Only one in ten people in the United Kingdom are enjoying job satisfaction. Of course, most will just stay there. The fact that you’ve got this far if nothing else tells us that you know it’s time to make a change.
Prior to considering specific training programs, look for an advisor who will be able to guide you on which area will be right for you. An advisor who will take time to get an understanding of your personality, and discover what type of job will be right for you:
* Is working with other people your thing? Is it meeting new people or being part of a team? Perhaps you prefer not to be disturbed and enjoy responsibilities that you can complete alone?
* What ideas are fundamentally important with regard to the industry you’ll be employed in?
* Is this the final time you want to study, and based on that, do you believe this career choice will give you scope to do that?
* Would it be useful for your training course to be in a market sector where as far as you can see your chances of gainful employment are high until your pension kicks in?
We would advise you to have a good look at the IT industry - there are increasingly more roles than people to do them, because it’s one of the few choices of career where the industry is expanding. Despite what some people believe, it isn’t a bunch of techie geeks looking at screens every day (though those jobs exist.) The majority of jobs are occupied by people like you and me who want to earn a very good living.
One useful service offered by some training providers is a Job Placement Assistance program. This is designed to help you find your first job in the industry. Because of the massive need for more IT skills in Great Britain right now, there’s no need to place too much emphasis on this feature however. It isn’t so complicated as you might think to land the right work once you’re trained and certified.
CV and Interview advice and support may be available (if it isn’t, consult one of our sites). Be sure to you polish up your CV right away - not after you’ve qualified!
Getting onto the ‘maybe’ pile of CV’s is better than being rejected. Many junior support jobs are given to trainees in the early stages of their course.
The top companies to help you land that job are usually specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. Because they get paid commission to place you, they’ll work that much harder to get a result.
Various students, it seems, spend evenings and weekends on their training and studies (sometimes for years), and then just stop instead of attempting to secure their first job. Market yourself… Work hard to get in front of employers. A job isn’t just going to bump into you.
Always expect the most up to date Microsoft (or relevant organisation’s) authorised exam preparation packages.
Steer clear of depending on non-official exam papers and questions. Their phraseology is sometimes startlingly different - and this leads to huge confusion when it comes to taking the real exam.
Be sure to ask for testing modules that will allow you to test your understanding along the way. Simulated or practice exams help to build your confidence - so you’re much more at ease with the real thing.
One fatal mistake that potential students often succumb to is to choose a career based on a course, instead of focusing on where they want to get to. Schools are stacked to the hilt with unaware students that chose an ‘interesting’ course - rather than what would get them the job they want.
Don’t be part of that group who set off on a track that on the surface appears interesting - and end up with a plaque on the wall for an unrewarding career path.
You also need to know how you feel about career development, earning potential, and whether you intend to be quite ambitious. It’s vital to know what (if any) sacrifices you’ll need to make for a particular role, which particular exams are needed and in what way you can develop commercial experience.
Chat with a skilled advisor that has a background in the industry you’re considering, and could provide a detailed run-down of what you actually do in that role. Contemplating this before commencement of any study course makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?
Students who consider this area of study are usually quite practically-minded, and don’t really enjoy classrooms, and slogging through piles of books. If you identify with this, try the newer style of interactive study, where learning is video-based.
Our ability to remember is increased with an involvement of all our senses - experts have been clear on this for as long as we can remember.
The latest audio-visual interactive programs featuring instructor demo’s and practice lab’s beat books hands-down. And you’ll actually enjoy doing them.
You must ensure that you see examples of the study materials provided by your chosen company. Be sure that they contain full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab’s to practice the skills in.
It’s unwise to select online only courseware. With highly variable reliability and quality from most broadband providers, you should always obtain actual CD or DVD ROM’s.
Copyright 2010 S. Edwards. Check out Dreamweaver Training Courses or www.NewCareersInformation.co.uk/unci.html.
