Saturday, January 9, 2010

Choosing Programming Courses Uncovered

By Jason Kendall

What might you expect the finest Microsoft certified training providers to offer a student in Britain in this day and age? Obviously, the finest Microsoft certified training tracks, supplying a selection of courses to lead you to a variety of careers in the IT workplace.

It's a good idea to discuss the job possibilities with an advisor - and if you're not sure, then get help to sort out what kind of IT job would be right for you, based on your personality and ability level.

Training courses must be customised to reflect your ability level and skill set. Therefore, after working out the best kind of work for you, your next focus is the most applicable training course to see you into your career.

The world of information technology is one of the more stimulating and innovative industries you could be involved with. To be dealing with leading-edge technology is to do your bit in the gigantic changes shaping life over the next few decades.

We're barely beginning to get a handle on what this change will mean to us. The way we correlate with the world as a whole will be profoundly affected by technology and the internet.

The money in IT isn't to be sniffed at either - the typical remuneration in the UK for the usual IT worker is significantly higher than in the rest of the economy. Chances are that you'll receive quite a bit more than you would in most other jobs.

Experts agree that there's a significant nationwide demand for trained and qualified IT technicians. In addition, with the constant growth in the marketplace, it looks like there will be for years to come.

Incorporating examination fees as an inclusive element of the package price and offering an 'Exam Guarantee' is a common method with many training course providers. But let's examine why they really do it:

Clearly it's not free - you are paying for it - the cost has just been rolled into the whole training package.

People who take each progressive exam, paying for them just before taking them are much better placed to get through first time. They're mindful of their spending and so are more inclined to make sure they're ready.

Isn't it outrageous to have to pay the training company early for examinations? Go for the best offer at the time, instead of paying a premium - and do it locally - rather than in some remote place.

Big margins are netted by some training companies that get money for exam fees in advance. A number of students don't take them for various reasons but the company keeps the money. Astoundingly enough, there are companies around that actually rely on students not sitting all the exams - as that's how they make a lot of their profit.

It's also worth noting that 'Exam Guarantees' often aren't worth the paper they're written on. Most companies won't be prepared to pay again for an exam until you're able to demonstrate an excellent mock pass rate.

Due to typical VUE and Prometric tests coming in at around 112 pounds in the UK, by far the best option is to pay for them as you take them. It's not in the student's interests to fork out hundreds or thousands of pounds for exams when enrolling on a course. Commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

Starting from the idea that it's good to home-in on the market that sounds most inviting first, before we're even able to consider what educational program ticks the right boxes, how do we decide on the correct route?

I mean, if you've got no experience in the IT industry, what chance is there for you to know what some particular IT person actually does day-to-day? How can you possibly choose which accreditation path provides the best chances for you to get there.

The key to answering this issue appropriately comes from a thorough chat, covering several areas:

* Personality factors and interests - what work-oriented areas please or frustrate you.

* Why you want to consider stepping into IT - maybe you want to conquer a life-long goal such as self-employment for instance.

* Where is the salary on a scale of importance - is it very important, or does job satisfaction rate a lot higher on the scale of your priorities?

* Getting to grips with what the main Information technology roles and markets are - including what sets them apart.

* How much effort you'll have available to commit getting qualified.

For most people, considering each of these concepts requires a good chat with someone who can investigate each area with you. Not only the accreditations - but the commercial requirements also.

Those that are drawn to this type of work can be very practical by nature, and don't always take well to classrooms, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If this is putting you off studying, use multimedia, interactive learning, where you can learn everything on-screen.

Studies have time and time again shown that an 'involved' approach to study, where we utilise all our senses, is proven to produce longer-lasting and deeper memory retention.

Learning is now available via DVD-ROM discs, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Utilising the latest video technology, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how to perform the required skill, followed by your chance to practice - in a virtual lab environment.

You really need to look at examples of the study materials provided by your chosen company. It's essential they incorporate video demo's and interactive elements such as practice lab's.

You should avoid purely online training. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where available, enabling them to be used at your convenience - it's not wise to be held hostage to a quality and continuous internet connection.

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