If you’re reading this there’s a good chance that either you want to get into networking and the MCSE has reared its head, or you could already be in IT and you know that you can’t get any further without the MCSE accreditation.
When researching training companies, stay away from any that short-change you by failing to provide the current Microsoft version. In the long-run, this will cost the student a lot more due to the fact that they’ve been taught from an outdated MCSE course which will require an up-date to suit the working environment.
Look out for training providers that are just interested in your money. Understand that buying an MCSE course is similar to buying a car. They are not all equal; some will be fantastic, whilst some will be a big disappointment. A worthy company will offer you plenty of help to check you’ve got the correct course. When providers are proud of their courses, they’ll show you examples of it before you buy.
One useful service provided by many trainers is a programme of Job Placement assistance. This is designed to steer you into your first IT role. Because of the massive skills shortage in Britain right now, it’s not necessary to make too much of this option though. It isn’t such a complex operation to find your first job as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications.
One important thing though, don’t wait till you’ve finished your training before polishing up your CV. As soon as you start studying, list what you’re working on and tell people about it!
You might not even have taken your exams when you land your first junior support job; although this can’t and won’t happen if your CV isn’t in front of employers.
If you don’t want to travel too far to work, then it’s quite likely that a specialist independent regional recruitment consultant or service can generally be more appropriate than a centralised service, for they are much more inclined to know the local job scene.
In a nutshell, if you put the same amount of effort into getting a position as into training, you won’t have any problems. A number of trainees bizarrely invest a great deal of time on their training course and then just stop once qualified and would appear to think that businesses will just discover them.
Quite often, students have issues with a single training area which doesn’t even occur to them: The method used to ’segment’ the courseware before being couriered to your address.
Trainees may consider it sensible (with most training taking 1-3 years to pass all the required exams,) that a training provider will issue one section at a time, as you achieve each exam pass. But:
What would their reaction be if you find it difficult to do everything at the speed they required? Often the staged order doesn’t come as naturally as some other order of studying might.
The ideal circumstances are to get all the learning modules sent to you right at the start; the entire thing! Then, nothing can hinder the reaching of your goals.
Starting from the viewpoint that we have to home-in on the area of most interest first, before we’re able to consider what educational program would meet that requirement, how do we know the right path?
Reading a list of odd-sounding and meaningless job titles is no use whatsoever. The vast majority of us have no concept what the neighbours do for a living – so what chance do we have in understanding the subtleties of a new IT role.
To come through this, a discussion is necessary, covering several core topics:
* Your hobbies and interests – often these point towards what possibilities will provide a happy working life.
* What sort of time-frame do you want for the training process?
* Have you thought about travelling time and locality vs salary?
* Often, trainees don’t consider the work involved to achieve their goals.
* Having a good look at what commitment and time you can give.
For most of us, considering all these ideas tends to require the help of a professional who can investigate each area with you. And we don’t just mean the accreditations – but the commercial expectations and needs of industry too.
Don’t listen to any salesperson that recommends a training program without performing a ‘fact-find’ to assess your abilities plus your experience level. They should be able to select from a large range of products so they can give you an appropriate solution.
Sometimes, the level to start at for someone with a little experience is often vastly dissimilar to the student with no experience.
Where this will be your first attempt at an IT exam then you should consider whether to practice with some basic PC skills training first.
(C) S. Edwards 2009. Pop over to HERE or MCSECourse4U.co.uk.
