by: jaykendall
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Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 Time: 7:16 AM -
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Nice One! As you're reading this article we guess you must be considering learning new skills to change career - so you've already done more than most. A small minority of us are pleased to go to work each day, but most just moan and do nothing about it. So, why not be one of the few who make a difference in their lives.
Article Source: DirectoryArticles.com
When looking at training, it's crucial that you have in mind what you DO want and DON'T want from the career you're looking to get into. Ensure that things would be a lot better before you spend time and effort re-directing your life. So much better to look at the whole story first, to steer clear of regrets:
* Do you enjoy a busy working environment? Are you better with new people or those you know well? Perhaps you prefer not to be disturbed and enjoy responsibilities that you can complete alone?
* What criteria are fundamentally important when considering the market sector you're looking to get into?
* Should this be the only time you will need more qualifications?
* Do you think being qualified will make it easier to get a good job, and keep working until your retirement plans kick in?
We would advise you to have a good look at the computer industry - there are greater numbers of positions than employees, because it's a rare career choice where the market sector is on the grow. In contrast to the opinions of certain people, it isn't a bunch of techie geeks gazing at their computer screens all day long (if you like the sound of that though, they do exist.) The majority of jobs are done by average folk who want to earn a very good living.
Each programme of learning really needs to work up to a commercially valid exam at the finale - not some little 'in-house' piece of paper. You'll discover that only industry recognised certification from the likes of Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe and CompTIA will open the doors to employers.
Throw out the typical salesman that recommends a training program without performing a 'fact-find' to gain understanding of your current abilities and experience level. They should be able to select from a large range of products so they can provide you with what's right for you. An important point to note is that, if you have some relevant previous certification, then you will often be able to commence studying further along than someone who is new to the field. If this is going to be your first stab at IT study then you should consider whether to start out with user-skills and software training first.
Of course: a course itself or a certification is not what you're looking for; the career that you want is. Many trainers unfortunately over-emphasise the piece of paper. It's possible, in some situations, to thoroughly enjoy one year of training and then spend 20 miserable years in a career that does nothing for you, as a consequence of not performing the correct research at the outset.
You must also consider what your attitude is towards earning potential and career progression, and how ambitious you are. It's vital to know what (if any) sacrifices you'll need to make for a particular role, what particular exams they want you to have and where you'll pick-up experience from. Have a conversation with an experienced advisor who understands the work you're contemplating, and could provide a detailed description of the kind of things you'll be doing on a daily basis. Establishing this before starting out on a learning program will save you both time and money.
We can guess that you probably enjoy fairly practical work - the 'hands-on' individual. If you're anything like us, the painful task of reading endless manuals is something you'll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but it's not ideal. Consider interactive, multimedia study if books just don't do it for you. Years of research and study has constantly confirmed that becoming involved with our studies, to utilise all our senses, is far more likely to produce long-lasting memories.
Study programs now come via DVD-ROM discs, so you can study at your own computer. Using video-streaming, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how it's all done, followed by your chance to practice - in an interactive lab. Any company that you're considering should willingly take you through a few examples of the materials provided for study. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and a variety of interactive modules.
You'll find that many companies will only provide training that is purely available online; sometimes you can get away with this - but, consider what happens when you don't have access to the internet or you get a slow connection speed. A safer solution is the provision of DVD or CD discs which removes the issue entirely.
Written by Jason Kendall. Go to Adult Career Change or Click HERE.
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