Games Review Blog

There are four specialised areas of training in the A+ syllabus, of which you’ll need certification in two subjects to be considered A+ qualified. Be aware though that restricting yourself to two of the specialised areas could leave gaps in your knowledge. Try to cover all four – you’ll be glad you did when it comes to interview time.

Training courses in A+ cover fault-finding and diagnostics – remotely as well as hands on, alongside building and fixing and operating in antistatic conditions. Were you to add Network+ training to your A+, you will additionally be able to assist with or manage networks of computers, which means you’ll be able to expect a better remuneration package.

Exam ‘guarantees’ are sometimes offered as part of a training package – this always means exams have to be paid for upfront, at the start of your training. But before you get taken in by guaranteed exams, think about this:

You’ll pay for it by some means. It certainly isn’t free – they’ve simply charged more for the whole training package. Trainees who take each progressive exam, paying as they go are much more likely to pass. They’re thoughtful of their investment and prepare more appropriately to ensure they are ready.

Doesn’t it make more sense to go for the best offer at the time, not to pay any mark-up to a training college, and also to sit exams more locally – instead of miles away at the college’s beck and call? A surprising number of so-called credible training providers net big margins through getting paid for all the exam fees up-front then hoping either that you won’t take them, or it will be a long time before you do. Also, many exam guarantees are worthless. Many training companies won’t pay again for an exam until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won’t fail again.

Prometric and VUE exams are in the region of 112 pounds in the UK. Why pay exorbitant fees for ‘exam guarantees’ (often hidden in the cost) – when good quality study materials, the proper support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

What is the reason why traditional academic studies are being overtaken by more commercial certificates? With a growing demand for specific technological expertise, industry has had to move to the specialised training that the vendors themselves supply – for example companies such as Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe. Often this saves time and money for the student. Academic courses, for instance, can often get caught up in vast amounts of background study – and much too wide a syllabus. This prevents a student from learning the core essentials in sufficient depth.

Just as the old advertisement said: ‘It does what it says on the tin’. The company just needs to know what areas need to be serviced, and then request applicants with the correct exam numbers. Then they’re assured that a potential employee can do exactly what’s required.

There is a tidal wave of change washing over technology in the near future – and the industry becomes more ground-breaking every year. It’s a common misapprehension that the revolution in technology we’ve been going through is easing off. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are huge changes to come, and most especially the internet will become an increasingly dominant part of our lives.

Always remember that income in the IT sector in the United Kingdom is a lot better than in other market sectors, therefore you’ll probably gain much more with professional IT knowledge, than you’d expect to earn elsewhere. Demand for professionally qualified and skilled IT workers is assured for many years to come, thanks to the continuous expansion in IT dependency in commerce and the massive skills gap still present.

With all the options available, there’s no surprise that a large majority of students have no idea which career they should even pursue. Reading a list of IT job-titles is next to useless. Surely, most of us don’t even know what our good friends do at work – so we have no hope of understanding the ins and outs of a particular IT career. Getting to any kind of right resolution only comes via a thorough investigation of many altering criteria:

* Your personality can play an important part – what gives you a ‘kick’, and what are the activities that get you down.

* Are you driven to get qualified because of a precise reason – for instance, are you pushing to work from home (self-employment possibly?)?

* Is the money you make further up on your priority-scale than other factors.

* Always think in-depth about the energy needed to get fully certified.

* You’ll also need to think hard about any sacrifices you’ll need to make, as well as what commitment and time you’re going to give to gaining your certifications.

To bypass all the jargon and confusion, and find what’ll really work for you, have a good talk with an industry expert and advisor; someone who can impart the commercial reality as well as each qualification.

A key training course package should have accredited exam preparation systems. Be sure that the practice exams aren’t just asking you the right questions in the right areas, but ask them in the same way that the proper exam will phrase them. It really messes up people if they’re faced with unrecognisable phrases and formats. Ensure that you request some practice exams so you’ll be able to check your understanding along the way. Mock exams will help to boost your attitude – so you won’t be quite so nervous at the actual exam.