Well done! Hitting upon this feature means you're likely to be pondering over your options, and if it's re-training you're considering then you've alr...
Well done! Hitting upon this feature means you're likely to be pondering over your options,
and if it's re-training you're considering then you've already got further than the majority of people will. Can you believe that just one in ten of us would say we are satisfied and happy at work - but most will take no corrective action. We encourage you to stand out from the crowd and take action - those who do hardly ever regret it.
When looking at training, it's important to first define your requirements from the position you would like to get. It's important to discover if the grass actually is greener before your energies are focused on altering your life's plans. We recommend looking at the end goal first, to avoid disappointment:
* Do you like to work collaborating with people? Would that be with the same people or with many new people? Perhaps working alone in isolation may be your preference?
* Which criteria's are fundamental when considering the market sector you'll work in?
* Should this be the only time re-training is necessary?
* Do you believe that retraining in your chosen sector can help you find employment, and will provide the facility to allow you to work until retirement?
We ask you to have a good look at the computer industry - there are more roles than people to do them, plus it's a rare career choice where the sector is still growing. In contrast to the opinions of certain people, IT is not full of nerdy individuals gazing at their computer screens the whole day (though those jobs exist.) The majority of jobs are taken by people like you and me who enjoy a very nice lifestyle due to better than average wages.
The way a programme is physically sent to you is usually ignored by most students. How is the courseware broken down? And in what sequence and how fast does each element come? The majority of training companies will set up a 2 or 3 year study programme, and deliver each piece one-by-one as you pass each exam. This sounds reasonable until you consider the following: What if you find the order insisted on by the company won't suit you. It may be difficult to get through all the modules within their timetable?
To avoid any potential future issues, many trainees now want to request that all their modules (now paid for) are sent immediately, and not in a piecemeal fashion. It's then your own choice in what order and how fast or slow you want to work.
Student support is absolutely essential - locate a good company offering 24x7 direct access to instructors, as not obtaining this level of support will severely hold up your pace and restrict your intake. Locate training schools where you can receive help at all hours of the day and night (irrespective of whether it's the wee hours on Sunday morning!) Ensure you get 24x7 direct access to mentors and instructors, and not a call-centre that will take messages so you're parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back at a convenient time for them.
Top training providers tend to use an internet-based 24x7 system pulling in several support offices over many time-zones. You will have an interface which seamlessly accesses whichever office is appropriate at any time of day or night: Support available as-and-when you want it. Never make do with a lower level of service. Direct-access 24x7 support is the only kind that ever makes the grade with computer-based learning. Perhaps you don't intend to study during the evenings; but for the majority of us however, we're working when traditional support if offered.
You have to be sure that all your exams are commercially valid and current - forget studies which lead to some in-house certificate (which is as useless as if you'd printed it yourself). If your certification doesn't come from a big-hitter like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA, then chances are it could have been a waste of time and effort - because it won't give an employer any directly-useable skills.
There are colossal changes about to hit technology as we approach the second decade of the 21st century - and the industry becomes more ground-breaking every year. Technological changes and communication through the web will noticeably alter our lifestyles over the coming years; remarkably so.
Should receiving a good salary be around the top on your goal sheet, then you will welcome the news that the usual remuneration for the majority of IT staff is significantly better than salaries in other market sectors. Due to the technological sector emerging with no sign of a slow-down, it's predictable that demand for certified IT professionals will continue actively for a good while yet.
