| In the fast-paced world we live in, support | | | | instance, becoming self-employed someday? |
| workers who can fix PC's and networks, and give | | | | * Where is the salary on a scale of importance - |
| daily help to users, are vital in all areas of the | | | | is an increase your main motivator, or is job |
| business environment. The need for such qualified | | | | satisfaction higher up on the priority-scale? |
| and commercially astute members of the | | | | * Learning what typical IT types and markets are |
| workforce is consistently on the grow, as | | | | - and what differentiates them. |
| commercial enterprise becomes significantly more | | | | * How much time you'll have available to set aside |
| dependent upon technology. | | | | for getting qualified. |
| The somewhat scary thought of securing your | | | | In these situations, you'll find the only real way to |
| first IT job is often made easier by some training | | | | research these matters tends to be through a |
| providers because they offer a Job Placement | | | | good talk with an advisor that has years of |
| Assistance service. The honest truth is that it's | | | | experience in IT (as well as the commercial |
| not as hard as some people make out to get | | | | requirements.) |
| your first job - as long as you're correctly trained | | | | Many companies only concern themselves with |
| and certified; the growing UK skills shortage sees | | | | gaining a certificate, and completely miss what |
| to that. | | | | you actually need - which is a commercial career |
| Having said that, it's important to have help and | | | | or job. Your focus should start with where you |
| assistance with preparing a CV and getting | | | | want to get to - don't make the journey more |
| interviews though; and we'd encourage any | | | | important than where you want to get to. It's a |
| student to get their CV updated as soon as | | | | terrible situation, but the majority of trainees |
| training commences - don't wait till you've finished | | | | kick-off study that often sounds great from the |
| your exams. It's not uncommon to find that junior | | | | marketing materials, but which provides a job that |
| support roles have been bagged by students | | | | doesn't satisfy. Talk to many university students |
| who're still on their course and haven't got any | | | | to see what we mean. |
| qualifications yet. At least this will get you into the | | | | It's a good idea to understand the expectations of |
| 'maybe' pile of CV's - rather than the 'No' pile. | | | | your industry. Which particular exams they will |
| Generally, a specialist locally based employment | | | | want you to have and how you'll build your |
| service - who make their money when they've | | | | experience level. It's definitely worth spending time |
| found you a job - will be more pro-active than a | | | | assessing how far you reckon you're going to |
| division of a training company. They should, of | | | | want to get as it will often affect your choice of |
| course, also be familiar with the local industry and | | | | qualifications. We advise all students to speak with |
| employment needs. | | | | a professional advisor before deciding on their |
| Not inconsiderable numbers of men and women, | | | | retraining path. This gives some measure of |
| so it seems, spend evenings and weekends on | | | | assurance that it features what is required for the |
| their training and studies (sometimes for years), | | | | chosen career. |
| and just give up when it comes to finding the | | | | It's quite a normal occurrence for students not to |
| right position. Promote yourself... Do your best to | | | | check on something of absolutely vital importance |
| let employers know about you. A job isn't just | | | | - the way their training provider breaks up the |
| going to bump into you. | | | | courseware, and into how many parts. Delivery |
| Usually, your normal trainee has no idea where to | | | | by courier of each element one stage at a time, |
| start with IT, let alone what sector to focus their | | | | taking into account your exam passes is the |
| retraining program on. Therefore, if you've got no | | | | normal way of receiving your courseware. This |
| experience in the IT sector, how can you expect | | | | sounds logical, but you should consider these |
| to know what any qualified IT worker spends | | | | factors: What if you find the order offered by |
| their day doing? Let alone decide on which | | | | the provider doesn't suit. And what if you don't |
| certification program will be most suitable for | | | | finish every element at the speed required? |
| ultimate success. Generally, the way to deal with | | | | In an ideal situation, you'd ask for every single |
| this issue in the best manner flows from a full | | | | material to be delivered immediately - so you'll |
| discussion of several different topics: | | | | have them all to come back to in the future - |
| * What hobbies you have and enjoy - these | | | | whenever it suits you. Variations can then be |
| often show the things you'll get the most | | | | made to the order that you complete each |
| enjoyment out of. | | | | objective if another more intuitive route presents |
| * Is it your desire to realise a specific goal - for | | | | itself. |