Thursday, July 30, 2009

C Programming Career Courses - UK Described

By Jason Kendall

As there are a plethora of IT courses available, it can be difficult to find the right one. Select one that's on a par with your personal character, and that's in demand in the working environment. There's a wide range of courses to choose from. Often people get started on Microsoft user skills, many go for career changes into Programming, Web Design, Networking or Databases - and these are all possible. However, with so many to choose from, don't pluck a course out of the air. We recommend you get help from an expert who knows the computer industry, and can help you arrive at the right destination.

Today, there are many easily understood and sensibly priced options around that provide you with everything you need.

Sometimes, people don't really get what IT means. It's ground-breaking, exciting, and means you're doing your bit in the gigantic wave of technology that will impact the whole world for generations to come. We've barely started to see just how technology is going to shape our lives. Technology and the web will massively revolutionise the way we view and interrelate with the world around us over the next few years.

A regular IT employee throughout Britain can demonstrate that they get considerably more money than his or her counterpart outside of IT. Standard IT wages are hard to beat nationally. It's no secret that there is a great UK-wide demand for trained and qualified IT technicians. It follows that as growth in the industry shows little sign of contracting, it appears this pattern will continue for the significant future.

Those that are drawn to this type of work are often very practical, and don't always take well to classrooms, and endless reading of dry academic textbooks. If this is putting you off studying, go for more modern interactive training, where learning is video-based. Studies have consistently confirmed that becoming involved with our studies, to utilise all our senses, is much more conducive to long-term memory.

Learning is now available in the form of CD and DVD ROM's, so you can study at your own computer. Video streaming means you can watch instructors demonstrating how to perform the required skill, and then practice yourself - in an interactive lab. It makes sense to see some examples of the kind of training materials you'll be using before you make your decision. You should expect videoed instructor demonstrations and audio-visual elements backed up by interactive lab's.

Choose disc based courseware (On CD or DVD) where possible. Thus avoiding all the issues associated with the variability of broadband quality and service.

An all too common mistake that many potential students make is to concentrate on the course itself, instead of focusing on the desired end-result. Training academies are brimming over with unaware students who chose a course based on what sounded good - in place of something that could gain them an enjoyable career or job. It's common, for instance, to get a great deal of enjoyment from a year of study but end up spending 10 or 20 years in a tiresome job role, as a consequence of not performing some decent due-diligence when you should've - at the outset.

It's a good idea to understand the expectations of your industry. Which precise certifications you'll need and how you'll build your experience level. Spend some time considering how far you wish to progress your career as it may present a very specific set of qualifications. Before setting out on a particular learning course, you'd be well advised to chat over specific career needs with an experienced advisor, so as to be sure the study programme covers all that is required.

A sneaky way that training companies make a lot more is through up-front charges for exams then giving it 'Exam Guarantee' status. This looks like a great idea for the student, until you think it through:

Everyone knows they're still footing the bill for it - it's obviously been added into the overall price charged by the course provider. It's definitely not free (although some people will believe anything the marketing companies think up these days!) Passing first time is everyone's goal. Going for exams when it's appropriate and paying for them just before taking them has a marked effect on pass-rates - you prepare appropriately and are mindful of the investment you've made.

Go for the best offer you can find at the time, and avoid college mark-up fees. In addition, it's then your choice where to do the examinations - which means you can stay local. Including money in your training package for examinations (plus interest - if you're financing your study) is madness. Why fill a company's coffers with extra money of yours simply to help their cash-flow! There are those who hope that you won't get round to taking them - then they'll keep the extra money. The majority of organisations will require you to sit pre-tests and prohibit you from re-taking an exam until you've completely proven that you're likely to pass - making an 'exam guarantee' just about worthless.

Prometric and VUE exams are in the region of 112 pounds in Great Britain. Why spend so much more on 'Exam Guarantee' costs (often hidden in the cost) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and exam preparation systems and a dose of commitment and effort are what's required.

Throw out a salesman who recommends a training program without a decent chat so as to understand your abilities as well as level of experience. Ensure that they have a generous array of training so they can give you an appropriate solution. With some commercial experience or certification, you may find that your starting point is not the same as someone new to the industry. Consider starting with some basic user skills first. This can help whip your basic knowledge into shape and make the learning curve a much easier going.

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