In the modern world, support workers who are able to solve problems with PC’s and networks, and give regular help to users, are hugely valuable in every sector of the workplace. Whilst we’re all becoming more and more beholden to technology, we also emerge as increasingly dependent on the technically knowledgeable IT professionals, who keep the systems going.

Any program that you’re going to undertake really needs to work up to a nationally accepted qualification at the finale – and not some unimportant ‘in-house’ printed certificate to hang in your hallway.

Unless your qualification is issued by a big-hitter like Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco, then you’ll probably find it won’t be commercially viable – because it won’t give an employer any directly-useable skills.

Starting from the idea that it’s necessary to find the job we want to do first, before we’re able to mull over which method of training fulfils our needs, how do we decide on the right path?

As having no commercial skills in computing, in what way could we be expected to know what someone in a particular job does?

Contemplation on several areas is essential when you need to expose the right solution that will work for you:

* Personality factors plus what interests you – the sort of work-oriented areas please or frustrate you.

* Are you driven to get certified due to a specific raison d’etre – for example, is it your goal to work from home (self-employment?)?

* Any personal or home requirements that are important to you?

* Many students don’t properly consider the level of commitment required to achieve their goals.

* You’ll also need to think hard about any sacrifices you’ll need to make, as well as what commitment and time you’ll put into the accreditation program.

In these situations, it’s obvious that the only real way to gain help on these issues is via a conversation with a professional that has years of experience in Information Technology (and specifically it’s commercial needs.)

The way a programme is physically sent to you is often missed by many students. How many stages do they break the program into? And in what order and do you have a say in when you’ll get each part?

Most companies will sell you a program spread over 1-3 years, and courier the materials in pieces as you pass each exam. On the surface this seems reasonable – until you consider the following:

Maybe the order of study insisted on by the company won’t suit you. It may be difficult to get through all the elements inside of their particular timetable?

To provide the maximum security and flexibility, it’s normal for most trainees to request that all their modules (now paid for) are sent immediately, and not in a piecemeal fashion. You can then decide in what order and how fast or slow you’d like to work.

A number of men and women assume that the state educational path is the right way even now. So why then is commercial certification beginning to overtake it?

With a growing demand for specific technological expertise, industry has of necessity moved to the specialised core-skills learning only available through the vendors themselves – in other words companies like CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. This usually turns out to involve less time and financial outlay.

Academic courses, as a example, can often get caught up in vast amounts of background study – and much too wide a syllabus. Students are then prevented from getting enough specific knowledge about the core essentials.

Put yourself in the employer’s position – and you required somebody who had very specific skills. Which is the most straightforward: Go through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, having to ask what each has covered and which vocational skills they’ve mastered, or pick out specific commercial accreditations that precisely match your needs, and make your short-list from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they’ll fit in – instead of having to work out if they can do the job.

(C) Jason Kendall. Browse LearningLolly.com for intelligent advice. Click Here or Comptia Network Certification.

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