When you select any training program it is vital that the qualification you will gain falls in line with the needs of industry. It's also important that the course is right for you, your personality and abilities.
There's a wide range of courses to choose from. Some people simply want User Skills from Microsoft, whilst others want to get their teeth into Databases, Programming, Networking or Web Design - and these are all possible. But don't rush into it, don't pluck a course out of the air. Why not share your ideas with an advisor who knows this commercial sector, and will guide you to where you want to go.
Today, there are several easily understood and competitively priced courses to be had that will give you all you require.
It's not uncommon for companies to offer inclusive exam guarantees - inevitably that means paying for the exams at the start of your training. Before you jump at the chance of a guarantee, look at the following:
Everyone knows they're still footing the bill for it - obviously it has been inserted into the full cost of the package supplied by the course provider. It's certainly not free (although some people will believe anything the marketing companies think up these days!)
It's well known in the industry that if a student pays for each examination, one after the other, there's a much better chance they'll pass first time - as they are conscious of what they've paid and their application will be greater.
Shouldn't you be looking to go for the best offer at the appropriate time, not to pay the fees marked up by the training company, and also to sit exams more locally - rather than possibly hours away from your area?
Big margins are netted by a significant number of organisations that get money upfront for exam fees. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don't get to do their exams and so they pocket the rest. Believe it or not, there are training companies that actually rely on students not sitting all the exams - as that's where a lot of their profit comes from.
In addition to this, you should consider what an 'exam guarantee' really means. The majority of organisations will not pay again for an exam until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won't fail again.
The cost of exams was around the 112 pounds mark twelve months or so ago when taken at Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. Therefore, why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra to have 'an Exam Guarantee', when it's obvious that what's really needed is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.
Some certification companies are still maintaining one of the most out-dated training concepts - classroom attendance. Often sold as a benefit, if you talk to a student who has had to attend a few, you'll most likely hear about many or all of these issues:
* Lots of round trips - normally 100's of miles.
* Availability of classes; frequently Monday to Friday and usually 2-3 days at a time. You then have the difficulty of the leave of absence.
* And don't forget lost vacation time. Often, we get 4 weeks annual leave. If half is given up to classes, then there's very little left over for us.
* With the high costs involved, many companies make the classes quite large - certainly not ideal (and much less personal).
* Maybe you like to work at a pace that is different to the other class members. Sometimes this causes tension in the class.
* Quite a lot of students talk of the high costs involved with getting transport to and from the training centre while forking out for food and accommodation becomes prohibitively expensive.
* You should never risk even a small chance of being side-stepped for potential advancement or income boosts while you're training.
* Many of us find it difficult to ask questions in a class full of other trainees - so we don't appear ignorant.
* Working and living away - some attendees have to work or live somewhere else for certain parts of the programme. Events end up being very difficult then, unfortunately the money has already changed hands as part of your fees.
It obviously makes a lot more sense to study at your convenience - not your training provider's - and use videos of instructors with interactive virtual-lab's.
Study can happen anywhere that suits. If you've got a laptop, you could get a bit of sun in your garden while you study. If you have any difficulties then logon to the 24x7 support facility.
All the lessons can be repeated whenever you feel you need to - memory is aided by repetition. And note-taking is a thing of the past - it's all laid on.
Could it be simpler: No travelling, wasted time or money; plus you end up with a more stress-free study setting.
There's a wide range of courses to choose from. Some people simply want User Skills from Microsoft, whilst others want to get their teeth into Databases, Programming, Networking or Web Design - and these are all possible. But don't rush into it, don't pluck a course out of the air. Why not share your ideas with an advisor who knows this commercial sector, and will guide you to where you want to go.
Today, there are several easily understood and competitively priced courses to be had that will give you all you require.
It's not uncommon for companies to offer inclusive exam guarantees - inevitably that means paying for the exams at the start of your training. Before you jump at the chance of a guarantee, look at the following:
Everyone knows they're still footing the bill for it - obviously it has been inserted into the full cost of the package supplied by the course provider. It's certainly not free (although some people will believe anything the marketing companies think up these days!)
It's well known in the industry that if a student pays for each examination, one after the other, there's a much better chance they'll pass first time - as they are conscious of what they've paid and their application will be greater.
Shouldn't you be looking to go for the best offer at the appropriate time, not to pay the fees marked up by the training company, and also to sit exams more locally - rather than possibly hours away from your area?
Big margins are netted by a significant number of organisations that get money upfront for exam fees. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don't get to do their exams and so they pocket the rest. Believe it or not, there are training companies that actually rely on students not sitting all the exams - as that's where a lot of their profit comes from.
In addition to this, you should consider what an 'exam guarantee' really means. The majority of organisations will not pay again for an exam until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won't fail again.
The cost of exams was around the 112 pounds mark twelve months or so ago when taken at Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. Therefore, why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra to have 'an Exam Guarantee', when it's obvious that what's really needed is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.
Some certification companies are still maintaining one of the most out-dated training concepts - classroom attendance. Often sold as a benefit, if you talk to a student who has had to attend a few, you'll most likely hear about many or all of these issues:
* Lots of round trips - normally 100's of miles.
* Availability of classes; frequently Monday to Friday and usually 2-3 days at a time. You then have the difficulty of the leave of absence.
* And don't forget lost vacation time. Often, we get 4 weeks annual leave. If half is given up to classes, then there's very little left over for us.
* With the high costs involved, many companies make the classes quite large - certainly not ideal (and much less personal).
* Maybe you like to work at a pace that is different to the other class members. Sometimes this causes tension in the class.
* Quite a lot of students talk of the high costs involved with getting transport to and from the training centre while forking out for food and accommodation becomes prohibitively expensive.
* You should never risk even a small chance of being side-stepped for potential advancement or income boosts while you're training.
* Many of us find it difficult to ask questions in a class full of other trainees - so we don't appear ignorant.
* Working and living away - some attendees have to work or live somewhere else for certain parts of the programme. Events end up being very difficult then, unfortunately the money has already changed hands as part of your fees.
It obviously makes a lot more sense to study at your convenience - not your training provider's - and use videos of instructors with interactive virtual-lab's.
Study can happen anywhere that suits. If you've got a laptop, you could get a bit of sun in your garden while you study. If you have any difficulties then logon to the 24x7 support facility.
All the lessons can be repeated whenever you feel you need to - memory is aided by repetition. And note-taking is a thing of the past - it's all laid on.
Could it be simpler: No travelling, wasted time or money; plus you end up with a more stress-free study setting.
About the Author:
(C) 2009. Check out LearningLolly.com for the best career advice on Dreamweaver Training and Adobe Training.
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