Considering an MCSE? It's very possible then that you're in one of two situations: You could already be in IT and you want to enhance your CV with an MCSE. Alternatively you could be completely new to commercial IT, but it's apparent to you that there's a growing demand for qualified people.
As you try to find out more, you'll come across training companies that compromise their offerings by not upgrading their courses to the most up-to-date Microsoft version. Don't use these companies as you'll experience challenges at exam time. If your knowledge is of the wrong syllabus, it will make it very difficult to pass.
Training colleges ought to be devoted to offering the correct route for aspiring trainees. Mentoring education is as much about guiding people on establishing which way to go, as well as helping them get there.
One interesting way that colleges make more money is through up-front charges for exams and offering an exam guarantee. It looks impressive, but is it really:
You'll pay for it one way or another. You can be assured it's not a freebie - it's simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole.
Should you seriously need to pass in one, then you should pay for one exam at a time, give it the priority it deserves and give the task sufficient application.
Don't you think it's more sensible to not pay up-front, but at the time, not to pay the fees marked up by the training college, and also to sit exams more locally - instead of the remote centre that's convenient only to the trainer?
Considerable numbers of questionable training course providers net big margins because they're asking for all the exam fees up-front and hoping that you won't take them all.
Re-takes of any failed exams through organisations who offer an 'Exam Guarantee' are tightly controlled. You'll be required to sit pre-tests until you've demonstrated an excellent ability to pass.
Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on an 'Exam Guarantee' is short-sighted - when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is what will get you through.
A lot of training providers only provide basic 9am till 6pm support (maybe a little earlier or later on certain days); very few go late in the evening or at weekends.
Never buy study programmes that only provide support to students with an out-sourced call-centre message system outside of normal office hours. Companies will give you every excuse in the book why you don't need this. The bottom line is - you want to be supported when you need the help - not at their convenience.
The most successful trainers incorporate three or four individual support centres across multiple time-zones. Online access provides the interactive interface to seamlessly link them all, any time of the day or night, help is just a click away, avoiding all the delays and problems.
If you fail to get yourself online 24x7 support, you'll regret it very quickly. It may be that you don't use it throughout the night, but what about weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.
An advisor that doesn't dig around with lots of question - chances are they're just trying to sell you something. If they push a particular product before learning about your history and experience, then you know you're being sold to.
Often, the starting point of study for someone with a little experience is often hugely different to someone just starting out.
If this is going to be your opening crack at IT study then it may be wise to cut your teeth on some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first.
The right sort of package of training will undoubtedly also include accredited simulation materials and exam preparation packages.
Be sure that the practice exams aren't just asking you the right questions on the right subjects, but ask them in the way the real exams will phrase them. This throws trainees if the questions are phrased in unfamiliar formats.
As you can imagine, it's essential to make sure you're absolutely ready for the real exam before embarking on it. Revising simulated tests logs the information in your brain and saves you time and money on unsuccessful attempts at exams.
As you try to find out more, you'll come across training companies that compromise their offerings by not upgrading their courses to the most up-to-date Microsoft version. Don't use these companies as you'll experience challenges at exam time. If your knowledge is of the wrong syllabus, it will make it very difficult to pass.
Training colleges ought to be devoted to offering the correct route for aspiring trainees. Mentoring education is as much about guiding people on establishing which way to go, as well as helping them get there.
One interesting way that colleges make more money is through up-front charges for exams and offering an exam guarantee. It looks impressive, but is it really:
You'll pay for it one way or another. You can be assured it's not a freebie - it's simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole.
Should you seriously need to pass in one, then you should pay for one exam at a time, give it the priority it deserves and give the task sufficient application.
Don't you think it's more sensible to not pay up-front, but at the time, not to pay the fees marked up by the training college, and also to sit exams more locally - instead of the remote centre that's convenient only to the trainer?
Considerable numbers of questionable training course providers net big margins because they're asking for all the exam fees up-front and hoping that you won't take them all.
Re-takes of any failed exams through organisations who offer an 'Exam Guarantee' are tightly controlled. You'll be required to sit pre-tests until you've demonstrated an excellent ability to pass.
Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on an 'Exam Guarantee' is short-sighted - when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is what will get you through.
A lot of training providers only provide basic 9am till 6pm support (maybe a little earlier or later on certain days); very few go late in the evening or at weekends.
Never buy study programmes that only provide support to students with an out-sourced call-centre message system outside of normal office hours. Companies will give you every excuse in the book why you don't need this. The bottom line is - you want to be supported when you need the help - not at their convenience.
The most successful trainers incorporate three or four individual support centres across multiple time-zones. Online access provides the interactive interface to seamlessly link them all, any time of the day or night, help is just a click away, avoiding all the delays and problems.
If you fail to get yourself online 24x7 support, you'll regret it very quickly. It may be that you don't use it throughout the night, but what about weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.
An advisor that doesn't dig around with lots of question - chances are they're just trying to sell you something. If they push a particular product before learning about your history and experience, then you know you're being sold to.
Often, the starting point of study for someone with a little experience is often hugely different to someone just starting out.
If this is going to be your opening crack at IT study then it may be wise to cut your teeth on some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first.
The right sort of package of training will undoubtedly also include accredited simulation materials and exam preparation packages.
Be sure that the practice exams aren't just asking you the right questions on the right subjects, but ask them in the way the real exams will phrase them. This throws trainees if the questions are phrased in unfamiliar formats.
As you can imagine, it's essential to make sure you're absolutely ready for the real exam before embarking on it. Revising simulated tests logs the information in your brain and saves you time and money on unsuccessful attempts at exams.
About the Author:
(C) Jason Kendall. Hop over to LearningLolly.com for logical advice. MCSE 2003 or www.computer-courses-uk.co.uk.
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