CompTIA Network+ Certification

In these days of super efficiency, support workers who are able to fix computers and networks, along with giving daily help to users, are vital in every sector of the workplace. Because we become massively more reliant on our PC’s, we also find ourselves more dependent on the well trained network engineers, who ensure the systems function properly.

Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always proper direct-access 24×7 support through expert mentors and instructors. Too many companies will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend. Avoid those companies that use messaging services ‘out-of-hours’ - where an advisor will call back during the next ‘working’ day. It’s not a lot of help when you’ve got study issues and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.

Top training providers utilise an online access 24 hours-a-day system pulling in several support offices from around the world. You’ll have a single, easy-to-use interface that seamlessly selects the best facility available any time of the day or night: Support available as-and-when you want it. If you opt for less than online 24×7 support, you’ll regret it. You may avoid using the support in the middle of the night, but consider weekends, late evenings or early mornings.

The market provides an excess of jobs and positions available in computing. Arriving at the correct choice out of this complexity is a mammoth decision. Working through a list of odd-sounding and meaningless job titles is just a waste of time. The majority of us don’t really appreciate what our next-door neighbours do at work each day - so we have no hope of understanding the complexities of a new IT role. Achieving the right resolution will only come from a detailed analysis covering many varying factors:

* What nature of individual you consider yourself to be - the tasks that you find interesting, and conversely - what don’t you like doing.

* What sort of time-frame do you want for the training process?

* Where do you stand on salary vs job satisfaction?

* Considering all that IT encapsulates, it’s obvious you’ll need to be able to take in what is different.

* It’s wise to spend some time thinking about the amount of time and effort that you will set aside for your education.

To cut through the industry jargon, and find the best path to success, have an informal meeting with an experienced professional; an individual that understands the commercial reality whilst covering each accreditation.

Several companies have a handy Job Placement Assistance facility, to help you into your first commercial role. Sometimes, too much is made of this feature, for it is genuinely quite straightforward for any motivated and trained individual to land a job in the IT industry - as employers are keen to find appropriately trained staff.

Work on polishing up your CV right away however (advice and support for this should come from your course provider). Don’t wait until you’ve qualified. Quite frequently, you’ll secure your initial job whilst still on the course (occasionally right at the beginning). If you haven’t updated your CV to say what you’re studying (and it isn’t in the hands of someone with jobs to offer) then you don’t stand a chance! If you don’t want to travel too far to work, then you’ll probably find that a specialist locally based employment agency may be more appropriate than the trainer’s recruitment division, because they are much more inclined to have insider knowledge of the jobs that are going locally.

Not inconsiderable numbers of trainees, it seems, are prepared to study their hearts out (for years sometimes), only to do nothing special when finding a good job. Promote yourself… Do everything you can to get in front of employers. Don’t expect a job to just fall into your lap.

Your training program should always include the current Microsoft (or any other key organisation’s) accredited exam simulation and preparation packages. Because a lot of IT examining boards are from the USA, you need to become familiar with their phraseology. It’s no use just answering any old technical questions - they have to be in the same format as the actual exams. As you can imagine, it is vital to ensure that you’ve thoroughly prepared for your commercial exam before taking it. Revising ‘mock’ exams helps build your confidence and saves you time and money on unsuccessful attempts at exams.

Look at the facts below carefully if you’re inclined to think that old marketing ploy of examination guarantees seems like a good idea:

Patently it isn’t free - you’re still coughing up for it - the cost has just been rolled into the whole training package. It’s well known in the industry that when students fund each examination, when they’re ready to take them and not before, they will be much more likely to qualify each time - because they’ll think of the cost and will therefore apply themselves appropriately.

Doesn’t it make more sense to find the best exam deal or offer at the time, instead of paying a premium to the training college, and to do it locally - rather than in some remote centre? What’s the point in paying early for exams when there’s absolutely nothing that says you have to? A lot of profit is secured by training companies charging all their exam fees up-front - and then cashing in when they’re not all taken. Also, ‘Exam Guarantees’ often aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. The majority of companies won’t be prepared to pay again for an exam until you’re able to demonstrate an excellent mock pass rate.

Prometric and VUE exams are currently clocking in at an average of 112 pounds in the UK. Why spend so much more on fees for ‘exam guarantees’ (usually wrapped up in the course package price) - when the best course materials, the right level of support and a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools are actually the key to your success.