Computer Tech Training and Certification for Computer Jobs.

Computer tech training and certification for professional qualifications such as MCP, MCDST, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CompTIA play a large role in gaining employment in the computer industry and advancing your career.

The availability of online computer training materials, testing centres and helpful resources means that anyone, anywhere with a computer and Internet connection can become qualified and take control of their career progression.

There are however pitfalls, things to be wary of and ways not to go about getting certified. Before you read on any further please read the below article on the misconceptions surrounding computer certifications and qualifications:

There are hundreds of different certifications available to choose from. Almost every established software and hardware provider has exams for their products.

The most popular entry level qualifications are:

• CompTIA certification
  
  

• Microsoft certification
  
  

• Cisco certification
  
  

• Linux certification

There are many more and that's not to mention the option of finding a good college course to further your education as an alternative.

Computer Tech Training - Where to start

When I began my career my first question was ‘where do I start?. Everyone in the office I was working in had done some computer tech training already and were tightly focused on their MCP-MCSE exams (in Windows NT4 at the time).

The first book they gave me to read was the training guide for the ’Networking Essentials’ exam, part of the NT4 MCSE suite. While I didn’t have too much trouble understanding most of the subject matter there were gaps that needed filling due to a lack of any basic computing knowledge.

Networking essentials at the time was the equivalent to ‘CompTIA Network+’, a very good ‘start here’ for networking newbies. The thing is I had absolutely no background computing knowledge at all so I struggled with the basic concepts for longer than I should have.

Back then what I should have been reading instead of Networking Essentials was CompTIA A+. If I were to go back and do it all again that’s exactly what I would do.

Too many people try to run before they can walk and dive straight into the MCPs and MCSE with no background knowledge of how hardware, networks and operating systems work.

At the very beginning you need a strong foundation of computer tech training to build on. A+ is that foundation. I’ll never forget reading the same pages of ‘Networking Essentials’ over and over again trying to understand them but failing to due to a lack of basic hardware and software knowledge.

So if you are brand new to computing and looking to do your first computer tech training please don’t do what I did, save yourself a lot of time, questions and chasing your tail by starting at the beginning with CompTIA A+.

If you’ve got A+ already you should have a good idea of your next step and what direction to take. For system administration and desktop support you can choose between:

My personal advice would be to explore the possibilities presented by training for Linux certification. If you ask me there are too many unemployed Windows administrators on the market while there is a sizeable skills shortage for qualified Linux and UNIX administrators.

There are also a vast range of non system administration computer tech training for professions such as:

Computer Tech Training - Study methods.

Different methods of study suit different people. Some people can do it just by reading books, others can only really learn from instructor led training and some people use a variety of methods to learn the material and pass their exam.

Online and interactive computer tech training is becoming more and more common. I recommend you incorporate this into your training methods.

Certification exams these days are constantly evolving to more accurately measure the skills required to perform in the workplace.

Gone are the days of being able to read the book several times and answer a series of multiple choice questions. Luckily more and more vendors are incorporating practical lab technology into exam questions so candidates have to be able to ‘walk the walk’ as well as ‘talk the talk’.

I say luckily because the more this happens the less easy it will become for people to cheat their way through professional certifications and lower their value to employers.

This is why hands on practice is so important, after doing so many different labs you can eventually make up your own labs and list them on your resume.

Get creative with your set ups.

I did that with my CCNA, I’d design the networks I was going to set up on a piece of paper, decide on an IP addressing scheme (different every time) and then go and do it.

I rented online racks at mindtech, I personally recommend them for fantastic value for money and outstanding support.

Planning your lab exercises before doing them is good practice to incorporate at this early stage-

Plan on paper----------------------------- then do it.

Plant this seed of a skill right at the beginning!

To effectively learn the subject matter I have a hard time just learning out of a book, actually doing it makes it fit into place and helps all that theory sink in and come together. This is why in some cases a full blown college course can be the most effective learning method.

Personally I learn most effectively from:

• Reading books and taking notes.
• Typing up those notes.
• Instructor led training (if I can afford it and have the time).
• Training videos.
• Hands on labs.
• Asking (and answering) questions in message board forums.
• Practice exams.

Looking for training books? - Check out the First Computer Job Book Store!

Computer Tech Training - Timing

When studying around my job I got up 2 hours earlier in the morning and worked then rather than trying to do it in the evening after a full days work. This is a lot more preferable to trying to study into the night.

I found I was so much more receptive in the morning and throughout the day I’d be digesting what I’d learnt.

