Should you be wanting to study to get an MCSE, it's likely you'll come into one of two categories. You could be about to come into the computer world,...
Should you be wanting to study to get an MCSE,
it's likely you'll come into one of two categories. You could be about to come into the computer world, and you've discovered that the IT industry has a huge demand for people with the right qualifications. Instead you may be already a professional attempting to gain accreditation with an MCSE.
As you find out about training providers, stay away from any that short-change you by not providing the current Microsoft version. Over time, this will frustrate and cost the student a lot more as they will have been educated in an outdated MCSE program which will have to be revised pretty much straight away. Be aware of computer training companies that are just trying to sell you something. Realise that buying an MCSE course is the same in a way as buying a car. They're not all the same; some will serve you very well, whilst some will be a big disappointment. A conscientious organisation will spend time understanding your needs to be sure the course will work for you. When providers are proud of their courses, you'll be able to see a sample of what you're getting before you buy.
Sometimes, folks don't understand what IT means. It is thrilling, changing, and means you're a part of the huge progress of technology affecting everyones lives in the 21st century. Society largely thinks that the technological advancement we've been going through is slowing down. This couldn't be more wrong. There are huge changes to come, and the internet in particular will be the biggest thing to affect the way we live.
And don't forget that typical remuneration in the IT industry over Britain as a whole is a lot better than in other market sectors, so in general you'll most likely gain considerably more as an IT specialist, than you could reasonably hope to achieve elsewhere. The good news is there is a lot more room for IT growth in the UK. The industry is continuing to expand hugely, and as we have a significant shortage of skilled professionals, it's most unlikely that things will be any different for the significant future.
Any program that you're going to undertake has to build towards a fully recognised major exam at the finale - not some little 'in-house' plaque for your wall. The top IT companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA all have nationally renowned skills programs. These big-hitters will make sure you're employable.
Any advisor who doesn't ask many questions - chances are they're just a salesperson. If they wade straight in with a specific product before getting to know your background and current experience level, then you know you're being sold to. If you've got a strong background, or even a touch of work-based experience (some certifications gained previously perhaps?) then it's more than likely your starting point will vary from a trainee who has no experience. Commencing with a foundation module first will sometimes be the most effective way to get into your computer programme, but depends on your skill level.
One area often overlooked by those considering a training program is the issue of 'training segmentation'. Basically, this means the method used to break up the program to be delivered to you, which makes a huge difference to where you end up. By and large, you will purchase a course that takes between and 1 and 3 years and get posted one section at a time - from one exam to the next. It seems to make sense on one level, but consider these issues: What would happen if you didn't finish all the exams within the time limits imposed? Often the staged order won't fit you as well as some other order of studying might.
In a perfect world, you want everything at the start - enabling you to have them all for the future to come back to - as and when you want. This allows a variation in the order that you move through the program if another more intuitive route presents itself.
