Training in CompTIA Network Plus Support Clarified

 In this day and age, industry couldn't function properly without assistance from support workers fixing both computers and networks, while making recommendations to users on a day to day basis. The need for larger numbers of qualified personnel is growing, as we turn out to be consistently more dependent upon PC's in today's environment.

Student support is absolutely essential - look for a package that includes 24x7 access, as anything less will not satisfy and will also hold up your pace and restrict your intake. Look for training where you can access help at any time of day or night (no matter if it's in the middle of the night on a weekend!) Make sure it's always direct-access to qualified mentors and tutors, and not a message system as this will slow you down - waiting for tutors to call you back at a convenient time for them.

World-class organisations tend to use an online access 24x7 package involving many support centres across the globe. You will be provided with a single, easy-to-use interface which seamlessly selects the best facility available at any time of day or night: Support when you need it. Don't accept second best where support is concerned. The majority of IT hopefuls who throw in the towel, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).

Look at the points below in detail if you're inclined to think that old marketing ploy of a guarantee for your exam looks like a reason to buy:

We all know that we're ultimately paying for it - it's obviously been inserted into the gross price invoiced by the training provider. Certainly, it's not a freebie - and it's insulting that we're supposed to think it is! Trainees who take each progressive exam, paying for them just before taking them are far more likely to pass first time. They're conscious of their investment and take the necessary steps to be ready for the task.

Look for the very best offer you can at the time, and hang on to your cash. You'll also be able to choose where to do the examinations - so you can find somewhere local. Big margins are made by many companies who take the exam money up-front. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don't get to do their exams and so the company is quids-in. Astoundingly enough, providers exist who depend on students not taking their exams - as that's where a lot of their profit comes from. Most companies will insist on pre-tests and hold you back from re-takes until you've demonstrated an excellent ability to pass - which makes an 'Exam Guarantee' frankly useless.

Paying maybe a thousand pounds extra on an 'Exam Guarantee' is naive - when study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will get you through.

Beginning from the viewpoint that we need to home-in on the employment that excites us first, before we can ponder what career development program fulfils our needs, how can we choose the right direction? Flicking through long lists of different and confusing job titles is no use whatsoever. The vast majority of us have no concept what our own family members do for a living - so what chance do we have in understanding the ins and outs of a particular IT career. Achieving the right decision really only appears via a systematic examination across many varying key points:

* The sort of individual you consider yourself to be - what kind of jobs you get enjoyment from, and don't forget - what you hate to do.

* What length of time can you allocate for your training?

* What are your thoughts on job satisfaction vs salary?

* Understanding what the normal career areas and markets are - plus how they're different to each other.

* How much effort you're prepared to spend on obtaining your certification.

To completely side-step the industry jargon, and discover the best path to success, have an in-depth discussion with an industry expert and advisor; an individual that can impart the commercial reality while explaining the accreditations.

It only makes sense to consider study paths which will lead to commercially acknowledged accreditations. There's a plethora of small companies suggesting unknown 'in-house' certificates that are essentially useless when it comes to finding a job. If the accreditation doesn't feature a big-hitter like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA, then chances are it could have been a waste of time and effort - because no-one will recognise it.

(C) Jason Kendall. Try LearningLolly.com for excellent advice. Computer Training or Networking Certification.