Whether you are new to network support, or have a certain amount of knowledge but are looking to formalise your skill set, there are state-of-the-art Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) courses to cater for both standards of student.
Search for an organisation that’s happy to take the time to get to know you, and will help identify the right direction for you, prior to any discussions about your course. Experts will also advise you where to start dependent on your current comprehension and or lack of understanding.
Many training companies are still maintaining the rather old-fashioned idea of classroom lessons. Usually touted as a major benefit, following a chat with most students who’ve had to attend a couple, you’ll find them listing some or most of these issues:
* Multiple centre visits – sometimes hundreds of miles each and every time.
* Asking for frequent time off work – many training companies only offer Mon-Fri class availability and typically group 2-3 days together. This is generally difficult for those of us who work for a living, and this is made worse if you include the travel time on top.
* Usually, we discover 4 weeks off each year is barely enough. Take away a big chunk of this for educational events and see your problems doubled.
* In a situation where running costs are very high, most training companies have to put on larger classes – which is not ideal (and with less one-on-one time).
* Workshop pace – workshops invariably contain trainees of mixed aptitude, therefore there is often tension between students that want a quicker pace to those who want to go a little slower.
* Don’t forget the increased cost of arranging transport and over-night accommodation either. This may well run to hundreds and even thousands of pounds extra. Do the maths yourself – it’ll shock and surprise you.
* Is it worth the chance of being overlooked for a lift up the ladder or income boosts because your employer knows you’re retraining.
* Posing questions in a class full of students will often make any one of us a little self-conscious. Would you admit that you’ve occasionally avoided posing a question because you didn’t want to appear stupid?
* It should be remembered that days in-centre are simply unreachable, if you work or live away for some part of the year.
It would be better to simply watch and study with tutors one-to-one in videoed modules, taking them when it’s convenient for you, not someone else.
Whenever you get stuck, utilise the 24×7 Support (that should come with any technical program.) Don’t forget, if you own a notebook PC, you can study wherever you want.
You could repeat the modules as many times as you want to brush up. And of course, you won’t need to make notes because the class is available whenever you want it.
The bottom line: Less hassle and stress, less cost, and travelling is removed.
Starting with the understanding that it’s good to home-in on the area of most interest first, before we can even weigh up what training program ticks the right boxes, how are we supposed to find the right direction?
Therefore, without any know-how of the IT sector, how can you expect to know what a particular IT employee fills their day with? How can you possibly choose which training route will be most suitable for you to get there.
Contemplation on the following issues is essential when you want to expose a solution that suits you:
* Your personality type and what you’re interested in – which work-centred jobs you like and dislike.
* Are you hoping to obtain training for a specific reason – for example, is it your goal to work at home (being your own boss?)?
* Where do you stand on salary vs job satisfaction?
* Some students don’t fully understand the time expected to gain all the necessary accreditation.
* You need to understand what differentiates each area of training.
For the majority of us, getting to the bottom of each of these concepts tends to require the help of a professional who knows what they’re talking about. Not only the accreditations – but also the commercial expectations and needs of the market as well.
(C) 2009 S. Edwards. Try HERE or learninglolly.com/MCSA_Certification.html.
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This post was written by Jason Kendall on March 20, 2010
