Considering an MCSE? It’s very possible then that you’re in one of two situations: You could already be in IT and you want to enhance your CV with an MCSE. Alternatively you could be completely new to commercial IT, but it’s apparent to you that there’s a growing demand for qualified people.
When researching training companies, steer clear of those who cut costs by not upgrading their courses to the latest version from Microsoft. Overall, this will cost the student much more as they will have been educated in an outdated MCSE program which will have to be revised pretty much straight away.
Stay away from organisations who are just trying to sell you something. You deserve time, expertise and advice to be sure you’re taking the right decisions. Guard against being rushed into some generic product by a second-rate college.
Charging for examination fees as an inclusive element of the package price then giving it ‘Exam Guarantee’ status is a common method with a good many training companies. However, let’s consider what’s really going on:
You’ll pay for it one way or another. You can be assured it’s not a freebie – it’s simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole.
Should you seriously need to pass in one, then you should pay for one exam at a time, give it the priority it deserves and give the task sufficient application.
Sit the exam at a local pro-metric testing centre and find the best exam deal or offer available then.
Considerable numbers of questionable training course providers net big margins because they’re asking for all the exam fees up-front and hoping that you won’t take them all.
It’s also worth noting that you should consider what an ‘exam guarantee’ really means. Many training companies won’t be prepared to pay for re-takes until you can prove to them you’re ready to pass.
Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is short-sighted – when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is what will get you through.
At the top of your shopping list for a training program should be proper direct-access 24×7 support via dedicated instructors and mentors. So many companies we come across only provide office hours (or extended office hours) support.
Never buy study programmes that only provide support to students with an out-sourced call-centre message system outside of normal office hours. Companies will give you every excuse in the book why you don’t need this. The bottom line is – you want to be supported when you need the help – not at their convenience.
The most successful trainers incorporate three or four individual support centres across multiple time-zones. Online access provides the interactive interface to seamlessly link them all, any time of the day or night, help is just a click away, avoiding all the delays and problems.
Never make the mistake of compromise where support is concerned. The majority of students who can’t get going properly, just need the right support system.
Ignore a salesperson who recommends a training program without performing a ‘fact-find’ to gain understanding of your current abilities plus your level of experience. Always check they have access to a large stable of training programs so they’re able to solve your training issues.
Where you have a strong background, or even a touch of commercial experience (some certifications gained previously perhaps?) then it’s likely the point from which you begin your studies will be different from a trainee who has no experience.
For students embarking on IT studies as a new venture, it can be useful to break yourself in gently, kicking off with user-skills and software training first. This can be built into most accreditation programs.
Your training program should always include the latest Microsoft (or relevant organisation’s) authorised exam preparation packages.
Students regularly can find themselves confused by practicing questions for their exams that don’t come from authorised sources. Quite often, the terminology in the real exams is unfamiliar and you need to be ready for this.
Practice exams can be invaluable in helping you build your confidence – so that when you come to take the real thing, you won’t be worried.
(C) Jason Kendall. Try LearningLolly.com for clear career tips. Computer Training or MCSE Course.
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