With so many IT courses to choose from, it's sometimes daunting to find the right one. Pick out one that's in line with your personal character, and one that is in demand in the workforce. You can learn anything from Microsoft User Skills up to Networking, Programming, Databases and Web Design. There is so much choice and that means you'll be likely to need to have a conversation with an experienced advisor before you make your final decision: you don't want to find you're studying for a job you'd actually hate!
With such a range of competitively priced, easily understood courses and support, you're sure to find something that will get you into industry.
Far too many companies focus completely on the certification process, and forget why you're doing this - which is of course employment. Always begin with the final destination in mind - don't get hung-up on the training vehicle. Students often train for a single year but end up doing the job for 20 years. Don't make the mistake of opting for what may seem to be an 'interesting' training program and then put 10-20 years into a job you don't like!
You'll want to understand the exact expectations industry will have. What particular exams they'll want you to gain and how to gain experience. It's definitely worth spending time thinking about how far you wish to get as it will present a very specific set of qualifications. You'd also need help from an advisor who can best explain the sector you're considering, and will be able to provide 'A day in the life of' type of explanation for that career-path. All of these things are absolutely essential as you'll need to know whether or not you've chosen correctly.
Most training companies only give support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later; very few go late in the evening or at weekends. Avoid those companies that use 'out-of-hours' messaging systems - with your call-back scheduled for the next 'working' day. It's no use when you're stuck on a problem and want support there and then.
If you look properly, you'll find the top providers who recommend and use online support 24x7 - even in the middle of the night. If you fail to get yourself 24x7 support, you'll quickly find yourself regretting it. You might not want to use the service during late nights, but you're bound to use weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.
A knowledgeable and practiced advisor (vs a salesperson) will ask questions and seek to comprehend your current level of ability and experience. There is no other way of calculating the starting point for your education. Remember, if you've had any relevant qualifications that are related, then you may be able to commence studying further along than a trainee with no history to speak of. For those students embarking on IT studies anew, it's often a good idea to break yourself in gently, by working on user-skills and software training first. This is often offered with any study program.
It's not uncommon for companies to offer inclusive exam guarantees - inevitably that means paying for the exams before you've even made a start on the course. Before you jump at a course with such a promise, why not think about this:
You'll be charged for it somehow. One thing's for sure - it isn't free - they've just worked it into the package price. For those who want to pass first time, then you should pay for each exam as you go, prioritise it appropriately and give the task sufficient application.
Do your exams at a local pro-metric testing centre and find the best exam deal or offer available then. Paying in advance for examination fees (plus interest - if you're financing your study) is a false economy. Why fill a company's coffers with additional funds only to please their Bank Manager! Many will hope you will never make it to exams - so they don't need to pay for them. Many training companies will require you to do mock exams and not allow you to re-take an exam until you've proven conclusively that you can pass - which makes an 'Exam Guarantee' frankly useless.
Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on 'Exam Guarantees' is naive - when hard work, commitment and the right preparation via exam simulations is what will really see you through.
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