CompTIA A Plus Training At Home Compared
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by: Jason Kendall
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Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 Time: 12:10 PM
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There are four A+ exams and specialised sectors, but you're just expected to achieve certification in two to be thought of as qualified. Because of this, a great number of colleges restrict their course to just 2 areas. But giving you all four options will provide you with a far greater perspective of the subject, which you'll come to realise is essential in professional employment.
Qualifying in CompTIA A+ without additional courses will mean that you're able to repair and fix stand-alone PC's and MAC's; ones that are generally not connected to a network - which means the home or small business market.
If you add Network+ training to your A+, you'll also learn how to take care of networks, giving you the facility to expect a better remuneration package.
It's not uncommon for companies to offer inclusive exam guarantees - they always involve paying for the exam fees up-front, when you pay for the rest of your course. Before you get carried away with a course with such a promise, why not look at the following:
Everybody's aware that they're ultimately paying for it - obviously it has already in the overall price charged by the college. It's certainly not free - and it's insulting that we're supposed to think it is!
If it's important to you to get a first time pass, then you should avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, focus on it intently and be ready for the task.
Don't you think it's more sensible to hold on to your money and pay for the exam at the time, not to pay the fees marked up by the training company, and to do it locally - instead of the remote centre that's convenient only to the trainer?
A lot of extra profit is netted by a number of companies that get money upfront for exam fees. Many students don't take them for one reason or another but the company keeps the money. Believe it or not, providers exist who rely on that fact - and that's how they increase their profits.
Most companies will insist that you take mock exams first and not allow you to re-take an exam until you've demonstrated an excellent ability to pass - which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.
On average, exams cost approximately 112 pounds twelve months or so ago via Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra to have 'an Exam Guarantee', when common sense dictates that the responsible approach is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.
One useful service offered by some training providers is a Job Placement Assistance program. This is to help you get your first commercial position. The fact of the matter is it isn't a complex operation to land your first job - assuming you're well trained and qualified; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.
Advice and support about getting interviews and your CV might be provided (if not, see one of our sites for help). It's essential that you update that dusty old CV straight away - don't leave it till you pass the exams!
Various junior support jobs have been offered to trainees who're still on their course and have yet to take their exams. This will at the very least get your CV into the 'possible' pile and not the 'no' pile.
If you don't want to travel too far to work, then you may well find that a specialist locally based employment agency may serve you better than a national service, as they are much more inclined to be familiar with the local job scene.
A big frustration for a number of course providers is how hard trainees are prepared to study to get qualified, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the job they've acquired skills for. Get out there and hustle - you might find it's fun.
Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always full 24x7 support with professional mentors and instructors. Far too often we see trainers who only provide office hours (or extended office hours) support.
Don't accept certification programs which can only support students with a call-centre messaging system when it's outside of usual working hours. Companies will defend this with all kinds of excuses. Essentially - you need support when you need support - not when it's convenient for them.
The very best training providers have many support offices across multiple time-zones. An online system provides an interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, no matter what time you login, there is always help at hand, avoiding all the delays and problems.
Find an educator that cares. Because only live 24x7 support truly delivers for technical programs.
We're regularly asked to explain why traditional academic studies are now falling behind more commercial certificates?
With 3 and 4 year academic degree costs increasing year on year, and the IT sector's general opinion that accreditation-based training often has more relevance in the commercial field, we have seen a big surge in Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe accredited training paths that create knowledgeable employees at a much reduced cost in terms of money and time.
Vendor training works through focusing on the particular skills that are needed (alongside an appropriate level of background knowledge,) rather than spending months and years on the background 'padding' that academic courses can get bogged down in - to pad out the syllabus.
Put yourself in the employer's position - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What should you do: Go through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, asking for course details and which vocational skills they have, or choose particular accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and make your short-list from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they'll fit in - rather than establishing whether they can do a specific task.
About the Author
(C) Scott Edwards 2009. Look at HTML Programming or www.Change-My-Career.co.uk/QCMC.html.
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