The CCNA qualification is your entry level for Cisco training. With it, you’ll learn how to handle maintaining and installing routers. Basically, the internet comprises of vast numbers of routers, and big organisations that have different locations rely on them to allow their networks to keep in touch.

It’s important to have an understanding of computer networks and how they operate and function, because networks are linked to routers. If not, it’s likely you’ll run into difficulties. Why not first take a course in basic networking skills (CompTIA Network+ as an example - maybe with the A+ as well) before getting going with CCNA. Some companies will design a bespoke package for you.

The CCNA qualification is more than adequate; don’t be cajoled into attempting your CCNP. Once you’ve got a few years experience behind you, you’ll find out whether CCNP is something you want to do. If you decide to become more qualified, you’ll have the knowledge you need to tackle the CCNP - because it’s far from a walk in the park - and mustn’t be entered into casually.

So, what are the questions we should raise so as to take in the understanding we need? As it’s evident there are some somewhat great prospects for us all to chew over.

Usually, a everyday trainee doesn’t have a clue what way to go about starting in the IT industry, or which market they should be considering getting trained in. Scanning lists of IT career possibilities is next to useless. The majority of us have no idea what the neighbours do for a living - so we’re in the dark as to the intricacies of any specific IT role. To get through to the essence of this, there should be a discussion of many unique issues:

* The type of personality you have and what you’re interested in - what kind of work-oriented areas you like and dislike.

* Are you aiming to reach a key objective - for example, becoming self-employed someday?

* Your earning requirements that are important to you?

* Some students don’t fully understand the level of commitment needed to achieve their goals.

* The level of commitment and effort you’ll have available to spend on obtaining your certification.

At the end of the day, the best way of investigating all this is via a meeting with a professional that through years of experience will provide solid advice.

Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always 24×7 round-the-clock support via trained professional instructors and mentors. It’s an all too common story to find providers that will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend. Don’t accept training courses that only support trainees via a call-centre messaging system after 6-9pm in the evening and during weekends. Training companies will try to talk you round from this line of reasoning. But, no matter how they put it - you want support at the appropriate time - not at times when they find it cheaper to provide it.

The most successful trainers incorporate three or four individual support centres from around the world. They use an online interactive interface to seamlessly link them all together, any time of the day or night, help is at hand, without any contact issues or hassle. Don’t compromise with the quality of your support. Most would-be IT professionals that can’t get going properly, are in that situation because they didn’t get the support necessary for them.

Traditional teaching in classrooms, involving piles of reference textbooks, can be pretty hard going sometimes. If all this is ringing some familiar bells, look for learning programmes which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts. Long-term memory is enhanced with an involvement of all our senses - experts have been clear on this for decades now.

Locate a program where you’ll receive a library of CD and DVD based materials - you’ll be learning from instructor videos and demo’s, followed by the chance to hone your abilities through virtual lab’s. Always insist on a training material demonstration from any training college. You should ask for slide-shows, instructor-led videos and lab’s for you to practice your skills in.

It’s unwise to select online only courseware. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from the ISP (internet service provider) market, ensure that you have access to actual CD or DVD ROM’s.

It’s quite a normal occurrence for students not to check on something of absolutely vital importance - the way their training provider segments the training materials, and into what particular chunks. Trainees may consider it sensible (with a typical time scale of 1-3 years for a full commercial certification,) for many training providers to send out one section at a time, as you pass each element. Although: Many students find that the trainer’s standard order of study is not what they would prefer. You may find that a slightly different order suits them better. Could it cause problems if you don’t get everything done within their exact timetable?

To be honest, the perfect answer is to have their ideal ‘order’ of training laid out, but get all the study materials at the start. Everything is then in your possession in the event you don’t complete everything inside of their required time-scales.

A sneaky way that course providers make more money is through up-front charges for exams and offering an exam guarantee. This sounds impressive, till you look at the facts:

These days, we’re a bit more aware of hype - and the majority of us ought to know that for sure it is actually an additional cost to us (it’s not a freebie because they like us so much!) Evidence shows that if a student pays for their own exams, when they’re ready to take them and not before, they will be much more likely to qualify each time - since they’re aware of their investment in themselves and their application will be greater.

Why pay a training course provider in advance for exam fees? Find the best exam deal or offer at the appropriate time, rather than pay marked up fees - and do it in a local testing centre - not at somewhere of their bidding. A lot of so-called credible training colleges net a great deal of profit by charging for examinations upfront and cashing in if they’re not all taken. The majority of organisations will require you to sit pre-tests and with-hold subsequent exam entries from you until you’ve completely proven that you’re likely to pass - which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.

Due to typical VUE and Prometric examinations coming in at around 112 pounds in the UK, it’s common sense to fund them one by one. Not to fork out thousands extra in up-front costs. Commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

One useful service that many training companies provide is a Job Placement Assistance program. This is to assist your search for your first position. Don’t get overly impressed with this service - it’s easy for companies marketing departments to overstate it’s need. Ultimately, the massive skills shortage in the UK is what will enable you to get a job.

Advice and support about getting interviews and your CV is sometimes offered (if not, see one of our sites for help). Be sure to you update that dusty old CV straight away - don’t leave it till you pass the exams! A good number of junior support jobs have been offered to trainees who are still learning and have still to get qualified. This will at least get your CV into the ‘possible’ pile and not the ‘no’ pile. Generally, you’ll receive quicker results from a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service than any course provider’s centralised service, because they will be more familiar with the area and local employers.

Just make sure you don’t put hundreds of hours of effort into your studies, then call a halt and expect somebody else to find you a job. Stop procrastinating and get on with the job. Put the same focus into getting your new role as it took to pass the exams.

Being a part of the cutting-edge of new technology is about as exciting as it can get. You become one of a team of people creating a future for us all. Technological changes and communication on the web is going to dramatically alter the way we live our lives in the future; incredibly so.

Wages in the IT sector aren’t to be ignored either - the typical remuneration in Great Britain for a typical IT worker is noticeably higher than average salaries nationally. It’s likely that you’ll earn a whole lot more than you’d typically expect to bring in elsewhere. With the IT marketplace developing nationally and internationally, it’s predictable that demand for well trained and qualified IT technicians will continue to boom for decades to come.

Tags: Online Colleges

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