There are a total of 4 specialist training sectors in the overall A+ programme, of which you’ll need certification in two subjects to gain A+ competency. But restricting yourself to two of the specialised areas is likely to leave your knowledge base somewhat light. At least learn about all four – for greater confidence in the world of work.

Once on the A+ computer training course you’ll be taught how to build, fix, repair and work in antistatic conditions. You’ll also cover fault finding and diagnostics, through both hands-on and remote access.

You might also choose to consider adding the CompTIA Network+ training as you’ll then be in a position to work with networks, and have a more responsible working role.

One crafty way that course providers make a big mark-up is by charging for exams up-front and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. This looks like a great idea for the student, until you think it through:

You’ll be charged for it ultimately. It’s definitely not free – they’ve simply charged more for the whole training package.

Students who go in for their examinations when it’s appropriate, funding them as they go are much more likely to pass. They are aware of what they’ve paid and revise more thoroughly to make sure they’re ready.

Do your exams as locally as possible and don’t pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you’re ready.

Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for examination fees when you didn’t need to? A lot of profit is made because training colleges are getting money in early for exam fees – and then cashing in when they’re not all taken.

You should fully understand that re-takes with organisations with an ‘Exam Guarantee’ are tightly controlled. They will insist that you take pre-tests first until you’ve proven that you’re likely to pass.

Due to typical VUE and Prometric tests coming in at approximately 112 pounds in Great Britain, it makes sense to pay as you go. Why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra at the beginning of your training? Commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

The somewhat scary thought of finding your first job is often eased by some training providers because they offer a Job Placement Assistance service. With the huge skills shortage in the UK right now, it’s not too important to get too caught up in this feature though. It isn’t so complicated as you might think to secure your first job as long as you’re correctly trained and certified.

Advice and support about getting interviews and your CV might be provided (if not, see one of our sites for help). It’s essential that you update that dusty old CV straight away – don’t leave it till you pass the exams!

Getting your CV considered is more than not being known. A surprising amount of junior jobs are got by trainees (sometimes when they’ve only just got going.)

Most often, a specialist locally based employment service (who will, of course, be keen to place you to receive their commission) is going to give you a better service than a centralised training company’s service. It also stands to reason that they’ll know the area and local employers better.

In a nutshell, if you put as much hard work into securing your first job as into studying, you’re not likely to experience problems. Some people strangely put hundreds of hours into their learning program and just give up once qualified and seem to expect employers to find them.

We need to make this very clear: Always get full 24×7 instructor and mentor support. Later, you’ll kick yourself if you don’t.

Avoid, like the plague, any organisations that use messaging services ‘out-of-hours’ – where an advisor will call back during office hours. This is useless when you’re stuck and need an answer now.

The very best training providers have many support offices across multiple time-zones. An online system provides an interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, no matter what time you login, there is always help at hand, avoiding all the delays and problems.

Find an educator that cares. Because only live 24×7 support truly delivers for technical programs.

We’re regularly asked to explain why traditional academic studies are now falling behind more commercial certificates?

As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, industry has been required to move to the specialised core-skills learning that the vendors themselves supply – in other words companies such as CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. This usually turns out to involve less time and financial outlay.

Vendor training works through focusing on the particular skills that are needed (alongside an appropriate level of background knowledge,) rather than spending months and years on the background ‘padding’ that academic courses can get bogged down in – to pad out the syllabus.

Put yourself in the employer’s position – and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What should you do: Go through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, asking for course details and which vocational skills they have, or choose particular accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and make your short-list from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they’ll fit in – rather than establishing whether they can do a specific task.

Written by Scott Edwards. Pop over to HTML Programming or www.Change-My-Career.co.uk/QCMC.html.

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