When thinking of a computer training program it is very important that the certification at the end of it is up to date with industries needs. In addition, ensure that the program is a match for you, your personality and abilities.
Whether you’re hoping to be a whiz with office user skills, or have ambitions to get IT qualifications at a professional level, there are plain-speaking courses and support to help you achieve your goals.
Today, there are several easily understood and accessibly priced options available that can supply you with everything you need.
At the top of your shopping list for a training program should be 24×7 round-the-clock support through dedicated instructors and mentors. So many companies we come across only seem to want to help while they’re in the office (9am till 6pm, Monday till Friday usually) and nothing at the weekends.
Try and find training with proper support available at all hours of the day and night (no matter if it’s in the middle of the night on a weekend!) Ensure you get direct-access to qualified mentors and tutors, and not access to a call-in service which takes messages – so you’re consistently being held in a queue for a call-back when it’s convenient for them.
The most successful trainers have many support offices around the globe in several time-zones. They use an online interactive interface to join them all seamlessly, no matter what time you login, help is just seconds away, with no hassle or contact issues.
Never settle for less than this. 24×7 support is the only kind that ever makes the grade when it comes to IT study. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; often though, we’re at work when traditional support if offered.
People attracted to this sort of work can be very practical by nature, and won’t enjoy sitting at a desk in class, and slogging through piles of books. If you identify with this, use multimedia, interactive learning, where everything is presented via full motion video.
Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that becoming involved with our studies, to utilise all our senses, will more likely produce memories that are deeper and longer-lasting.
Fully interactive motion videos with demonstrations and practice sessions beat books hands-down. And they’re a lot more fun to do.
Always insist on a demonstration of the study materials from the school that you’re considering. You’ll want to see expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and virtual practice lab’s for your new skills.
Many companies provide just online versions of their training packages; while you can get away with this much of the time, consider what happens if internet access is lost or you get slow speeds and down-time etc. A safer solution is the provision of CD and DVD ROM materials that will solve that problem.
An important area that is sometimes not even considered by people weighing up a particular programme is the concept of ‘training segmentation’. Basically, this means the method used to break up the program to be delivered to you, which makes a huge difference to how you end up.
A release of your materials piece by piece, as you complete each module is the usual method of releasing your program. Of course, this sounds sensible, but you should consider these factors:
Sometimes the steps or stages insisted on by the company won’t suit you. And what if you don’t finish every element inside their defined time-scales?
To avoid any potential future issues, most students now choose to have all their training materials (which they’ve now paid for) couriered out in one package, all at the beginning. That means it’s down to you how fast or slow and in what order you’d like to take your exams.
An advisor that doesn’t ask you a lot of questions – it’s more than likely they’re really a salesperson. If someone pushes specific products before looking at your personality and experience, then you know you’re being sold to.
Where you have a strong background, or perhaps a bit of real-world experience (possibly even some previous certification?) then it’s more than likely your starting point will be different from someone with no background whatsoever.
Consider starting with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. This can set the scene for your on-going studies and make the transition to higher-level learning a little less steep.
Copyright Scott Edwards. Browse around Basic Web Design or http://www.CareerChangeJob.co.uk/ncachjo.html.