Good for you! Discovering this piece indicates you’re probably thinking about your future, and if training for a new career’s in your mind you’ve already done more than almost everybody else. Are you aware that hardly any of us are fulfilled and satisfied with our jobs – yet most will just put up with it. Why not liberate yourself and make a start – those who do hardly ever regret it.
Before embarking on a course, look for some advice – talk to someone who’s familiar with your chosen field; an advisor who can get to the bottom of what you’ll like in a job, and analyse the training programs you may be suited to:
* Do you see yourself dealing with people? Would that be with the same people or with a lot of new people? Perhaps working alone in isolation may be your preference?
* Are you thinking carefully about which industry you maybe could work in? (In this economy, it’s vital to choose carefully.)
* Is this the final time you envisage re-training, and therefore, do you believe this career choice will allow you to do that?
* Do you believe that retraining in your chosen sector can help you find employment, and will provide the facility to be employed up to the time you want to stop?
When listing your options, it’s relevant that you consider the IT sector – it’s no secret that it’s getting bigger. It’s not full of geeky individuals gazing at their PC’s the whole time – we know those jobs exist, but the majority of roles are done by people like you and me who do very well out of it.
The market provides a plethora of employment in IT. Arriving at the correct choice out of this complexity often proves challenging.
What are the chances of us grasping the many facets of a particular career when it’s an alien environment to us? Most likely we have never met anyone who does that actual job anyway.
Often, the key to unlocking this question appropriately flows from a full chat, covering several different topics:
* What nature of person you reckon you are – what kind of jobs you get enjoyment from, and conversely – what you hate to do.
* Are you driven to obtain training due to a particular raison d’etre – e.g. is it your goal to work based from home (maybe self-employment?)?
* Is your income higher on your wish list than anything else.
* Always think in-depth about the energy required to achieve their goals.
* You need to understand what differentiates all the training areas.
To be honest, it’s obvious that the only real way to gain help on these matters is through a chat with an advisor or professional that has years of experience in IT (and chiefly the commercial needs.)
Exam ‘guarantees’ are sometimes offered as part of a training package – this always means exams have to be paid for upfront, before you’ve even made a start on the course. Before you get carried away with this so-called guarantee, be aware of the facts:
Certainly it’s not free – you’re still footing the bill for it – the price has simply been included in the whole thing.
We all want to pass first time. Going for exams in order and funding them one at a time sees you much better placed to get through first time – you revise thoroughly and are aware of the costs involved.
Why pay the training course provider early for examinations? Find the best deal you can when you’re ready, don’t pay mark-ups – and take it closer to home – rather than possibly hours away from your area.
A great deal of money is netted by a number of companies that take the exam money up-front. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don’t get to do their exams and so they pocket the rest. Believe it or not, there are companies around who depend on students not taking their exams – as that’s how they make a lot of their profit.
Remember, with the majority of Exam Guarantees – you are not in control of when you can do your re-takes. You will have to demonstrate an excellent pass-rate before they’ll approve a re-take.
Shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds on an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is foolish – when consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.
Most commercial training providers will only provide support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; most won’t answer after 8-9pm at the latest and frequently never at the weekends.
Avoid, like the plague, any organisations who use ‘out-of-hours’ call-centres – where you’ll get called back during typical office hours. It’s no use when you’re stuck on a problem and need an answer now.
The very best programs offer an online round-the-clock service pulling in several support offices throughout multiple time-zones. You’re offered an interface which seamlessly accesses whichever office is appropriate at any time of day or night: Support when you need it.
Always choose a training school that offers this level of study support. Only true live 24×7 round-the-clock support gives you the confidence to make it.
Many trainers supply a practical Job Placement Assistance facility, to assist your search for your first position. But don’t place too much emphasis on it – it’s quite easy for eager sales people to make too much of it. At the end of the day, the massive skills shortage in the United Kingdom is what will make you attractive to employers.
Get your CV updated straight-away though (advice and support for this should come from your course provider). Don’t procrastinate and leave it till the exams have actually been passed.
Various junior support roles have been offered to students who are still studying and haven’t even passed a single exam yet. This will at the very least get you on your way.
Actually, a specialist independent regional recruitment consultant or service (who will get paid commission to place you) is going to give you a better service than a division of a training company. Also of course they should be familiar with the area and local employers better.
A slight aggravation of many training course providers is how hard people are focused on studying to become certified, but how un-prepared they are to work on getting the position they’re qualified for. Don’t give up when the best is yet to come.
