Training in CompTIA PC Support - Thoughts

CompTIA A + has a total of four exams and specialised sectors, but you're just expected to achieve certification in two to be considered A+ competent. As this is the case, most training colleges only offer 2 paths. But giving you all four options will provide you with a much wider knowledge and understanding of it all, something you'll discover is a Godsend in professional employment.

Passing the A+ exam on its own will allow you to fix and repair stand alone Macs, computers and laptops; principally ones that aren't joined to a network - this generally applies to home use and small companies.

Should you decide to add Network+ to your CompTIA A+ training course, you'll additionally be equipped to look after networks, which means you'll be able to expect a better remuneration package.

It's usual for students to get confused with one aspect of their training very rarely considered: The method used to 'segment' the courseware before being delivered to your home.

Students often think it makes sense (with a typical time scale of 1-3 years to pass all the required exams,) for a training company to release a single section at a time, as you achieve each exam pass. Although:

It's not unusual for trainees to realise that their providers usual training route isn't ideal for them. Sometimes, a different order of study is more expedient. And what if you don't get to the end within their exact timetable?

For future safety and flexibility, many trainees now want to make sure that every element of their training is couriered out in one package, all at the beginning. It's then up to you at what speed and in which order you'd like to take your exams.

Many training companies will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance program, to help you get your first job. Having said that, occasionally this feature is bigged up too much, as it is actually not that hard for a well trained and motivated person to secure work in IT - as there is such a shortage of skilled employees.

Having said that, it's important to have help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews though; additionally, we would recommend any student to update their CV as soon as training commences - don't delay for when you're ready to start work.

It can happen that you haven't even qualified when you will get your initial junior support job; although this isn't going to happen if interviewers don't get sight of your CV.

The most efficient companies to get you a new position are normally specialised and independent recruitment consultants. Because they make their money when they've found you a job, they have the necessary incentive to try that bit harder.

Essentially, if you put as much hard work into finding your first job as into training, you won't find it too challenging. Some people bizarrely spend hundreds of hours on their course materials and then just stop once qualified and appear to be under the impression that jobs will come to them.

A competent and practiced advisor (in direct contrast to a salesman) will want to thoroughly discuss your current level of ability and experience. There is no other way of establishing the starting point for your education.

Often, the starting point of study for a trainee with some experience is often largely different to the student with none.

Where this will be your opening attempt at IT study then you may want to practice with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first.

Let's face it: There really is pretty much no individual job security available anymore; there's really only industry or business security - a company will fire a solitary member of staff if it suits the business' trade requirements.

Where there are rising skills deficits together with escalating demand however, we generally find a new kind of security in the marketplace; as fuelled by the constant growth conditions, businesses struggle to find the influx of staff needed.

Offering the computing industry as an example, the last e-Skills survey demonstrated major skills shortages throughout the country in excess of 26 percent. To put it another way, this reveals that the country can only locate three qualified staff for every 4 jobs that are available today.

Well qualified and commercially certified new staff are correspondingly at a total premium, and in all likelihood it will stay that way for many years to come.

With the market growing at such a rate, it's unlikely there's any better area of industry worth looking at for your new career.

Written by Scott Edwards. Go to A+ Certification or Click HERE.