Thinking of taking an MCSE? If the answer’s ‘yes’, there’s a good chance that you’ll fall into one of two camps: You’re someone with a certain amount of knowledge and you’d like to consolidate your skill-set with the MCSE qualification. Or you could be completely new to the computer world, and research demonstrates that there are many opportunities for certified networking professionals.
When looking into training providers, be sure to don’t use those who reduce their costs by failing to provide the latest level of Microsoft development. Such institutions will hold back the trainee their knowledge will be of the wrong MCSE version which doesn’t match the current exam syllabus, so it will make it very difficult for them to pass.
Don’t be pushed into a training program before you feel comfortable. Set your sights on finding a computer training company who will put effort into advising you on a well matched program for your requirements.
One area often overlooked by trainees weighing up a particular programme is ‘training segmentation’. Basically, this means the way the course is divided up for drop-shipping to you, which can make a dramatic difference to what you end up with.
Typically, you will purchase a course requiring 1-3 years study and receive one element at a time until graduation. While this may sound logical on one level, consider this:
Sometimes the steps or stages pushed by the company’s salespeople doesn’t suit all of us. And what if you don’t finish all the sections within the time limits imposed?
An ideal situation would be to have all your study materials sent to you immediately; every single thing! This way, nothing can happen down the line which could affect your progress.
Beware of putting too much emphasis, like so many people do, on the accreditation program. Training for training’s sake is generally pointless; this is about employment. You need to remain focused on where you want to go.
Don’t let yourself become part of the group who select a program which looks like it could be fun – and get to the final hurdle of an accreditation for something they’ll never enjoy.
You also need to know what your attitude is towards earning potential, career development, and if you’re ambitious or not. It’s vital to know what industry expects from you, what particular certifications are needed and where you’ll pick-up experience from.
Seek help from an experienced advisor who ‘gets’ the commercial realities of the area you’re interested in, and who can offer ‘A typical day in the life of’ outline of what kinds of tasks you’ll be undertaking day-to-day. It’s sensible to discover if this is the right course of action for you well before you jump into the study-program. There’s little point in starting to train only to find you’ve taken the wrong route.
Proper support should never be taken lightly – find a program that includes 24×7 access, as not obtaining this level of support will severely impede your ability to learn.
Look for training with help available at any time you choose (even if it’s early hours on Sunday morning!) Ensure you get access directly to professional tutors, and not a call-centre that will take messages so you’re waiting for tutors to call you back – probably during office hours.
The most successful trainers incorporate three or four individual support centres around the globe in several time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, any time of the day or night, help is just seconds away, without any contact issues or hassle.
Don’t compromise with the quality of your support. The vast majority of students that drop-out or fail, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).
OK, why is it better to gain commercially accredited qualifications rather than more traditional academic qualifications obtained from tech’ colleges and universities?
Industry is now aware that to learn the appropriate commercial skills, the right accreditation from the likes of Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe is far more effective and specialised – at a far reduced cost both money and time wise.
Patently, a necessary portion of background knowledge has to be learned, but essential specialised knowledge in the particular job function gives a vendor educated person a real head start.
What if you were an employer – and your company needed a person with some very particular skills. What is easier: Trawl through loads of academic qualifications from hopeful applicants, having to ask what each has covered and which trade skills they’ve acquired, or choose particular accreditations that precisely match your needs, and then select who you want to interview from that. Your interviews are then about personal suitability – rather than establishing whether they can do a specific task.
(C) 2009 Scott Edwards. Go to MCSE 2008 or MCSE Training.
