In these days of super efficiency, support workers who can mend computers and networks, along with giving regular solutions to users, are vital in every part of industry. As we get to grips with the multifaceted levels of technological advances, growing numbers of IT professionals are needed to run the smooth operation of functions we rely on.
Some commercial training providers only give office hours or extended office hours support; most won’t answer after 8-9pm at the latest and frequently never at the weekends.
Avoid, like the plague, any organisations who use ‘out-of-hours’ call-centres – with your call-back scheduled for office hours. It’s not a lot of help when you’ve got study issues and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.
Be on the lookout for study programmes that have multiple support offices active in different time-zones. Each one should be integrated to provide a single interface and also round-the-clock access, when you need it, with no fuss.
Never ever take second best when you’re looking for the right support service. Many IT hopefuls that can’t get going properly, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).
People attracted to this sort of work are often very practical, and won’t enjoy sitting at a desk in class, and slogging through piles of books. If this could be you, go for more modern interactive training, where you can learn everything on-screen.
Our ability to remember is increased with an involvement of all our senses – educational experts have expounded on this for decades now.
Learning is now available on CD and DVD discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Utilising the latest video technology, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how something is done, and then have a go at it yourself – via the interactive virtual lab’s.
It’s very important to see the type of training provided by any company that you may want to train through. Be sure that they contain instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab’s.
Many companies provide training that is purely available online; and although this is okay the majority of the time, think what will happen if your access to the internet is broken or you get a slow connection speed. It is usually safer to have DVD or CD discs that don’t suffer from these broadband issues.
Ask almost any capable consultant and you’ll be surprised by their many terrible tales of students who’ve been sold completely the wrong course for them. Stick to a skilled advisor who digs deep to find out what’s appropriate to you – not for their paycheque! It’s very important to locate the right starting point of study for you.
Often, the training start-point for a person with a little experience can be massively different to the student with none.
Consider starting with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. Beginning there can make the learning curve a much more gentle.
Only consider study programs that lead to commercially acknowledged accreditations. There’s a plethora of small companies promoting unknown ‘in-house’ certificates which will prove unusable when it comes to finding a job.
From an employer’s viewpoint, only the major heavyweights like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA (as an example) will open the right doors. Anything less won’t make the grade.
(C) Jason Kendall. Try LearningLolly.com for intelligent career tips. or .
