The CompTIA A+ training program covers four areas of training; you’re seen as competent at A+ when you’ve achieved certifications for two of the four areas. This is why the majority of training establishments offer only two of the training courses. The truth is you will need the training for all four areas as many jobs will be looking for the skills and knowledge of each specialist area. Don’t feel pressured to take all four exams, but we would recommend you study for all four areas.
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.
Should you be thinking of maintaining networks, add the excellent Network+ to the CompTIA A+ training you’re doing. Taking this course as well will prepare you to command a more senior job role. You may also want to consider the networking qualifications from Microsoft, i.e. MCP, MCSA MCSE.
One of the most important things to insist on has to be proper direct-access 24×7 support from professional mentors and instructors. Too many companies only provide support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later (but not weekends usually).
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.
Top training companies have many support offices from around the world. Online access provides the interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, at any time you choose, there is always help at hand, with no hassle or contact issues.
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.
Don’t let yourself become one of those unfortunate students who select a program that sounds really ‘interesting’ and ‘fun’ – and end up with a plaque on the wall for an unrewarding career path.
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.
Sense dictates that you seek guidance and advice from an experienced industry advisor before embarking on a training path, so you can be sure that the chosen route will give you the skills for the job being sought.
Exam ‘guarantees’ are sometimes offered as part of a training package – they always involve paying for the exam fees up-front, before you’ve even made a start on the course. However, prior to embracing a course with such a promise, why not look at the following:
You’ll pay for it ultimately. It certainly isn’t free – they’ve just worked it into the package price.
Qualifying on the first ‘go’ is what everyone wants to do. Going for exams one by one and paying for them just before taking them makes it far more likely you’ll pass first time – you prepare appropriately and are mindful of the investment you’ve made.
Why pay a training company early for examinations? Go for the best offer when you take the exam, instead of paying a premium – and take it closer to home – rather than in some remote place.
A great deal of money is netted by a significant number of organisations who get money for exam fees in advance. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don’t get to do their exams but the company keeps the money. Believe it or not, providers exist who actually bank on it – as that’s very profitable for them.
Re-takes of any failed exams through training course providers who offer an ‘Exam Guarantee’ are monitored with tight restrictions. You’ll be required to sit pre-tests until you’ve proven that you’re likely to pass.
With the average price of Pro-metric and VUE tests in the United Kingdom costing around 112 pounds, it makes sense to pay as you go. Why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra at the beginning of your training? Study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.
A top of the range training course package should have accredited exam preparation systems.
Avoid depending on unofficial preparation materials for exams. The terminology of their questions can be quite different – and often this creates real issues when the proper exam time arrives.
Always have some simulated exam questions in order to test your knowledge along the way. Practice exams prepare you properly – then you won’t be quite so nervous at the actual exam.
(C) 2009 – S. Edwards. Try Career Retraining Courses or www.JobQualification.co.uk.