Congratulations! Discovering this piece proves you must be contemplating your career, and if training for a new career’s in your mind then you’ve already got further than most others. Can you believe that a small minority of us are satisfied and happy at work – but the majority won’t do a thing about it. We implore you to break free and make a start – don’t you think you deserve it.
We’d recommend that prior to beginning any individual training program, you discuss your plans with a person who can see the bigger picture and can make recommendations. They can look at aspects of your personality and give you guidance on the right role for you:
* Do you see yourself dealing with people? Would that be with a small ‘tightly-knit’ team or with a lot of new people? Maybe working on your own with your own methodology may be your preference?
* Building and Banking are not coping well at the moment, so think carefully about the sector that would suit you best?
* Once you’ve qualified, are you hoping your new skills will give you the ability to see you to retirement age?
* Would you like your training course to be in an area where you believe you’ll remain employable until your pension kicks in?
The biggest industry in the UK that fulfils the above criteria is Information Technology. There is a requirement for greater numbers of qualified staff in IT, simply have a look at a local jobsite and you will find them yourself. Don’t let people tell you it’s only geeky nerds sitting in front ofscreens all day – there’s a lot more to it than that. Large numbers of the people in the computer industry are just like you and me, and they have very interesting and well paid jobs.
Many certification companies are still maintaining the slightly musty old method of in-centre classes. Usually touted as a major benefit, after discussion with someone who has first-hand experience, you’ll find them listing some or all of the following problems:
* Lots of round journeys – often hundreds of miles each and every time.
* Asking for frequent time off work – many training providers will only provide availability during weekdays – typically grouping 2 or 3 days together. This is generally difficult for those of us who work for a living, and it’s made more problematic if you include the travel time on top.
* Lost annual leave – most IT hopefuls are given only twenty days of leave annually. If over half of it is swallowed up by study workshops, vacation time is going to be quite short for students and their families.
* Training events fill up fast and can be very crammed in.
* Workshop pace – workshops usually consist of students of varied skill, consequently tension can run high between students with more background knowledge and the ones who need a little longer.
* Let’s not disregard the added expense of driving or bed and breakfast for the night either. This may well run to many hundreds of pounds more – sometimes thousands. Take some time to add it all up – it’ll shock and surprise you.
* You should never risk the chance of letting yourself be overlooked for a lift up the ladder or pay-rises because you’re getting trained in a different area.
* Posing questions in front of other class-mates will often make any one of us feel nervous. Have you ever left a question un-asked just because you didn’t want to look foolish?
* Living away for part of your working week – a lot of students have to work or live away for part of the program. Events are very difficult then, unfortunately the monies have already been handed over as part of your fees.
It would be better to simply watch and study with industry specialists one-to-one through pre-made modules, studying them when it suits you – not somebody else.
Think… If you’ve got a notebook PC you have the ability to learn in any location you choose. And 24×7 support is an online click away if you hit challenges.
All the lessons can be repeated at any time you need to brush up – memory is aided by repetition. And note-taking is a thing of the past – it’s already laid on for you.
Essentially: You save money, avoid hassle, don’t waste time and avoid polluting the environment.
Considering the amount of options that are available, is it any wonder that the majority of trainees don’t really understand the best career path they will follow.
Because in the absence of any previous experience in the IT industry, in what way could we understand what someone in a particular job does?
Arriving at the right conclusion will only come from a meticulous analysis of several varying key points:
* Which type of person you consider yourself to be – what kind of jobs you really enjoy, plus of course – what you definitely don’t enjoy.
* Are you aiming to pull off a specific aim – for instance, working from home as quickly as possible?
* Your earning needs you may have?
* Considering the huge variation that computing covers, it’s a requirement that you can understand how they differ.
* What effort, commitment and time you’ll commit the training program.
The best way to avoid all the jargon and confusion, and uncover the best route for you, have an informal chat with an industry expert and advisor; an individual who understands the commercial reality as well as each accreditation.
(C) 2009. Navigate to LearningLolly.com for logical tips on Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools LE Training.