There are four specialist areas of training in a full CompTIA A+ program; you’re qualified as an achiever in A+ when you’ve passed the test for just two specialist areas. Because of this, it’s usual for colleges to limit themselves to 2 study areas. The truth is it’s necessary to have the information on each subject as industry will ask for an understanding of all four areas. You don’t have to complete all 4 certifications, but it seems common sense that you at least have a working knowledge of every area.
A+ certification without additional courses will set you up to mend and maintain stand-alone PC’s and MAC’s; ones which are usually not part of a network - which means the home or small business market.
You may also want to think about adding the CompTIA Network+ training as it will enable you to take care of computer networks, which is where the bigger salaries are.
It’s usual for students to get confused with one area of their training which doesn’t even occur to them: The way the training is divided into chunks and physically delivered to you.
Often, you will join a program staged over 2 or 3 years and get posted one section at a time - from one exam to the next. This sounds logical on one level, until you consider this:
How would they react if you didn’t complete each section within the time limits imposed? And maybe you’ll find their order of completion doesn’t work as well as some other structure would for you.
To be in the best situation you would have all the training materials packed off to you immediately; the whole caboodle! This prevents any future issues from rising that will affect the reaching of your goals.
Commercial qualifications are now, undoubtedly, starting to replace the traditional academic paths into the industry - so why has this come about?
As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, the IT sector has been required to move to specific, honed-in training only available through the vendors themselves - in other words companies like Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA. Frequently this is at a far reduced cost both money and time wise.
Many degrees, for instance, often get bogged down in too much background study - with a syllabus that’s far too wide. Students are then held back from understanding the specific essentials in enough depth.
It’s rather like the advert: ‘It does what it says on the label’. All an employer has to do is know what they need doing, and then match up the appropriate exam numbers as a requirement. That way they can be sure they’re interviewing applicants who can do the job.
Searching for your first position in IT can feel more straightforward if you’re offered a Job Placement Assistance program. The fact of the matter is it’s not as difficult as you may be led to believe to land the right work - as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications; employers in this country need your skills.
Bring your CV up to date as soon as possible however - you should get plenty of help from your training provider on this. Don’t wait until you’ve qualified.
Quite often, you’ll secure your first role while still studying (even when you’ve just left first base). If your course details aren’t on your CV (and it hasn’t been posted on jobsites) then you’re not even going to be known about!
If you’d like to get employment in your home town, then you may well find that a local (but specialised) recruitment consultancy can generally serve you better than the trainer’s recruitment division, due to the fact that they’re far more likely to know the jobs that are going locally.
A common grievance for various course providers is how hard people are prepared to work to become certified, but how little effort that student will then put into getting the job they’ve trained for. Don’t give up when the best is yet to come.
Trainees looking at this market can be very practical by nature, and don’t really enjoy classrooms, and poring through books and manuals. If you’re thinking this sounds like you, use multimedia, interactive learning, where everything is presented via full motion video.
Our ability to remember is increased when all our senses are brought into the mix - experts have been clear on this for many years.
Courses are now available on CD and DVD discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Through video streaming, you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how it’s all done, with some practice time to follow - in a virtual lab environment.
Every company that you look at should be able to show you a few examples of the materials provided for study. You should hope for instructor-led videos and a wide selection of interactive elements.
Seek out CD and DVD ROM based physical training media wherever available. Thus avoiding all the issues associated with the variability of broadband quality and service.
(C) Jason Kendall. Hop over to LearningLolly.com for superb advice. CLICK HERE or Comptia A+ Courses.
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