Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Training in Computer Support - Update

By Jason Kendall

Well done! Hitting upon this feature suggests you're thinking about your future, and if it's re-training you're considering you've already done more than almost everybody else. Did you know that hardly any of us describe ourselves as contented at work - but most will just put up with it. We encourage you to be different and move forward - you have the rest of your life to enjoy it.

We recommend you seek advice first - talk to someone who's familiar with your chosen field; a guide who can really get to know you and find the best job role for you, and analyse the learning programs which will get you there:

* Do you like to work collaborating with people? Is that as part of a team or with a lot of new people? Possibly operating on your own on specific tasks would be more your thing?

* Do you have a preference which market sector you would be suited to? (In this economy, it's essential to choose well.)

* Is this the last time you imagine you'll re-train, and if so, do you suppose your new career will allow you to do that?

* Are you concerned with regard to the chance of getting new work, and keeping a job until you plan to retire?

We would advise that you consider Information Technology - it's well known that it is one of the few growth sectors. It's not all nerdy people looking at computer screens constantly - naturally some IT jobs demand that, but the majority of roles are carried out by people like you and me who get on very well.

Finding your first job in the industry is often made easier with a Job Placement Assistance program. At the end of the day it isn't so complicated as you might think to land a job - as long as you're correctly trained and certified; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.

Having said that, it's important to have help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews though; also we would encourage any student to get their CV updated right at the beginning of their training - don't put it off till you've finished your exams.

It's not uncommon to find that junior support roles are offered to people who are in the process of training and haven't even passed a single exam yet. This will at least get you into the 'maybe' pile of CV's - rather than the 'No' pile.

If you don't want to travel too far to work, then you'll often find that a local (but specialised) recruitment consultancy may serve you better than the trainer's recruitment division, for they're going to be familiar with local employment needs.

A big frustration for a number of training providers is how much people are focused on studying to get top marks in their exams, but how un-prepared they are to work on getting the role they've acquired skills for. Get out there and hustle - you might find it's fun.

A ridiculously large number of organisations only concern themselves with gaining a certificate, and forget what it's all actually about - which is a commercial career or job. You should always begin with the final destination in mind - don't get hung-up on the training vehicle.

Don't let yourself become one of the unfortunate masses who select a program that seems 'fun' or 'interesting' - and end up with a plaque on the wall for a career they'll never really get any satisfaction from.

You must also consider your feelings on earning potential, career development, plus your level of ambition. It makes sense to understand what (if any) sacrifices you'll need to make for a particular role, what exams are required and where you'll pick-up experience from.

It's good advice for all students to speak with an industry professional before following a particular study program. This gives some measure of assurance that it contains the commercially required skills for the chosen career path.

Starting with the idea that we have to locate the market that sounds most inviting first and foremost, before we're able to chew over what method of training would meet that requirement, how do we decide on the right path?

As having no previous experience in the IT industry, in what way could we understand what someone in a particular job does?

Getting to the right answer really only appears through a thorough investigation of many unique criteria:

* What hobbies you have and enjoy - these can point towards what areas will give you the most reward.

* Why you're looking at starting in Information Technology - it could be you're looking to overcome a particular goal such as working for yourself maybe.

* How highly do you rate salary - is it of prime importance, or do you place job satisfaction a little higher on the scale of your priorities?

* Considering the huge variation that Information Technology encapsulates, it's a requirement that you can take in how they differ.

* It's wise to spend some time thinking about the level of commitment you'll put into your training.

In all honesty, it's obvious that the only real way to research these issues will be via a meeting with someone that understands Information Technology (as well as it's commercial needs and requirements.)

Watch out that all accreditations you're considering doing will be commercially viable and are up-to-date. The 'in-house' certifications provided by many companies are not normally useful in gaining employment.

From a commercial standpoint, only top businesses such as Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA (as an example) really carry any commercial clout. Nothing else makes the grade.

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