Training For a Career in CompTIA - Thoughts
Posted: Wednesday, January 20, 2010
by Jason Kendall
In total, there are 4 A+ examinations and areas of study, but you only have to get your exams in 2 of them to be thought of as qualified. This is why a great number of colleges restrict their course to just 2 areas. However, training you in all four will provide you with a more confident perspective of your subject, something you'll discover is a Godsend in professional employment.
Qualifications from the commercial sector are now, without a doubt, starting to replace the traditional academic paths into the industry - why then is this the case? Key company training (to use industry-speak) is most often much more specialised. The IT sector has realised that this level of specialised understanding is essential to cope with an acceleratingly technical marketplace. Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA are the big boys in this field. Of course, a certain degree of associated knowledge needs to be learned, but essential specialisation in the particular job function gives a commercially trained student a massive advantage.
Just as the old advertisement said: 'It does what it says on the tin'. All an employer has to do is know what areas need to be serviced, and then match up the appropriate exam numbers as a requirement. Then they know that anyone who applies can do the necessary work.
It's usual for students to get confused with one area of their training usually not even thought about: How the training is broken down and sent out to you. Individual deliveries for each training module one stage at a time, taking into account your exam passes is the normal way of receiving your courseware. This sounds logical, but you should consider these factors: Maybe the order of study prescribed by the provider doesn't suit you. What if you find it hard to complete each and every section within the time limits imposed?
In an ideal situation, you'd ask for every single material to be delivered immediately - so you'll have them all to come back to at any time in the future - irrespective of any schedule. This also allows you to vary the order in which you move through the program if another more intuitive route presents itself.
Beginning with the understanding that it's good to locate the area of most interest first and foremost, before we can weigh up which career development program meets that requirement, how can we choose the right path? Therefore, if you have no experience in the IT market, what chance is there for you to know what someone in a particular field actually does day-to-day? Let alone arrive at what accreditation path is the most likely for your success. Usually, the way to come at this quandary appropriately stems from a deep discussion of several different topics:
* Our personalities play a starring part - what things get your juices flowing, and what are the things that really turn you off.
* Do you want to get certified due to a certain raison d'etre - i.e. do you aim to work based from home (self-employment possibly?)?
* Is the money you make further up on your list of priorities than other requirements.
* Learning what the main work roles and sectors are - plus how they're different to each other.
* The level of commitment and effort you're prepared to put into obtaining your certification.
The bottom line is, your only chance of covering these is via a meeting with an advisor or professional who knows the industry well enough to provide solid advice.
We'd hazard a guess that you're a practical sort of person - the 'hands-on' personality type. If you're anything like us, the trial of reading reference books and manuals is something you'll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you'd hate it. You should use video and multimedia based materials if books just don't do it for you. Where possible, if we can study while utilising as many senses as possible, our results will often be quite spectacular.
Top of the range study programs now offer easy-to-use DVD or CD ROM's. Through instructor-led video classes you'll find things easier to remember via the expert demonstrations. Knowledge can then be tested by utilising the practice lab's and modules. Every company that you look at must be pushed to demo some examples of their training materials. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and a variety of interactive modules.
It's unwise to go for purely on-line training. Connection quality and reliability varies hugely across most broadband providers, make sure you get CD or DVD ROM based materials.(C) Jason Kendall. Pop over to LearningLolly.com for the best information. Comptia A+ or A+ Training.
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