The Microsoft MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) course is a great basis for anybody thinking of getting into supporting networks. So if you’re just about to join the IT industry or already have experience but need to formalise your skills with a recognised qualification, it’s possible to achieve your goals with the right training.
To become certified at the level of MCSA it’s necessary to achieve pass marks in four MCP’s (Microsoft Certified Professional exams). For a newcomer to the industry, it’s likely you’ll be required to improve your skill-set prior to doing the first of the four MCP’s. Find a company that has industry experts who can identify the ideal program for you and will take care to start you at the right entry level.
OK, why ought we to be looking at qualifications from the commercial sector instead of more traditional academic qualifications gained through schools and Further Education colleges?
With fees and living expenses for university students climbing ever higher, plus the industry’s increasing awareness that accreditation-based training most often has much more commercial relevance, there’s been a dramatic increase in CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA based training paths that provide key skills to an employee at a much reduced cost in terms of money and time.
Of course, a necessary amount of background detail needs to be learned, but essential specialisation in the particular job function gives a commercially educated person a huge edge.
In simple terms: Authorised IT qualifications provide exactly what an employer needs – the title is a complete giveaway: as an example – I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Windows XP Administration and Configuration’. So companies can identify exactly what they need and what certifications are required to perform the job.
Looking at the myriad of choice out there, there’s no surprise that nearly all newcomers to the industry have no idea which career they could be successful with.
How likely is it for us to understand the day-to-day realities of any IT job when we haven’t done that before? Maybe we don’t know someone who performs the role either.
Contemplation on these points is most definitely required if you need to discover the right solution that will work for you:
* Personality factors and interests – what work-centred jobs you love or hate.
* Are you hoping to get certified for a specific motive – e.g. are you pushing to work based at home (self-employment possibly?)?
* What are your thoughts on salary vs job satisfaction?
* There are many ways to train in Information Technology – you’ll need to get a solid grounding on what separates them.
* You need to appreciate the differences between all the training areas.
When all is said and done, your only chance of covering these is through an in-depth discussion with an advisor who knows the industry well enough to lead you to the correct decision.
Some training providers will only provide office hours or extended office hours support; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly.
Look for training where you can receive help at any time of day or night (even 1am on Sunday morning!) You’ll need direct-access to qualified mentors and tutors, and not a message system as this will slow you down – consistently being held in a queue for a call-back at a convenient time for them.
Keep your eyes open for providers that utilise many support facilities around the globe in several time-zones. All of them should be combined to enable simple one-stop access together with round-the-clock access, when it’s convenient for you, with no fuss.
If you fail to get yourself 24×7 support, you’ll quickly find yourself regretting it. You may avoid using the support during late nights, but you may need weekends, late evenings or early mornings.
Accredited exam preparation and simulation materials are crucial – and absolutely ought to be sought from your training company.
Steer clear of depending on non-accredited exam preparation questions. Their phraseology can be completely unlike authorised versions – and this leads to huge confusion when the proper exam time arrives.
Always ask for testing modules so you’ll be able to test your comprehension whenever you need to. Practice exams help to build your confidence – so the actual exam is much easier.
Copyright 2009 S. Edwards. Navigate to HowToChooseACareer.co.uk/shtcac.html or Web Design Training Courses.
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