If you're looking for Cisco training and you haven't worked with routers before, what you need is CCNA. This training course was created to train people with practical know how on routers. Commercial ventures that have a number of branches rely on routers to connect their various different networks of computers to keep in contact with each other. The Internet also is based on huge numbers of routers.
You might end up joining an internet service provider or a big organisation which is located on multiple sites but needs regular secure data communications. This career path is very well paid and quite specialised.
Achieving CCNA is the right level to aim for; at this stage avoid being tempted to do the CCNP. With experience, you'll know if it's relevant for you to have this next level up. If you decide to become more qualified, your experience will serve as the background you need to tackle the CCNP - as it's a very complex course - and shouldn't be taken lightly.
A study programme really needs to work up to a widely recognised certification at the end - not some little 'in-house' diploma - fit only for filing away and forgetting.
Only properly recognised qualifications from the top companies like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco and CompTIA will have any meaning to employers.
Considering the amount of options that are available, does it really shock us that a large majority of trainees get stuck choosing the job they will enjoy.
As without any commercial skills in computing, how could any of us be expected to understand what a particular job actually consists of?
Achieving an informed answer will only come through a meticulous investigation covering many varying factors:
* Your personality type as well as your interests - what kind of work-related things please or frustrate you.
* Why you're looking at getting involved with computing - maybe you'd like to achieve a life-long goal like being your own boss for example.
* What scale of importance is the salary - is it of prime importance, or do you place job satisfaction higher up on the priority-scale?
* Many students don't properly consider the level of commitment involved to attain their desired level.
* Taking a serious look at the level of commitment, time and effort that you're going to put into it.
In actuality, you'll find the only real way to research these matters tends to be through a good talk with an experienced advisor that has years of experience in the IT industry (and specifically it's commercial needs.)
If your advisor doesn't ask many questions - it's likely they're just trying to sell you something. If they push a particular product before learning about your history and current experience level, then you know it's true.
If you have a strong background, or maybe some live experience (some certifications gained previously perhaps?) then obviously your starting level will be quite dissimilar from a student that is completely new to the industry.
Working through a basic PC skills module first will sometimes be the most effective way to start into your computer program, depending on your current skill level.
A sneaky way that training providers make more money is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. This sounds impressive, but is it really:
Certainly it's not free - you're still being charged for it - the price has simply been included in the whole thing.
Students who enter their exams one by one, paying for them just before taking them are much more likely to pass. They are mindful of their investment and take the necessary steps to ensure they are ready.
Sit the exam as locally as possible and don't pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you're ready.
Paying in advance for examination fees (which also includes interest if you've taken out a loan) is bad financial management. Why fill a company's coffers with extra money of yours simply to help their cash-flow! There are those who hope that you won't get round to taking them - so they get to keep the extra funds.
The majority of organisations will insist that you take mock exams first and prohibit you from re-taking an exam until you've completely proven that you're likely to pass - so an 'Exam Guarantee' comes with many clauses in reality.
The cost of exams was about 112 pounds in the last 12 months through Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So don't be talked into shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds more to get 'an Exam Guarantee', when any student knows that the best guarantee is consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software.
You might end up joining an internet service provider or a big organisation which is located on multiple sites but needs regular secure data communications. This career path is very well paid and quite specialised.
Achieving CCNA is the right level to aim for; at this stage avoid being tempted to do the CCNP. With experience, you'll know if it's relevant for you to have this next level up. If you decide to become more qualified, your experience will serve as the background you need to tackle the CCNP - as it's a very complex course - and shouldn't be taken lightly.
A study programme really needs to work up to a widely recognised certification at the end - not some little 'in-house' diploma - fit only for filing away and forgetting.
Only properly recognised qualifications from the top companies like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco and CompTIA will have any meaning to employers.
Considering the amount of options that are available, does it really shock us that a large majority of trainees get stuck choosing the job they will enjoy.
As without any commercial skills in computing, how could any of us be expected to understand what a particular job actually consists of?
Achieving an informed answer will only come through a meticulous investigation covering many varying factors:
* Your personality type as well as your interests - what kind of work-related things please or frustrate you.
* Why you're looking at getting involved with computing - maybe you'd like to achieve a life-long goal like being your own boss for example.
* What scale of importance is the salary - is it of prime importance, or do you place job satisfaction higher up on the priority-scale?
* Many students don't properly consider the level of commitment involved to attain their desired level.
* Taking a serious look at the level of commitment, time and effort that you're going to put into it.
In actuality, you'll find the only real way to research these matters tends to be through a good talk with an experienced advisor that has years of experience in the IT industry (and specifically it's commercial needs.)
If your advisor doesn't ask many questions - it's likely they're just trying to sell you something. If they push a particular product before learning about your history and current experience level, then you know it's true.
If you have a strong background, or maybe some live experience (some certifications gained previously perhaps?) then obviously your starting level will be quite dissimilar from a student that is completely new to the industry.
Working through a basic PC skills module first will sometimes be the most effective way to start into your computer program, depending on your current skill level.
A sneaky way that training providers make more money is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. This sounds impressive, but is it really:
Certainly it's not free - you're still being charged for it - the price has simply been included in the whole thing.
Students who enter their exams one by one, paying for them just before taking them are much more likely to pass. They are mindful of their investment and take the necessary steps to ensure they are ready.
Sit the exam as locally as possible and don't pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you're ready.
Paying in advance for examination fees (which also includes interest if you've taken out a loan) is bad financial management. Why fill a company's coffers with extra money of yours simply to help their cash-flow! There are those who hope that you won't get round to taking them - so they get to keep the extra funds.
The majority of organisations will insist that you take mock exams first and prohibit you from re-taking an exam until you've completely proven that you're likely to pass - so an 'Exam Guarantee' comes with many clauses in reality.
The cost of exams was about 112 pounds in the last 12 months through Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So don't be talked into shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds more to get 'an Exam Guarantee', when any student knows that the best guarantee is consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software.
