Without a constant influx of trained computer and network support personnel, business in the United Kingdom (along with most other places) would surely be drawn to a standstill. Therefore, there’s an on-going requirement for technicians to support both users and the systems they work with. As we get to grips with the multifaceted levels of technology, more and more qualified workers are needed to run the many areas we need to be sure will work effectively.
Can job security really exist anywhere now? Here in the UK, where industry can change its mind at alarming speeds, it seems increasingly unlikely. But a fast growing sector, with huge staffing demands (as there is a massive shortfall of trained people), opens the possibility of lasting job security.
A recent UK e-Skills study demonstrated that more than 26 percent of all IT positions available haven’t been filled as an upshot of a chronic shortage of properly qualified workers. Or, to put it differently, this reveals that Great Britain can only find three properly accredited workers for each 4 job positions available today. Acquiring the appropriate commercial computing accreditation is therefore an effective route to realise a long-lasting and pleasing livelihood. Because the IT sector is developing at the speed it is, there really isn’t any other area of industry worth investigating for a new career.
Don’t listen to a salesperson who offers any particular course without a thorough investigation to gain understanding of your current abilities plus your level of experience. Make sure they can draw from a wide-enough choice of training products from which they could give you an appropriate solution. Where you have a strong background, or perhaps a bit of work-based experience (some certifications gained previously perhaps?) then it’s likely your starting level will vary from a student that is completely new to the industry. For students beginning IT exams and training from scratch, it’s often a good idea to start out slowly, beginning with some basic PC skills training first. Usually this is packaged with most training packages.
Looking around, we find a glut of jobs and positions available in IT. Arriving at the correct choice in this uncertainty can be very difficult. Scanning lists of IT career possibilities is just a waste of time. Most of us have no idea what the neighbours do for a living – so we’re in the dark as to the complexities of a particular IT career. Deliberation over several areas is vital if you need to reveal the right solution that will work for you:
* Personality plays an important role – what things get your juices flowing, and what are the areas that get you down.
* What length of time can you allocate for retraining?
* Any personal or home needs you may have?
* With so many areas to train for in computing – it’s wise to achieve some background information on what separates them.
* The time and energy you’ll have available to set aside for the training program.
In these situations, the only way to gain help on these issues is through a chat with a professional that understands Information Technology (and more importantly it’s commercial requirements.)
You have to be sure that all your certifications are current and what employers are looking for – you’re wasting your time with programmes that only give in-house certificates. Only fully recognised certification from the likes of Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe and Cisco will open the doors to employers.
A typical blunder that we encounter all too often is to look for the actual course to take, rather than starting with the end result they want to achieve. Colleges are stacked to the hilt with students that chose an ‘interesting’ course – in place of something that could gain them an enjoyable career or job. Don’t be part of that group who select a program that on the surface appears interesting – and get to the final hurdle of an accreditation for a career they’ll never really get any satisfaction from.
Spend some time thinking about what you want to earn and what level of ambition fits you. This can often control what precise qualifications will be expected and what you can expect to give industry in return. Take guidance from a skilled advisor, even if there’s a fee involved – as it’s a lot cheaper and safer to find out at the start if something is going to suit and interest you, rather than find out following two years of study that you aren’t going to enjoy the job you’ve chosen and now need to go back to square one.
(C) Jason Kendall. Check out LearningLolly.com… for intelligent advice on IT Courses and Comptia Network+ Courses.
Honest Marketing by Holly Mann
