In total, there are 4 A+ examinations and specialised sectors, but your only requirement is to get certified in 2 to qualify for your A+. Because of this, most training colleges simply offer two. Yet learning about all 4 will give you a much wider knowledge and understanding of it all, something you’ll appreciate as vital in industry.
As well as learning how to build PC’s and fix them, students of A+ will be taught how to operate in antistatic conditions, as well as diagnostics, fault-finding and remote access.
If you feel it appropriate to add Network+ to your A+ course, you’ll additionally be equipped to look after networks, allowing you to move further up the career path.
Most training companies only give office hours or extended office hours support; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly.
You’ll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and phone support is often to a call-centre that will chat nicely with you for 5 minutes to ask what the issue is and then simply send an email to an instructor – who will call back over the next day or so (assuming you’re there), when it’s convenient to them. This isn’t a lot of good if you’re stuck with a particular problem and have a one hour time-slot in which to study.
Keep your eyes open for colleges that utilise many support facilities from around the world. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to provide a single interface and also access round-the-clock, when you need it, with the minimum of hassle.
Unless you insist on online 24×7 support, you’ll end up kicking yourself. You might not want to use the service late in the night, but you may need weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.
Many companies only look at the plaque to hang on your wall, and completely avoid what you actually need – which is of course employment. Always start with the final destination in mind – don’t get hung-up on the training vehicle.
Students often train for a single year but end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don’t make the error of choosing what sounds like an ‘interesting’ course and then spend decades in a job you don’t like!
You’ll want to understand what industry will expect from you. Which particular qualifications you’ll be required to have and how to gain experience. It’s also worth spending time considering how far you’d like to build your skill-set as it may control your selection of qualifications.
Your likely to need help from an experienced person that can best explain the market you’re hoping to qualify in, and will be able to provide ‘A day in the life of’ synopsis of the job being considered. These things are incredibly important as you’ll need to know if this change is right for you.
Look at the facts below very carefully if you’re inclined to think that old marketing ploy of ‘guaranteeing’ exams sounds like a benefit to the student:
Thankfully, today we have to be a little more ‘marketing-savvy’ – and usually we grasp that it is something we’re paying for – they’re not just being charitable and doling out freebies!
People who take each progressive exam, funding them one at a time are much more likely to pass. They are thoughtful of the cost and so are more inclined to ensure they are ready.
Sit the exam at a local pro-metric testing centre and hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take it.
Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for exam fees when you don’t need to? A great deal of money is made because training colleges are charging upfront for all their exams – and then cashing in when they’re not all taken.
Don’t forget, with the majority of Exam Guarantees – the company decides when you can re-take the exam. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company’s say so.
Splashing out often many hundreds of pounds extra on an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is naive – when study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really see you through.
It’s essential to have accredited simulation materials and an exam preparation system included in your course.
Ensure that the exams you practice are not just posing the correct questions in the right areas, but ask them in the way the real exams will ask them. This really messes up trainees if they’re faced with unrecognisable phrases and formats.
For many reasons, it’s very important to be confident that you’re completely ready for your commercial exam before taking it. Rehearsing simulated tests will help to boost your attitude and saves you time and money on thwarted exam entries.
(C) 2009 – S. Edwards. Go to JobQualification.co.uk or Career Retraining Courses.
