CompTIA A Plus Networking Training Examined
CompTIA A+ consists of 4 training sections; you’re considered A+ competent when you’ve passed the test for half of them. This is the reason that the majority of training establishments only have two of the courses on their syllabus. In reality you’re advised to have the information on each subject as industry will demand an understanding of the whole A+ program. You don’t have to take all four exams, but we would recommend you study for all four areas.
Training courses in A+ teach diagnostic techniques and fault-finding – via hands on and remote access, in addition to building, fixing, repairing and having knowledge of antistatic conditions.
Perhaps you see yourself as a man or woman who works for a larger company – in network support, you should include CompTIA Network+ to your training package, or alternatively look at doing an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft because it’s necessary to have a wider knowledge of the way networks work.
The age-old way of teaching, involving piles of reference textbooks, is usually pretty hard going. If all this is ringing some familiar bells, look for learning programmes that are on-screen and interactive.
Years of research and study has always verified that connecting physically with our study, is proven to produce longer-lasting and deeper memory retention.
You can now study via interactive discs. Through instructor-led video classes you’ll learn your subject through the demonstrations and explanations. Then you test your knowledge by interacting with the software and practicing yourself.
All companies should be able to show you a few samples of their courseware. You should hope for instructor-led videos and a variety of interactive modules.
You’ll find that many companies will only provide purely on-line training; sometimes you can get away with this – but, think what will happen when you don’t have access to the internet or you get slow speeds and down-time etc. It’s much safer to rely on DVD or CD discs that removes the issue entirely.
Don’t accept anything less than the current Microsoft (or relevant organisation’s) accredited exam simulation and preparation packages.
Make sure that the simulated exams aren’t just asking you the right questions on the right subjects, but additionally ask them in the way the real exams will ask them. This throws people if the questions are phrased in unfamiliar formats.
Mock exams can be very useful in helping you build your confidence – so when it comes to taking the proper exam, you won’t be worried.
An important area that is sometimes not even considered by trainees considering a training program is ‘training segmentation’. This is essentially how the program is broken down into parts to be delivered to you, which can make a dramatic difference to what you end up with.
Many companies enrol you into some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and send out each piece as you complete each exam. This sounds reasonable until you consider the following:
Maybe the order of study offered by the provider doesn’t suit. You may find it a stretch to finalise each and every section within the time limits imposed?
Ideally, you’d get ALL the training materials right at the beginning – giving you them all for the future to come back to – at any time you choose. This also allows you to vary the order in which you move through the program if you find another route more intuitive.
Does job security truly exist anymore? In the UK for instance, with industry changing its mind at alarming speeds, it seems increasingly unlikely.
Security only exists now in a rapidly increasing marketplace, fuelled by a shortfall of trained staff. It’s this alone that creates the correct background for a secure marketplace – a more attractive situation all round.
The Information Technology (IT) skills deficit in the United Kingdom is standing at approx 26 percent, as noted by the latest e-Skills survey. To put it another way, this highlights that the UK can only find three qualified staff for each four job positions that are available now.
Properly trained and commercially educated new employees are consequently at a total premium, and it seems it will continue to be so for a long time to come.
It’s unlikely if a better time or market circumstances is ever likely to exist for gaining qualification for this hugely expanding and developing sector.
Copyright Scott Edwards. Go to Comptia Certification or CLICK HERE.
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