CareerRetrainingCourses.co.uk

Training For IT Certification (Networking & Programming Courses)

Do you see yourself as quite a techie when it comes to anything to do with computers and the internet? Then what about a career in IT? We live in an increasingly technological society, so it's a great thing to have qualifications in computing and IT. Survival would now be impossible for most businesses without the input of skilled and qualified IT personnel.

Just Want To Upgrade Your User Skills?

It may be an idea at this stage to point out the difference between IT career skills and IT user skills. You may be looking for computer literacy skills, which are skills in using office applications and programs.

You'll find there are many courses available that will give you a very good grounding in the application you need - be that PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, Word, Access or Publisher. Try working through the ECDL program (European Computer Driving Licence) for starters, and then specialise wherever you need more.

Work In Cutting-Edge Technology

Clearly business isn't thriving as well as it might be in the current economy, but the computer industry hasn't taken the same knock that others have. Likewise it's highly apparent that economic growth and IT are inextricably linked.

Plus we can also say that IT is amongst the most groundbreaking and interesting of sectors to be a part of.

Everyone will experience profound changes in the way they work and live because of developments that are being worked on today. Computer technology is indeed a very exciting sector to be a part of.

Bags of Opportunity...

Because there are so many aspects to IT, there are also a large number of training options. Some roles will be quite stationary with work predominantly at a PC, whereas others involve a lot more movement.

Some roles are mostly analytical and investigatory, and some are hands-on and practical. Some are mostly concerned with back-up and support for clients or colleagues, and some will need you to work by yourself for several hours a day.

... Check Out Your Options

Right - if you haven't got any experience of working in IT, take the time to discuss your options with training advisors who understand what each role involves, and the type of people who would be suited to those roles. In particular, find out what doing the job is really like prior to selecting the course for you. Research and contact several different training providers - get as much information as you can.

Careers In Networking & Support

The increasing dependence of businesses on computer systems means a growing demand for people to fix and maintain them. You could retrain to work on a Helpdesk, or as an Engineer or a Technician. Support jobs come in all shapes and sizes, or you could look at Security, Server Administration or Network Installation. Alternatively you could consider Systems Planning and Design work.

This type of work ranges from being a technician at the local computer shop, to travelling the world doing senior support work.

You could start your career solving other people's PC or network problems, and steadily progress as you build your experience and certifications to designing major security systems.

Professionals in this area of IT are the ones who keep commerce and industry afloat. If we had no computer engineers and support staff we wouldn't have the world market that we have. In industry today, there are many millions of PC's in commercial use, and the numbers are continually increasing. So of course more and more technical support staff are needed to keep up with these numbers. Are you someone who could learn fault-finding and analytical skills? Then you should think seriously about taking a Network Certification with either CompTIA (a vendor-neutral body) or Microsoft.

Should I Be Commercially Qualified?

The right professional certifications will undoubtedly lead to greater job security. Once you've been in the IT industry for a couple of years, your qualifications and experience are likely to open up further career advancements and make you a respected member of the workforce.

You can reckon on getting paid around thirty five thousand pounds a year after you've been in industry for 3 years or so, when you're professionally qualified. Many people know something about computer hardware and software, and even about the operation of networks.

But there is a level of uncertainty on the employer's part - they can't know one hundred percent that the person's knowledge is sufficient with their expensive equipment. Professional certifications give an excellent measure of what someone can do, and to what level of competence.

Employers need the higher levels of productivity and output that can be achieved when their computer systems run efficiently. That's why they employ fully qualified staff. Moreover a person who has trained and passed commercial exams not only demonstrates a skill level, they also demonstrate an attitude and work ethic that is very attractive to employers. At the end of the day, some companies won't employ non-qualified technical staff to deal with anything but the mundane because their insurance contracts won't allow it.