If I had a query and wanted a quick answer I’d post a question in one of the forums I am subscribed to- having used the search button first! Some communities I am a member of are:

Computer Tech Training - Exams

Certification exams cost about £100/$150 to take so you want to be sure you’re ready when you go for the big day.

It’s best to go into an exam over prepared and confident in your knowledge of the subject matter. Some people like to have their cramsheets with them right up until they go into the room this is not a good idea I’ll tell you why:

If you feel the need to cram still on the day of the exam right up to the last minute you are not ready to take it

On ‘the big day’ you need to relax your thoughts and focus on getting through the test. Last minute cramming actually has a negative impact on your performance during the exam.

Up until 24 hours before the exam you can reschedule it for a later date if you feel you need more time. With the price of exams being what they are you don’t want to take any chances.

It’s best to book the exam and give yourself a date to work towards, that way you’ll stay motivated to study. Having a deadline to work towards will keep you focused and stop you from putting off your computer tech training. You can always reschedule if you feel you’re not ready.

Give yourself a timescale, an action plan and a deadline. If you have a date to work towards you won’t fall into the trap of telling yourself you’ll get round to it next week/month or when you’ve got time. Too many people never get their certs because they won’t make time for them. You have to invest the time to do it, the results are worth it.

Computer Tech Training - Braindumps and cheating

The existence of cheating materials and people using them has had a really negative effect on the employment market. A professional certification is supposed to show that you have achieved a degree of excellence that qualifies you to a certain level in your chosen field.

If you have falsified your qualification it won’t help you get a job. Most if not all computer jobs have stringent technical interviews to pass so if you don’t know your stuff you won’t get the job.

Even if you do manage to lie your way into a job it won’t be long until your lack of knowledge becomes glaringly obvious and you’ll get the heave-ho.

Unfortunately the existence and use of braindumps has devalued a lot of certifications. If the vendor who’s certification you have got finds out you’ve cheated or broken the non disclosure agreement (which you electronically sign at the beginning of every exam) you’ll have the qualification taken away and be banned from ever getting any more qualifications with that company ever again.

Cheating at anything is wrong; falsifying qualifications doesn’t actually get you anywhere when the knowledge you are supposed to have is called upon to do your job.

Your clients and employers want someone with the ability and knowledge to help them achieve their aims; they are running a business.

What will you do when they require you to exercise your expertise?

Bottom line Cheating will just get you FIRED

There is no substitute for the real thing :) The computer tech training process can benefit you even if you don't follow through with a certification.

Computer Tech training - Hands on practice

More exams are incorporating practical ‘labs’ to test hands on skills as well as theoretical knowledge. This is a good thing because it’s more relevant to the job than knowing some of the finer details of the nuts and bolts of computer systems and networks.

Don’t get me wrong the theory knowledge however irrelevant it may seem is important to know so you can develop a better understanding of the ‘bigger picture’.

Hands on is a must though. If you’re doing an A+ course or reading the book get yourself a spare old computer to take to bits and put back together again. Get a few from ebay or office clearance or computer fairs, pick up a small 4-5 port Ethernet switch, some CAT5 cables and build a mini network.

If I was starting out now I would go about studying and developing hands on ‘experience’ by buying a few old computers from ebay. I’d take them completely to bits and put them back together again until I could do it blindfolded.

I’ll never forget the feeling when I put a computer back together for the first time and pressed the on button. The anticipation of what was about to happen next was quite a buzz.

The series of beep codes I had to troubleshoot to eventually get the thing working was a different matter but in doing that I learnt all about BIOS/CMOS beep codes.

Then I’d install different flavours of Linux (free) and play round with the network configurations available.

Having experience of building a Linux network at home is not a bad thing to have on your resume by any means.

I’m pushing Linux so much because there is a skills shortage for good Linux/UNIX admins whereas training companies are churning out paper MCSEs at an alarming rate.

Competition for Windows roles is steep. UNIX is harder to learn, but much more in demand. It’s possible to earn a fantastic living by becoming a UNIX administrator.

Some top UNIX administrators earn the same hourly rate as lawyers and accountants. It’s free to download and there’s a vast amount of resources for learning it online.

Looking for training books? - Check out the First Computer Job Book Store!

Computer Tech Training - Resources:

• CompTIA certification.

• Microsoft support certification.

• Cisco certification.

• Linux certification.

• Database Administration certification.

• Programming certification.

• Web/graphic design certification.

• Business and IT certification.

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