The CCNA qualification is where it all starts for Cisco training. This will enable you to work on maintaining and installing network switches and routers. Basically, the internet comprises of vast numbers of routers, and big organisations that have various regional departments rely on them to connect their computer networks.
As routers are connected to networks, it is important to have an understanding of how networks work, or you’ll have difficulty gaining the training and be unable to follow the work. Look for a course that covers networking fundamentals (for example CompTIA) before you start the CCNA.
Having the skills and understanding ahead of getting going on the Cisco CCNA is essential. So talk to someone who will be able to help you.
Let’s face it: There really is very little evidence of personal job security now; there’s only industry and business security – companies can just remove anyone if it fits the business’ commercial interests. Where there are rising skills deficits together with growing demand though, we can locate a newer brand of security in the marketplace; where, fuelled by the conditions of constant growth, employers are struggling to hire the number of people required.
The computer industry skills deficit across the United Kingdom falls in at approximately twenty six percent, as noted by the latest e-Skills study. Alternatively, you could say, this means that Great Britain can only find three qualified staff for each 4 job positions available currently. Highly taught and commercially educated new workers are thus at a resounding premium, and in all likelihood it will stay that way for many years longer. Surely, now really is the very best time to retrain into the computing industry.
Bearing in mind all this debate on the area of computing technology nowadays, how do we understand what precisely to look for?
Potential trainees hoping to get an Information Technology career usually have no idea of what route to consider, let alone what sector to get certified in. Scanning a list of IT job-titles is a complete waste of time. The vast majority of us don’t even know what the neighbours do for a living – let alone understand the ins and outs of a particular IT career. Ultimately, any kind of right choice can only grow through a meticulous examination of several changing areas:
* The kind of individual you are – what kind of jobs you really enjoy, and conversely – what you definitely don’t enjoy.
* What time-frame are you looking at for retraining?
* What priority do you place on travelling time and locality vs salary?
* When taking into account all that Information Technology covers, you really need to be able to absorb the differences.
* You should also think long and hard about any sacrifices you’ll need to make, as well as what commitment and time you’re going to invest in your training.
In actuality, your only option to research these issues will be via a meeting with an advisor or professional who has years of experience in IT (and more importantly the commercial needs.)
It’s likely that you’ve always enjoyed practical work – the ‘hands-on’ personality type. If you’re like us, the trial of reading reference books and manuals is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but it’s not really your thing. Consider interactive, multimedia study if you’d really rather not use books. Long-term memory is enhanced when we use multiple senses – this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for years now.
Courses are now available via DVD-ROM discs, where everything is taught on your PC. Utilising the latest video technology, you are able to see your instructors showing you how to perform the required skill, and then practice yourself – via the interactive virtual lab’s. Any company that you’re considering should be able to show you some samples of their courseware. You’re looking for evidence of tutorial videos and demonstrations and many interactive sections.
Avoid training that is purely online. Always choose CD or DVD based study materials where available, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you – ISP quality varies, so you don’t want to be totally reliant on your broadband being ‘up’ 100 percent of the time.
How the program is actually delivered to you is often missed by many students. How many stages do they break the program into? What is the order and how fast does each element come? Most companies will sell you some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and deliver each piece one-by-one as you complete each section or exam. Sounds reasonable? Well consider these facts: Sometimes the steps or stages offered by the provider doesn’t suit. And what if you don’t finish all the modules inside their defined time-scales?
In a perfect world, you want ALL the study materials up-front – so you’ll have them all for the future to come back to – irrespective of any schedule. This allows a variation in the order that you move through the program if you find another route more intuitive.
Proper support is incredibly important – find a program providing 24×7 full access, as anything less will frustrate you and could impede your ability to learn. Locate training schools where you can access help at all hours of the day and night (even 1am on Sunday morning!) You’ll need access directly to professional tutors, and not access to a call-in service which takes messages – so you’re constantly waiting for a call-back during office hours.
Top training providers utilise an online access round-the-clock system pulling in several support offices over many time-zones. You will be provided with a simple interface that switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres irrespective of the time of day: Support available as-and-when you want it. Never make the mistake of compromise with the quality of your support. Many IT hopefuls who can’t get going properly, are in that situation because they didn’t get the support necessary for them.
You’ll come across courses which guarantee examination passes – this always means exams have to be paid for upfront, at the very beginning of your studies. However, prior to embracing the chance of a guarantee, consider this:
Obviously it’s not free – you’re still paying for it – it’s just been included in your package price. Students who go in for their examinations when it’s appropriate, funding them as they go are far more likely to pass first time. They are thoughtful of their spending and revise more thoroughly to make sure they’re ready.
Don’t you think it’s more sensible to not pay up-front, but at the time, not to pay the fees marked up by the training course provider, and also to sit exams more locally – instead of miles away at the college’s beck and call? Huge profits are netted by many companies that get money upfront for exam fees. For various reasons, many students don’t take their exams but no refunds are given. Surprising as it sounds, there are providers who actually rely on students not sitting all the exams – as that’s where a lot of their profit comes from. Remember, with the majority of Exam Guarantees – they control when and how often you are allowed to have another go. You’ll have to prove conclusively that you can pass before they’ll pay for another exam.
VUE and Prometric examinations are currently clocking in at an average of 112 pounds in this country. What’s the point of paying huge ‘Exam Guarantee’ costs (usually wrapped up in the course package price) – when good quality study materials, the proper support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.
Consider only study courses which will lead to commercially approved accreditations. There’s a plethora of minor schools promoting ‘in-house’ certificates which will prove unusable in today’s commercial market. Unless your qualification is issued by a major player like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA, then chances are it could have been a waste of time and effort – because no-one will recognise it.
