THE WIKI COMMUNITY

Friday, 20 August 2010

CompTIA Networking Support Home-Based Online Courses Examined

By Jason Kendall

These days, most companies couldn't function properly without the help of support workers solving problems with networks and computers, while giving advice to users each and every day. Due to the progressively complex nature of technological advances, many more IT professionals are being looked for to look after the various different areas we've come to rely on.

Watch out that all qualifications you're studying for will be commercially viable and are current. Training companies own certificates are not normally useful in gaining employment.

All the major IT organisations like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco or CompTIA each have internationally recognised proficiency courses. These heavyweights will make your CV stand-out.

Far too many companies are all about the certification, and forget the reasons for getting there - getting yourself a new job or career. Always begin with the end goal - don't make the journey more important than where you want to get to.

Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don't make the error of opting for what may seem to be an 'interesting' course only to spend 20 years doing something you don't even enjoy!

Make sure you investigate your leanings around earning potential and career progression, and whether you intend to be quite ambitious. You need to know what the role will demand of you, which particular exams they want you to have and how to develop your experience.

Have a chat with an experienced advisor who has a background in the industry you're considering, and is able to give you a detailed run-down of what you actually do in that role. Researching these areas well before starting out on a study program will save you both time and money.

Don't accept anything less than the current Microsoft (or Cisco, CompTIA etc.) authorised exam preparation and simulation materials.

Because a lot of IT examining boards are American, you must be prepared for the way exams are phrased. You can't practice properly by simply going through the right questions - it's essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format.

Ensure that you ask for exam preparation tools so you'll be able to test your comprehension at all times. Practice or 'mock' exams log the information in your brain - then the real thing isn't quite as scary.

One crafty way that course providers make extra profits is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course and offering an exam guarantee. It looks like a good deal, until you think it through:

These days, we have to be a tad more knowledgeable about sales gimmicks - and usually we realise that of course it is actually an additional cost to us - they're not just being charitable and doling out freebies!

Trainees who take each progressive exam, funding them as they go are much more likely to pass. They're aware of the cost and revise more thoroughly to be up to the task.

Why pay a training company early for examination fees? Hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take the exam, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance - and do it locally - not at somewhere of their bidding.

Is there a good reason to pay interest on a bigger loan than is necessary because you've paid early for examinations when there's absolutely nothing that says you have to? A great deal of money is secured by training companies charging upfront for all their exams - and banking on the fact that many won't be taken.

Also, many exam guarantees are worthless. The majority of organisations won't pay for re-takes until you can prove to them you're ready to pass.

Exams taken at VUE and Prometric centres are in the region of 112 pounds in the United Kingdom today. Why spend so much more on charges for 'Exam Guarantees' (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when a quality course, support and a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools are actually the key to your success.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment