Should you be aspiring to become Cisco accredited, but you’ve no practical experience with switches and routers, we’d recommend taking the Cisco CCNA qualification. This will provide you with the knowledge you need to understand routers. Vast numbers of routers make up the internet, and national or international corporations with several locations also utilise routers to connect their computer networks.
Routers are linked to networks, therefore it’s important to have prior knowledge of the operation of networks, or you will have difficulties with the course and not be able to follow the work. Seek out a program that includes basic networking skills (for example CompTIA) before you get going on CCNA.
You’ll need a specially designed course that takes you on a progressive path to make sure that you’ve mastered the necessary skills and abilities prior to getting going with Cisco.
Training support for students is an absolute must – look for a package that provides 24×7 direct access, as anything less will frustrate you and could hamper your progress.
Find a good quality service with proper support available at any time of the day or night (irrespective of whether it’s the wee hours on Sunday morning!) You want access directly to professional tutors, and not access to a call-in service which takes messages – so you’re parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back during office hours.
The best training colleges tend to use an online round-the-clock system involving many support centres across the globe. You will be provided with an interface which accesses the most appropriate office any time of the day or night: Support when it’s needed.
Don’t ever make the mistake of taking second best when it comes to your support. Most IT hopefuls who fall by the wayside, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).
So many training providers are all about the certification, and completely miss the reasons for getting there – getting yourself a new job or career. Always begin with the final destination in mind – don’t make the vehicle more important than the destination.
It’s a sad fact, but a large percentage of students begin programs that seem amazing in the sales literature, but which gets us a career that doesn’t satisfy. Just ask several college graduates for a real eye-opener.
Take time to understand how you feel about career development, earning potential, and how ambitious you are. You should understand what the role will demand of you, which certifications are needed and how you’ll gain real-world experience.
You’d also need help from a professional who understands the sector you’re hoping to qualify in, and who can give you ‘A typical day in the life of’ synopsis of the job being considered. This really is absolutely essential as you’ll need to know if you’re going down the right road.
Students who consider this area of study often have a very practical outlook on work, and won’t enjoy sitting at a desk in class, and endless reading of dry academic textbooks. If this is putting you off studying, try the newer style of interactive study, where learning is video-based.
Our ability to remember is increased when we use multiple senses – learning experts have been saying this for decades now.
Modern training can now be done at home via self-contained CD or DVD materials. Instructor-led tutorials will mean you’ll find things easier to remember via the expert demonstrations. Then you test your knowledge by using practice-lab’s.
You must ensure that you see courseware examples from the company you’re considering. Be sure that they contain full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab’s to practice the skills in.
Avoid training that is purely online. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where available, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you – and not be totally reliant on your internet connection always being ‘up’ and available.
Does job security really exist anymore? In a marketplace like the UK, where business constantly changes its mind on a day-to-day basis, it seems increasingly unlikely.
In actuality, security now only emerges in a rapidly growing marketplace, driven by work-skills shortages. It’s this alone that creates the appropriate setting for a secure marketplace – a far better situation.
Reviewing the computer industry, a key e-Skills study highlighted a twenty six percent shortfall of skilled workers. Or, to put it differently, this highlights that Great Britain is only able to source 3 trained people for every 4 jobs that are available today.
Attaining full commercial computing qualification is as a result an effective route to achieve a long-lasting and enjoyable livelihood.
In actuality, acquiring professional IT skills during the next few years is likely the best career move you’ll ever make.
(C) Jason Kendall. Go to LearningLolly.com for in-depth ideas on CCNA Certification and Cisco Training Courses.
