UK Microsoft SQL Computer Training - Thoughts

By Jason Kendall

Should you be looking for Microsoft certified training, then you'll naturally expect training companies to supply a wide selection of the most superior training courses available today.

Maybe you'd choose to discuss the job possibilities with an industry expert - and if you're uncertain, then take counsel on which area of the industry would suit you most, dependent on your personality.

Be sure your training is tailored to your needs and abilities. The best companies will make sure that the course is relevant to the career you want to get into.

If an advisor doesn't dig around with lots of question - the likelihood is they're just a salesperson. If they wade straight in with a specific product before understanding your background and whether you have any commercial experience, then it's very likely to be the case.

If you have a strong background, or even a touch of real-world experience (possibly even some previous certification?) then it's likely the point from which you begin your studies will vary from a student that is completely new to the industry.

For those students starting IT studies and exams as a new venture, it can be helpful to ease in gradually, kicking off with a user-skills course first. Usually this is packaged with any study program.

Look at the following points and pay great regard to them if you think that old marketing ploy of an 'Exam Guarantee' sounds great value:

Obviously it's not free - you're still coughing up for it - the cost has just been rolled into the whole training package.

We all want to pass first time. Entering examinations one by one and funding them one at a time puts you in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt - you take it seriously and are aware of the costs involved.

Isn't it outrageous to have to pay a training company in advance for exams? Go for the best offer at the appropriate time, instead of paying any mark-up - and do it in a local testing centre - instead of miles away at the college's beck and call.

Considerable numbers of unscrupulous training companies secure huge amounts of money because they're getting in the money for all the exam fees up-front and hoping that you won't take them all.

Additionally, 'Exam Guarantees' often aren't worth the paper they're written on. Many training companies will not pay for re-takes until you've completely satisfied them that you're ready this time.

On average, exams cost about 112 pounds in the last 12 months through Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra to get 'an Exam Guarantee', when common sense dictates that what's really needed is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.

Each programme of learning must provide a nationally (or globally) recognised qualification at the finale - not some little 'in-house' piece of paper.

From the perspective of an employer, only the major heavyweights such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco (as an example) will get you short-listed. Nothing else makes the grade.

Students looking to build a career in IT often don't know which path they should take, or which area to get certified in.

Reading lists of IT career possibilities is just a waste of time. The vast majority of us don't even know what our good friends do at work - let alone understand the ins and outs of a particular IT career.

Usually, the way to come at this problem properly stems from a thorough discussion of some important points:

* Your personal interests and hobbies - these can highlight what areas will provide a happy working life.

* Why you want to consider moving into computing - maybe you want to overcome a particular goal like working for yourself for example.

* Where is the salary on a scale of importance - is it of prime importance, or is enjoying your job a lot higher on your list of priorities?

* Because there are so many areas to train for in the IT industry - there's a need to achieve some background information on what makes them different.

* You'll also need to think hard about the amount of time and effort you'll put into your training.

When all is said and done, the best way of checking this all out is through a meeting with someone that has enough background to be able to guide you. - 30202

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