Training For A Career In Networking Explained

If it weren't for a continuous flood of qualified network and computer support staff, industry in the United Kingdom (as elsewhere) would be likely to be drawn to a standstill. We have an ever growing requirement for technically able people to support both the users themselves and their networks. As we are getting more and more dependent on advanced technology, we additionally emerge as increasingly dependent on the skilled and qualified networking professionals, who maintain those systems.

Training support for students is an absolute must - ensure you track down something that provides 24x7 direct access, as anything less will not satisfy and will also hold up your pace and restrict your intake.

Email support is too slow, and telephone support is usually to a call-centre that will chat nicely with you for 5 minutes to ask what the issue is and then simply send an email to an instructor - who'll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, at a time suitable for them. This is no good if you're lost and confused and only have a specific time you can study.

It's possible to find professional training packages that offer online direct access support all the time - at any time of day or night.

You can't afford to accept anything less. 24x7 support is the only viable option for computer-based courses. Perhaps you don't intend to study during the evenings; often though, we're out at work at the time when most support is available.

Of course: the actual training program or an accreditation is not what you're looking for; a job you're training for is. Many trainers unfortunately place too much importance on the qualification itself.

It's a sad testimony to the sales skills of many companies, but the majority of trainees start out on programs that sound spectacular in the syllabus guide, but which gets us a career that doesn't satisfy. Speak to a selection of college graduates and you'll see where we're coming from.

It's well worth a long chat to see what industry will expect from you. Which qualifications you'll need and how to gain experience. It's also worth spending time setting guidelines as to how far you'reckon you're going to want to progress your career as it will force you to choose a particular set of qualifications.

Talk to someone that understands the work you're contemplating, and who can give you a detailed description of what you're going to be doing in that job. Contemplating this well before you start on any learning course will prevent a lot of wasted time and effort.

Sometimes trainees think that the state educational path is still the best way into IT. Why then is commercial certification slowly and steadily replacing it?

The IT sector now acknowledges that to cover the necessary commercial skill-sets, the right accreditation from the likes of Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe most often has much more specialised relevance - and a fraction of the cost and time.

This is done through honing in on the actual skills required (along with a proportionate degree of background knowledge,) instead of covering masses of the background detail and 'fluff' that computer Science Degrees can often find themselves doing - to pad out the syllabus.

As long as an employer is aware what areas they need covered, then they simply need to advertise for someone with a specific qualification. Commercial syllabuses all have to conform to the same requirements and do not vary between trainers (in the way that degree courses can).

Getting into your first IT role is often made easier with a Job Placement Assistance facility. Ultimately it isn't so complicated as you might think to get employment - once you're trained and certified; employers in this country need your skills.

However, what is relevant is to have help with your CV and interview techniques though; and we'd recommend all students to bring their CV up to date the day they start training - don't put it off till you've finished your exams.

Getting onto the 'maybe' pile of CV's is more than not being known. Many junior jobs are got by students (sometimes when they've only just got going.)

Generally, you'll receive better performance from an independent and specialised local recruitment consultancy than you'll get from a course provider's employment division, because they'll know the local area and commercial needs better.

In a nutshell, as long as you put the same commitment into landing your first job as into training, you won't find it too challenging. Some people inexplicably invest a great deal of time on their training and studies and do nothing more once qualified and appear to be under the impression that jobs will come to them.