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Cisco training is fundamentally for those who want to learn about routers. Routers hook up computer networks over the internet or lines dedicated for that purpose. We’d recommend that you should start with the CCNA. Steer clear of going immediately onto a CCNP because it is very complex – and you’ll need the CCNA and experience first before you take this on.

Because routers are linked to networks, it is vital to understand how networks operate, or you’ll have difficulty gaining the qualification and not be able to follow the work. Seek out a program that includes basic networking skills (such as CompTIA) before you get going on CCNA.

You should get a tailored course that will take you through a specific training path to make sure you’ve got the appropriate skills and knowledge prior to getting going with Cisco.

We can all agree: There really is very little evidence of personal job security anymore; there’s really only market and sector security – companies can just let anyone go if it suits the business’ business requirements. Whereas a fast growing sector, with a constant demand for staff (because of an enormous shortage of commercially certified professionals), opens the possibility of true job security.

The 2006 British e-Skills investigation showed that twenty six percent of all IT positions available remain unfilled as an upshot of a huge deficit of well-trained staff. Meaning that for every four jobs that are available around IT, there are barely three qualified workers to fill that need. This glaring idea shows an urgent requirement for more technically certified computing professionals across the UK. For sure, now really is such a perfect time to retrain into IT.

Bearing in mind all the debate on the area of IT currently, how is it possible to understand what exactly to look for?

Chat with a knowledgeable consultant and we’d be amazed if they couldn’t provide you with many horror stories of students who’ve been sold completely the wrong course for them. Stick to a skilled professional who asks some in-depth questions to uncover the best thing for you – not for their paycheque! Dig until you find the right starting point of study for you. An important point to note is that, if you have some relevant accreditation or direct-experience, then you can sometimes expect to pick-up at a different starting-point to a trainee with no history to speak of. Always consider starting with user-skills and software training first. This can help whip your basic knowledge into shape and make the transition to higher-level learning a much more gentle.

Some commercial training providers will only offer basic 9am till 6pm support (maybe a little earlier or later on certain days); very few go late in the evening or at weekends. Beware of institutions that use ‘out-of-hours’ call-centres – with the call-back coming in during normal office hours. It’s not a lot of help when you’ve got study issues and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.

The best trainers have many support offices active in different time-zones. They use an online interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, at any time you choose, help is just a click away, without any problems or delays. Never make the mistake of compromise with the quality of your support. Most IT hopefuls who drop-out or fail, are in that situation because they didn’t get the support necessary for them.

It’s likely that you’re a practical sort of person – a ‘hands-on’ individual. If you’re like us, the unfortunate chore of reading reference guides is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you really wouldn’t enjoy it. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if book-based learning really isn’t your style. Research over recent years has repeatedly confirmed that becoming involved with our studies, to utilise all our senses, is much more conducive to long-term memory.

Programs are now found in the form of CD and DVD ROM’s, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Through video streaming, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how to do something, and then have a go at it yourself – in an interactive lab. Be sure to get a study material demo’ from the training company. The materials should incorporate expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and virtual practice lab’s for your new skills.

You’ll find that many companies will only provide purely on-line training; sometimes you can get away with this – but, consider what happens if you lose your internet access or you only get very a very slow connection sometimes. A safer solution is the provision of actual CD or DVD ROMs that will solve that problem.

A number of students assume that the tech college or university system is still the most effective. Why then are commercial certificates becoming more in demand? With university education costs climbing ever higher, along with the IT sector’s growing opinion that vendor-based training most often has much more commercial relevance, we’ve seen a big surge in Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe accredited training programmes that educate students at a much reduced cost in terms of money and time. This is done through honing in on the skills that are really needed (along with a relevant amount of associated knowledge,) instead of going into the heightened depths of background non-specific minutiae that computer Science Degrees can get bogged down in – to pad out the syllabus.

What if you were an employer – and you wanted someone who could provide a specific set of skills. What should you do: Wade your way through reams of different degrees and college qualifications from various applicants, having to ask what each has covered and which trade skills they’ve acquired, or select a specialised number of commercial certifications that specifically match what you’re looking for, and make your short-list from that. You’ll then be able to concentrate on getting a feel for the person at interview – instead of having to work out if they can do the job.

The best type of package of training will undoubtedly also offer Microsoft (or key company) exam simulation and preparation packages. Often students can find themselves confused by practising exam questions that aren’t recognised by official sources. Often, the way questions are phrased can be quite different and you need to be ready for this. Be sure to request some practice exams in order to verify your understanding whenever you need to. Mock exams log the information in your brain – then the actual exam is much easier.

The sometimes daunting task of landing your first job is often made easier by training colleges, through a Job Placement Assistance facility. Don’t get overly impressed with this service – it’s easy for training companies to make too much of it. In reality, the massive skills shortage in this country is why employers will be interested in you.

Ideally you should have advice and support about your CV and interviews though; and we’d recommend all students to update their CV as soon as training commences – don’t wait until you’ve graduated or passed any exams. Quite frequently, you will get your first role while you’re still a student (sometimes when you’ve only just got going). If your course details aren’t on your CV – or it’s not getting in front of interviewers, then you’re not even going to be known about! If you’d like to keep travelling time and costs to a minimum, then you may well find that an independent and specialised local employment service could be of more use than some national concern, due to the fact that they’re far more likely to be familiar with what’s available near you.

A slight grievance of a number of training companies is how much trainees are prepared to study to get top marks in their exams, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the job they’ve qualified for. Get out there and hustle – you might find it’s fun.

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