copy of their prescribed order of study, but get all the study materials at the start. Everything is then in your possession in case you don't finish within their ideal time-table.
Commencing from the idea that we have to find the employment that excites us first, before we can chew over which method of training ticks the right boxes, how can we choose the way that suits us? Therefore, if you've got no know-how of the IT market, how can you expect to know what a particular IT employee spends their day doing? Let alone decide on what educational path is the most likely for your success. To work through this, a discussion is necessary, covering many core topics:
* What hobbies you have and enjoy - as they can highlight what areas you'll get the most enjoyment out of.
* Why you want to consider moving into computing - maybe you'd like to triumph over a life-long goal like being your own boss for example.
* Any personal or home needs that are important to you?
* With many, many different sectors to gain certifications for in computing - there's a need to gain some background information on what makes them different.
* Having a proper look at how much time and effort you'll make available.
In all honesty, you'll find the only real way to research these areas will be via a meeting with an advisor that has a background in IT (and specifically the commercial needs.)
Those that are drawn to this type of work are often very practical, and don't always take well to classrooms, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If you're thinking this sounds like you, go for more modern interactive training, where learning is video-based. Research into the way we learn shows that we remember much more when we receive multi-sensorial input, and we get physically involved with the study process.
Search for a course where you'll get a host of CD and DVD based materials - you'll begin by watching videos of instructors demonstrating the skills, and be able to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions. It makes sense to see some examples of the kind of training materials you'll be using before you make your decision. Always insist on instructor-led video demonstrations and interactive modules with audio-visual elements.
Avoiding training that is delivered purely online is generally a good idea. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where possible, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want - and not be totally reliant on a good broadband connection all the time.
