Thursday, July 23, 2009

Looking for Programming Courses Simplified

By Jason Kendall

What could a trainee looking for certified training from Microsoft expect to discover? Clearly, companies must supply a number of routes that match the needs of training tracks certified by Microsoft. Additionally you might hope to be given advice on the types of jobs you might go for when you've finished studying, and what sort of person such a career might be right for. Lots of people like to get advice on what would be best for them. When you've chosen your career path, you will require an appropriate course matched to go with your skills and abilities. Your study program should more than match your expectations.

A successful package of training will undoubtedly also offer Microsoft (or key company) exam simulation and preparation packages. Make sure that the practice exams aren't just asking you the right questions from the right areas, but are also posing them in the way that the actual final exam will structure them. This throws people if the questions are phrased in unfamiliar formats. As you can imagine, it's very important to know that you are completely prepared for your commercial exam before taking it. Rehearsing mock-up tests logs the information in your brain and saves you time and money on failed exams.

Sometimes people are under the impression that the tech college or university route is the way they should go. So why then are commercial certificates slowly and steadily replacing it? As we require increasingly more effective technological know-how, the IT sector has been required to move to the specialised training that can only be obtained from the actual vendors - in other words companies like Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe. Frequently this is at a far reduced cost both money and time wise. Patently, a certain quantity of relevant additional information has to be learned, but essential specialised knowledge in the exact job role gives a commercially trained student a huge edge.

Imagine if you were an employer - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What is easier: Wade your way through loads of academic qualifications from hopeful applicants, struggling to grasp what they've learned and which commercial skills have been attained, or pick out specific commercial accreditations that specifically match what you're looking for, and then choose your interviewees based around that. The interview is then more about the person and how they'll fit in - rather than on the depth of their technical knowledge.

Speak with any practiced advisor and they'll entertain you with many awful tales of salespeople ripping-off unsuspecting students. Only deal with an experienced advisor that asks some in-depth questions to discover the most appropriate thing for you - not for their bank-account! You must establish the right starting point of study for you. Where you have a strong background, or sometimes a little commercial experience (maybe some existing accreditation?) then it could be that the point from which you begin your studies will vary from someone with no background whatsoever. Opening with a foundation module first can be the best way to commence your computer studies, but really depends on your level of familiarity with computers.

Many commercial training providers will only offer basic 9am till 6pm support (maybe a little earlier or later on certain days); most won't answer after 8-9pm at the latest and frequently never at the weekends. Many only provide email support (too slow), and phone support is usually just a call-centre that will take the information and email an instructor - who'll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, when it's convenient to them. This isn't a lot of good if you're stuck with a particular problem and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.

It's possible to find professional training packages who provide their students online direct access support around the clock - no matter what time of day it is. Never compromise when you're looking for the right support service. The vast majority of students that can't get going properly, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).

A ridiculously large number of organisations only concern themselves with gaining a certificate, and forget the reasons for getting there - which will always be getting the job or career you want. Your focus should start with where you want to get to - don't get hung-up on the training vehicle. You could be training for only a year and end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don't make the mistake of finding what seems like an 'interesting' course only to spend 20 years doing a job you hate!

Prioritise understanding the expectations of your industry. Which precise exams they will want you to have and how to gain experience. It's also worth spending time considering how far you think you'll want to get as it will control your selection of qualifications. Obtain help from a professional advisor who appreciates the market you're interested in, and who can offer 'A day in the life of' synopsis of what you'll actually be doing on a day-to-day basis. It makes good sense to understand whether or not this is right for you before you jump into the study-program. There's little reason in beginning your training only to realise you've made a huge mistake.

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