UK CompTIA A Plus Training - Thoughts
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by: Jason Kendall
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Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 Time: 1:50 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. For this reason, many educational establishments simply offer two. Yet learning about all 4 will give you a far deeper level of understanding of your subject, which you'll find a Godsend in the commercial world.
Once on the A+ training program you'll become familiar with how to build, fix, repair and work in antistatic conditions. You'll also cover fault finding and diagnostics, through both hands-on and remote access.
You may also want to think about adding the CompTIA Network+ training as it will enable you to take care of computer networks, which is where the bigger salaries are.
How the program is actually delivered to you isn't always given the appropriate level of importance. How many stages do they break the program into? And in what sequence and what control do you have at what pace it arrives?
Often, you will join a program staged over 2 or 3 years and get posted one section at a time - from one exam to the next. This sounds logical on one level, until you consider this:
How would they react if you didn't complete each section within the time limits imposed? And maybe you'll find their order of completion doesn't work as well as some other structure would for you.
To be in the best situation you would have all the training materials packed off to you immediately; the whole caboodle! This prevents any future issues from rising that will affect the reaching of your goals.
Many men and women are under the impression that the traditional school, college or university path is still the most effective. Why then is commercial certification becoming more in demand?
As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, the IT sector has been required to move to specific, honed-in training only available through the vendors themselves - in other words companies like Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA. Frequently this is at a far reduced cost both money and time wise.
Vendor training works through concentrating on the particular skills that are needed (alongside a relevant amount of related knowledge,) instead of trawling through all the background 'padding' that degree courses often do - to pad out the syllabus.
When an employer is aware what areas they need covered, then they simply need to advertise for the exact skill-set required to meet that need. The syllabuses are all based on the same criteria and can't change from one establishment to the next (in the way that degree courses can).
A service offered by some training providers is a Job Placement Assistance program. It's intention is to help you find your first job in the industry. However sometimes there is more emphasis than is necessary on this service, for it is genuinely quite straightforward for any focused and well taught person to get a job in the IT industry - because there's a great need for qualified personnel.
One important thing though, don't wait till you have passed your final exams before polishing up your CV. As soon as you start a course, list what you're working on and get promoting!
Quite often, you'll secure your first role while still studying (even when you've just left first base). If your course details aren't on your CV (and it hasn't been posted on jobsites) then you're not even going to be known about!
The top companies to get you a new position are most often independent and specialised local recruitment services. Because they make their money when they've found you a job, they have the necessary incentive to try that bit harder.
A common grievance for various course providers is how hard people are prepared to work to become certified, but how little effort that student will then put into getting the job they've trained for. Don't give up when the best is yet to come.
Trainees looking at this market can be very practical by nature, and don't really enjoy classrooms, and poring through books and manuals. If you're thinking this sounds like you, use multimedia, interactive learning, where everything is presented via full motion video.
Our ability to remember is increased when all our senses are brought into the mix - experts have been clear on this for many years.
Courses are now available on CD and DVD discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Through video streaming, you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how it's all done, with some practice time to follow - in a virtual lab environment.
It would be silly not to view some of the typical study materials provided before you sign on the dotted line. What you want are videoed instructor demonstrations and interactive modules with audio-visual elements.
It doesn't make sense to opt for on-line only training. Because of the variable quality and reliability of most broadband providers, you should always obtain CD or DVD ROM based materials.
About the Author
(C) Jason Kendall. Navigate to LearningLolly.com for intelligent advice. www.it-training-com.co.uk or www.learninglolly.com.
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