Home Based MCSA-MCSE Training – Options
Because you’re doing your research on courses for MCSE, the chances are you’re in one of two situations: Maybe you’re thinking of a complete career change to the field of computers, and you’ve discovered a massive need for people with the right qualifications. Instead you could already be in IT – and you need to formalise your skill-set with the Microsoft qualification.
As you find out about training providers, don’t use any that short-change you by not upgrading their courses to the latest Microsoft version. Over time, this will frustrate and cost the student a lot more due to the fact that they’ve been taught from an old version of MCTS Certification which inevitably will have to be up-dated pretty much straight away.
A training provider’s focus should be on doing the absolute best they can for their trainees, and they should care greatly about their results. Studying for a career isn’t just about the certification – the procedure must also be geared towards guiding you on the best action plan for your future.
Many men and women think that the traditional school, college or university track is the right way even now. So why then are qualifications from the commercial sector becoming more popular with employers?
With an ever-increasing technical demand on resources, industry has had to move to specific, honed-in training that can only be obtained from the actual vendors – namely companies like CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. Frequently this is at a far reduced cost both money and time wise.
Vendor training works through focusing on the skills that are really needed (together with an appropriate level of associated knowledge,) rather than covering masses of the background detail and ‘fluff’ that computer Science Degrees often do (to fill up a syllabus or course).
The bottom line is: Authorised IT qualifications give employers exactly what they’re looking for – it says what you do in the title: for example, I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Infrastructure’. Consequently companies can look at the particular needs they have and which qualifications are required to perform the job.
Each programme of learning must provide a nationally (or globally) recognised accreditation as an end-goal – not some little ‘in-house’ piece of paper.
Only properly recognised examinations from the top companies like Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe and Cisco will mean anything to employers.
Make sure you don’t get caught-up, as many people do, on the accreditation program. Training for training’s sake is generally pointless; this is about gaining commercial employment. You need to remain focused on where you want to go.
It’s possible, for example, to thoroughly enjoy one year of training and then spend 20 miserable years in a tiresome job role, entirely because you stumbled into it without some quality research at the beginning.
Prioritise understanding the exact expectations industry will have. What certifications they’ll want you to gain and how you’ll build your experience level. It’s definitely worth spending time considering how far you’d like to go as it will often present a very specific set of certifications.
All students are advised to speak with an experienced industry advisor before they embark on a study program. This is essential to ensure it contains the relevant skills for the chosen career.
The somewhat scary thought of securing your first IT job can be relieved because some trainers offer a Job Placement Assistance programme. Don’t get overly impressed with this service – it’s easy for eager sales people to overplay it. The fact of the matter is, the still growing need for IT personnel in the UK is the reason you’ll find a job.
Help with your CV and interview techniques might be provided (if not, see one of our sites for help). It’s essential that you bring your CV right up to date straight away – not when you’re ready to start work!
Various junior support jobs are offered to trainees who’re still on their course and have yet to take their exams. At the very least this will get your CV into the ‘possible’ pile and not the ‘no’ pile.
Most often, an independent and specialised local employment service (who will get paid by the employer when they’ve placed you) will be more pro-active than a centralised training company’s service. They should, of course, also know the area and local employers better.
In a nutshell, if you put the same amount of effort into finding a position as into MCTS training, you won’t find it too challenging. A number of men and women curiously invest a great deal of time on their learning program and do nothing more once qualified and appear to be under the impression that jobs will come to them.