PC and network support staff are ever more sought after in Great Britain, as companies become progressively more dependent upon their knowledge and fixing and repairing abilities. Because of the complex nature of technology, growing numbers of IT professionals are being sought to dedicate themselves to the many areas we’ve come to rely on.
Locating job security these days is incredibly rare. Businesses often throw us from the workforce at the drop of a hat – whenever it suits.
Of course, a sector experiencing fast growth, where staff are in constant demand (as there is a massive shortage of fully trained staff), creates the conditions for lasting job security.
The IT skills shortfall around the UK currently stands at approx twenty six percent, as reported by a recent e-Skills analysis. Essentially, we can only fill 3 out of every 4 jobs in IT.
Well trained and commercially accredited new workers are as a result at a total premium, and it looks like they will be for much longer.
Undoubtedly, now, more than ever, really is a fabulous time to train for the IT industry.
Many men and women presume that the school and FE college path is the right way even now. Why then are commercial certificates slowly and steadily replacing it?
With the costs of academic degree’s increasing year on year, together with the industry’s recognition that key company training is often far more commercially relevant, there’s been a big surge in CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA certified training paths that provide key skills to an employee at a much reduced cost in terms of money and time.
Vendor training works through concentrating on the particular skills that are needed (along with an appropriate level of background knowledge,) as opposed to spending months and years on the background ‘extras’ that degree courses can get bogged down in – to fill a three or four year course.
It’s a bit like the TV advert: ‘It does what it says on the tin’. The company just needs to know what they’re looking for, and then request applicants with the correct exam numbers. Then they’re assured that a potential employee can do exactly what’s required.
Far too many companies focus completely on the certification process, and forget why you’re doing this – which is a commercial career or job. Always start with where you want to get to – don’t make the vehicle more important than the destination.
It’s a sad testimony to the sales skills of many companies, but thousands of new students commence training that sounds marvellous from the marketing materials, but which provides the end-result of a job that is of no interest at all. Speak to a selection of university graduates and you’ll see where we’re coming from.
Stay tuned-in to where you want to go, and then build your training requirements around that – avoid getting them back-to-front. Keep on track and ensure that you’re training for an end-result that’ll reward you for many long and fruitful years.
Talk to a skilled professional that has a background in the industry you’re considering, and is able to give you a detailed description of what you actually do in that role. Contemplating this long before beginning a learning course will prevent a lot of wasted time and effort.
Don’t accept anything less than the current Microsoft (or any other key organisation’s) authorised simulation materials and exam preparation packages.
Students regularly can find themselves confused by practicing questions for their exams that aren’t recognised by official boards. Quite often, the question formats and phraseology can be completely unlike un-authorised versions and you should be prepared for this.
As you can imagine, it’s essential to know that you’re completely ready for the real exam prior to going for it. Going over simulated exams will help to boost your attitude and helps to avoid unsuccessful attempts at exams.
Copyright 2009 Scott Edwards. Visit or .