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Training For a Career in Networking Explained

In the fast-paced world we live in, support workers who can solve problems with computers and networks, along with giving constant assistance to users, are vital in all sections of the economy. With the increasingly multifaceted levels of technology, greater numbers of trained staff are being sought to look after the various different areas we rely on.

Most training companies will only offer office hours or extended office hours support; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly.

Email support is too slow, and telephone support is usually to a call-centre that will chat nicely with you for 5 minutes to ask what the issue is and then simply send an email to an instructor – who’ll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, at a time suitable for them. This is no good if you’re lost and confused and only have a specific time you can study.

The best trainers utilise several support facilities across multiple time-zones. Online access provides the interactive interface to join them all seamlessly, no matter what time you login, help is just a click away, without any problems or delays.

Search out a training company that gives this level of learning support. As only live 24×7 round-the-clock support truly delivers for technical programs.

Of course: the actual training program or an accreditation is not what you’re looking for; a job you’re training for is. Many trainers unfortunately place too much importance on the qualification itself.

It’s a sad testimony to the sales skills of many companies, but the majority of trainees start out on programs that sound spectacular in the syllabus guide, but which gets us a career that doesn’t satisfy. Speak to a selection of college graduates and you’ll see where we’re coming from.

Make sure you investigate your feelings on earning potential and career progression, and how ambitious you are. It’s vital to know what the role will demand of you, what particular exams are needed and how you’ll gain real-world experience.

Before setting out on a training programme, it’s good advice to chat over individual career requirements with an experienced professional, to make sure the study program covers all that is required.

So, why is it better to gain commercial certification as opposed to traditional academic qualifications gained through schools, colleges or universities?

As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, the IT sector has been required to move to the specialised training only available through the vendors themselves – that is companies such as Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe. This frequently provides reductions in both cost and time.

This is done through honing in on the actual skills required (along with a proportionate degree of background knowledge,) instead of covering masses of the background detail and ‘fluff’ that computer Science Degrees can often find themselves doing – to pad out the syllabus.

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty: Recognised IT certifications provide exactly what an employer needs – everything they need to know is in the title: as an example – I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Windows XP Administration and Configuration’. Therefore an employer can look at the particular needs they have and which qualifications are required to perform the job.

A service that several companies offer is a Job Placement Assistance program. This is designed to assist your search for your first position. Because of the huge need for more IT skills in the UK at the moment, there isn’t a great need to make too much of this option though. It isn’t such a complex operation to secure your first job once you’re trained and certified.

However, what is relevant is to have help with your CV and interview techniques though; and we’d recommend all students to bring their CV up to date the day they start training – don’t put it off till you’ve finished your exams.

It can happen that you haven’t even qualified when you land your first junior support role; yet this can’t and won’t happen unless your CV is with employers.

The top companies to help get you placed are most often specialist locally based employment services. As they will get paid by the employer when they’ve placed you, they have more incentive to get on with it.

Certainly be sure that you don’t put hundreds of hours of effort into your studies, and then do nothing more and leave it up to everyone else to find you a job. Stand up for yourself and get on with the job. Channel as much resource into finding a good job as it took to get qualified.

(C) 2009 – S. Edwards. Visit Click HERE or Computer Courses Online.