The CompTIA A+ course covers four specialised areas – you\’ll have to qualify in just two sectors to be A+ competent. Because of this, most colleges only offer two of the 4 sectors. We consider that this will under prepare you – certainly you\’ll have the qualification, but training on all 4 will set you apart in your working life, where knowledge of all four will be necessary. That\’s why we believe you should train in the whole course.

As well as learning how to build PC\’s and fix them, students of A+ will learn how to operate in antistatic conditions, how to fault find, to diagnose and to remotely access problems.

If you would like to be the person who works in a multi-faceted environment – fixing and supporting networks, build on A+ with Network+, or consider the Microsoft networking route (MCSA – MCSE) as you\’ll need a deeper understanding of how networks work.

Getting your first commercial position can feel more straightforward if you\’re supported with a Job Placement Assistance program. The fact of the matter is it\’s not as hard as some people make out to secure the right work – once you\’re trained and certified; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.

You would ideally have CV and Interview advice and support though; also we would encourage all students to get their CV updated as soon as they start a course – don\’t wait till you\’ve finished your exams.

Getting onto the \’maybe\’ pile of CV\’s is far better than not even being known about. Often junior support jobs are given to students (who\’ve only just left first base.)

The top companies to help get you placed are usually specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. As they\’re keen to place you to receive their commission, they\’re perhaps more focused on results.

Many trainees, it seems, put a great deal of effort into their studies (sometimes for years), and then just stop instead of looking for a job. Sell yourself… Do your best to let employers know about you. Don\’t expect a job to just fall into your lap.

Beware of putting too much emphasis, as many people do, on the certification itself. Training for training\’s sake is generally pointless; you\’re training to become commercially employable. You need to remain focused on where you want to go.

You may train for one year and then end up doing the job for 20 years. Avoid the mistake of finding what seems like a very \’interesting\’ program only to spend 20 years doing a job you hate!

Make sure you investigate what your attitude is towards career progression and earning potential, and if you\’re ambitious or not. It\’s vital to know what will be expected of you, what particular qualifications are required and in what way you can develop commercial experience.

Take advice from an experienced advisor, even if you have to pay a small fee – as it\’s a lot cheaper and safer to find out at the start if you\’ve chosen correctly, rather than find out after several years of study that the job you\’ve chosen is not for you and have to return to the start of another program.

Students will sometimes miss checking on something that can make a profound difference to their results – the way their training provider actually breaks down and delivers the courseware, and into how many parts.

A release of your materials stage by stage, as you complete each module is the usual method of releasing your program. This sounds sensible, but you should take these factors into account:

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

To be in the best situation you would have all the learning modules packed off to your address right at the beginning; the whole caboodle! Thus avoiding any future problems that could impede the reaching of your goals.

Traditional teaching in classrooms, involving piles of reference textbooks, is often a huge slog for most of us. If this describes you, look for learning programmes that are multimedia based.

Many studies have proved that memory is aided when we receive multi-sensorial input, and we take action to use what we\’ve learned.

Interactive full motion video involving demonstration and virtual lab\’s will beat books every time. And you\’ll find them fun and interesting.

You must ensure that you see examples of the study materials provided by your chosen company. Be sure that they contain video demo\’s and interactive elements such as practice lab\’s.

Pick CD and DVD ROM based physical training media every time. This then avoids all the potential pitfalls with broadband \’downtime\’ or slow-speeds.

(C) 2009 S. Edwards. Look at Flash Courses or Website Design Course.