These accreditations & positions are in many cases done en-route to a more senior I.T. position. Before you commit yourself to a training-program, consider where you would like your final destination to be. Do take time to discuss every little thing with a training & IT professional - it will protect you from any set backs down the road. It can be a good idea to consider customised career-training products that incorporate the A+ & Network+ courses. 'Bundling' a number of program materials together is often very cost-effective.

In-line with their ISO standardisation move, CompTIA have updated both A+ & N+ examinations to '2009' editions. Internationally the 2006-2007 versions of A+ (with exam pre-fix number 600) will disappear within the next year. In the UK, they discontinue on 31.08.2010. Up to then, trainees can sit either the '600' or the newer '700' examinations in regional test-centres (specifically 'Vue' and 'Prometric'). Reason suggests that new entrant trainees should study edition 2009. 'CompTIA' 'A+' Essentials & 'CompTIA' 'A+' Practical Application are the new examination titles (220/701 and 220/702 respectively). As well as some more material on more recent technologies, we now have 2 examinations that cover aspects of all four of the earlier exams. The old structure was one compulsory 'essentials' examination & 3 electives, of which just one was required to be sat. As the industry has progressed, the know-how from all 4 exams is now deemed essential, & therefore has been condensed in to 2 required exams. CompTIA have also introduced the 'BR-003' bridging examination, for trainees qualified in the '600' exams who want to get up to date with the current '700' examinations. Successfully passing the up-grade examination will in most cases demand more study, but this ought not to be especially onerous for those who originally studied all electives. Clearly though the newer technological subjects will need to be mastered.

The employment roles listed here are all feasible for the individual holding a 'CompTIA' 'A+' qualification: IT Administrator, PC Technician, Remote Support Technician, Field Service Technician, Call Centre and Depot Technician & Help Desk Technician. With the 'CompTIA' Network+ as well, you can consider becoming a Network Installer, an IT Cable Installer, a Network Administrator or a Network Technician .

Commercial certification is now, without a doubt, taking over from the traditional routes into the industry - why then should this be? Vendor-based training (as it's known in the industry) is far more effective and specialised. The IT sector has acknowledged that such specialised knowledge is essential to meet the requirements of a technologically complex world. CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA dominate in this arena. Vendor training works by concentrating on the particular skills that are needed (along with a relevant amount of associated knowledge,) instead of covering masses of the background 'extras' that academic courses are prone to get tied up in - to pad out the syllabus.

When an employer is aware what areas need to be serviced, then all they have to do is advertise for someone with a specific qualification. Commercial syllabuses are all based on the same criteria and can't change from one establishment to the next (like academia frequently can and does).

One useful service that several companies offer is job placement assistance. It's intention is to steer you into your first IT role. With the huge skills shortage in Great Britain at the moment, there's no need to place too much emphasis on this feature however. It isn't such a complex operation to secure your first job as long as you've got the necessary skills and qualifications.

Ideally you should have advice and support about your CV and interviews though; and we'd encourage all students to get their CV updated the day they start training - don't put it off till you've finished your exams. You'll often find that you will be offered your first position while you're still a student (even when you've just left first base). If your CV doesn't show your latest training profile (and it hasn't been posted on jobsites) then you don't stand a chance! You can usually expect better results from a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service than you'll experience from any training company's employment division, because they'll know the area better.

Certainly make sure you don't conscientiously work through your course materials, and then do nothing more and expect somebody else to sort out your employment. Take responsibility for yourself and get on with the job. Put as much focus into securing a good job as you did to get trained.

Self-Paced CBT PC Certification Courses For Network & Systems Security >>