Training For PC User Skills – An Analysis
It’s really great that you’ve made it this far! Just ten percent of people say they enjoy their work, but the majority just bitch about it and nothing happens. By looking for this we have a hunch that you’re giving retraining some thought, so you’ve already stood out from the crowd. Now you just need to research and follow-through.
We’d politely request that before you start a training course, you discuss your plans with a person who is familiar with the working environment and can advise you. Such a person will go through personality profiling with you and assist in finding the right role for you:
* Do you operate better working alone or is being part of a team an essential criteria for you?
* Do you have a preference which sector you would be suited to? (Post credit crunch, it’s more important than ever to choose carefully.)
* Would you like this to be a one off time that you’ll need to re-qualify?
* Will this new qualification make it easier to get a good job, and stay employable until you wish to retire?
We would advise you to have a good look at the IT industry – there are increasingly more roles than people to do them, because it’s one of the few choices of career where the industry is expanding. Despite what some people believe, it isn’t a bunch of techie geeks looking at screens every day (though those jobs exist.) The majority of jobs are occupied by people like you and me who want to earn a very good living.
Getting your first commercial position sometimes feels easier to handle if you’re supported with a Job Placement Assistance program. Don’t get overly impressed with this service – it isn’t unusual for companies marketing departments to make it sound harder than it is. The fact of the matter is, the huge shortage of staff in Great Britain is the reason you’ll find a job.
CV and Interview advice and support may be available (if it isn’t, consult one of our sites). Be sure to you polish up your CV right away – not after you’ve qualified!
Many junior support jobs have been bagged by students who are still learning and have yet to take their exams. At least this will get your CV into the ‘possible’ pile and not the ‘no’ pile.
The top companies to help you land that job are usually specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. Because they get paid commission to place you, they’ll work that much harder to get a result.
To bottom line it, as long as you focus the same level of energy into securing a position as into studying, you’re not going to hit many challenges. Some students curiously conscientiously work through their training course and do nothing more once certified and seem to expect employers to find them.
The best type of training program will have fully authorised simulation materials and exam preparation packages.
Because the majority of examining boards for IT are American, it’s essential to understand how exam questions will be phrased and formatted. It’s not sufficient simply answering any old technical questions – it’s essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format.
Be sure to ask for testing modules that will allow you to test your understanding along the way. Simulated or practice exams help to build your confidence – so you’re much more at ease with the real thing.
A ridiculously large number of organisations only concern themselves with gaining a certificate, and avoid focusing on what it’s all actually about – getting yourself a new job or career. You should always begin with the end in mind – too many people focus on the journey.
It’s an awful thing, but a great many students start out on programs that sound great in the prospectus, but which provides the end-result of a job that is of no interest at all. Talk to many university leavers and you’ll see where we’re coming from.
Stay tuned-in to what you want to achieve, and formulate your training based on that – avoid getting them back-to-front. Stay focused on the end-goal and ensure that you’re training for something that will keep you happy for many years.
We’d recommend you take advice from a professional advisor before embarking on some particular learning program, so there’s no doubt that the specific package will give the skills for the job being sought.
Traditional teaching in classrooms, involving piles of reference textbooks, is usually pretty hard going. If this sounds like you, find training programs which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts.
Many studies have proved that memory is aided when all our senses are involved, and we get physically involved with the study process.
Locate a program where you’ll receive a library of DVD-ROM’s – you’ll begin by watching videos of instructors demonstrating the skills, followed by the chance to use virtual lab’s to practice your new skills.
Always insist on a demonstration of the study materials from the school that you’re considering. The package should contain expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and interactive labs where you get to practice.
It’s unwise to select online only courseware. With highly variable reliability and quality from most broadband providers, you should always obtain actual CD or DVD ROM’s.
(C) 2010 Scott Edwards. Pop to Advanced Web Design or www.HowToChooseACareer.co.uk/vhtcac.html.




