Considering CompTIA Network Plus Retraining (150509)

by Jason Kendall

Currently in the UK, industry would struggle if it weren't for support workers fixing networks and computers, while making recommendations to users on a constant basis. With the increasingly multifaceted levels of technological advances, greater numbers of qualified workers are required to look after the various different areas we've become dependent on.

Listening to the sheer volume of debate on the area of IT at present, how do we know what exactly to look for?

You should remember: the training itself or the accreditation isn't what this is about; the job or career that you're getting the training for is. Too many training companies place too much importance on just the training course. Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Avoid the mistake of choosing what sounds like a very 'interesting' program and then spend decades in a job you hate!

Get to grips with what you want to earn and how ambitious you are. Sometimes, this affects what precise exams will be required and what industry will expect from you in return. Sense dictates that you look for advice and guidance from an experienced industry professional before settling on a training path, so there's no doubt that the chosen route will give you the skill-set required for your career choice.

Consider only study courses that'll lead to industry accepted accreditations. There are way too many trainers suggesting their own 'in-house' certificates that are essentially useless when you start your job-search. You'll discover that only industry recognised accreditation from the likes of Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe and Cisco will have any meaning to employers.

Often, trainers provide piles of reference manuals and workbooks. This isn't very interesting and not really conducive to remembering. Long-term memory is enhanced when we use multiple senses - learning experts have been saying this for many years.

Find a course where you're provided with an array of CD and DVD ROM's - you'll begin by watching videos of instructors demonstrating the skills, and be able to hone your abilities through virtual lab's. Don't take any chances and look at some examples of the kind of training materials you'll be using before you hand over your cheque. The minimum you should expect would be instructor-led video demonstrations and a variety of audio-visual and interactive sections.

Avoiding training that is delivered purely online is generally a good idea. Always choose CD or DVD based study materials where offered, as you need to be able to use them whenever it's convenient for you - it's not wise to be held hostage to a good broadband connection all the time.

It's so important to understand this key point: It's essential to obtain proper 24x7 round-the-clock support from professional instructors. Later, you'll kick yourself if you don't adhere to this. Locate training schools with help available at all hours of the day and night (irrespective of whether it's the wee hours on Sunday morning!) Make sure it's always access directly to professional tutors, and not access to a call-in service which takes messages - so you're parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back at a convenient time for them.

We recommend looking for training programs that utilise many support facilities active in different time-zones. All of them should be combined to offer a simple interface together with 24x7 access, when you need it, with no fuss. Never compromise where support is concerned. The majority of students who throw in the towel, would have had a different experience if they'd got the right support package in the first place.

Incorporating exams with the course fee then giving it 'Exam Guarantee' status is a popular marketing tool with many training course providers. But look at the facts:

Everybody's aware that they're still footing the bill for it - obviously it has been inserted into the gross price invoiced by the training company. Certainly, it's not a freebie (it's just marketing companies think we'll fall for anything they say!) It's well known in the industry that if a student pays for each examination, at the time of taking them, there's a much better chance they'll pass first time - because they'll think of their investment in themselves and their application will be greater.

Don't pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you're ready, and hang on to your cash. In addition, it's then your choice where to sit the exam - so you can choose somewhere closer to home. Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on examination fees when you don't need to? A lot of profit is made because training colleges are getting money in early for exam fees - and then cashing in when they're not all taken. The majority of organisations will require you to sit pre-tests and not allow you to re-take an exam until you've proven conclusively that you can pass - so an 'Exam Guarantee' comes with many clauses in reality.

Prometric and VUE exams are in the region of 112 pounds in Britain at the time of writing. What's the point of paying huge 'Exam Guarantee' costs (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.

Qualifications from the commercial sector are now, very visibly, beginning to replace the traditional academic paths into the industry - so why is this? With a growing demand for specific technological expertise, industry has had to move to specific, honed-in training only available through the vendors themselves - that is companies like Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA. Frequently this is at a far reduced cost both money and time wise. Academic courses, for example, often get bogged down in a lot of background study - with much too broad a syllabus. This prevents a student from getting enough specific knowledge about the core essentials.

What if you were an employer - and your company needed a person with some very particular skills. What should you do: Wade your way through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, struggling to grasp what they've learned and which commercial skills they have, or select a specialised number of commercial certifications that precisely match your needs, and make your short-list from that. You can then focus on how someone will fit into the team at interview - instead of having to work out if they can do the job.

Sometimes, individuals don't comprehend what information technology is about. It's thrilling, changing, and puts you at the fore-front of developments in technology affecting everyones lives in the 21st century. We've only just begun to get a feel for how technology will influence everything we do. The internet will profoundly transform how we view and interrelate with the entire world over the years to come.

If making decent money is up there on your wish list, then you will welcome the news that the usual remuneration for IT employees in general is significantly greater than salaries in the rest of the economy. Experts agree that there's a significant UK-wide need for trained and qualified IT technicians. In addition, as growth in the industry shows little sign of contracting, it appears this pattern will continue for the significant future.

About the Author:

The author: Jason Kendall life has been in IT for 20 yrs. He now consults around commercial certification. If you're interested in Network+ Certification, visit LearningLolly Comptia Network+.