A useful feature that many training companies provide is a Job Placement Assistance program. This is designed to steer you into your first IT role. In reality it isn't so complicated as you might think to get employment - assuming you're well trained and qualified; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.

Bring your CV up to date as soon as possible however - you should get plenty of help from your training provider on this. Don't delay till you've finished your exams. Having the possibility of an interview is more than not being regarded at all. Many junior support jobs are given to trainees who are still at an early stage in their studies. You can usually expect quicker results from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than you'll experience from any training company's centralised service, as they'll know local industry and the area better.

To bottom line it, if you put as much hard work into finding a job as into studying, you're not going to hit many challenges. Some people curiously conscientiously work through their training and studies and just give up once qualified and would appear to think that businesses will just discover them.

For you to successfully attain your MCSA accreditation, there are actually four MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) exams you need to pass. There are actually three required 'core' examinations, and a fourth 'elective' exam. The CompTIA Security+ is actually acknowledged as an 'elective' examination, & has grown increasingly popular with all trainees for various reasons. The MCSE comprises of 7 'MCP' exams, that represent the extra importance placed on organisational Security, systems planning and network design.

Today, you'll find hardly any 'Windows' 'NT' server installations still left, yet there are even now quite a number remaining at server '2000'. The majority of companies still work on Windows 2003, though 'Windows' 08 is building-pace. This being so, the principle MS qualifications remain largely centred on 'Windows' Server 2003. Whilst the Microsoft MCSA and 'MCSE' certifications have been around for a number of years now, (keeping up with 'Windows' server through its progressions,) the MCSA '2003' and MCSE 2003 remain the main-stay of current MS Network certification. Since upgrade instruction for Server 08 is also accessible however, its beneficial to cover this also.

A sneaky way that training providers make more money is via an 'exam inclusive' package and offering an exam guarantee. It looks impressive, till you look at the facts:

Obviously it isn't free - you're still being charged for it - the cost has just been rolled into the whole training package. People who enter their exams one by one, funding them as they go are much better placed to get through first time. They're thoughtful of their spending and take the necessary steps to be ready for the task.

Isn't it outrageous to have to pay the training college in advance for exams? Hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take the exam, rather than pay marked up fees - and do it locally - instead of miles away at the college's beck and call. What's the point in paying early for exam fees when there's absolutely nothing that says you have to? Big margins are netted by organisations charging upfront for all their exams - and then cashing in when they're not all taken. It's also worth noting that 'Exam Guarantees' often aren't worth the paper they're written on. The majority of companies will not pay for you to re-take until you've completely satisfied them that you're ready this time.

Exam fees averaged 112 pounds or thereabouts in the last 12 months through Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra to get 'an Exam Guarantee', when any student knows that the responsible approach is consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software.

With the appropriate high quality of training-materials & 24 hour support, and also an authorised examination preparation software, an 'MCSA' should take approximately 300 to maybe three hundred and fifty hours to complete, and an 'MCSE' around 500 - 550 hrs. When you've got some experience you might reasonably study in your free time and attain your qualifications in under a year. With no past experience it could be imprudent to leap straight in. The CompTIA 'A+' & 'N+' need to be considered as the starting-place. You can find details of these training-tracks on the CompTIA pages of this site. Add-on roughly 200 hrs of training time, which is likely to take no less than 6 months part time.

Microsoft MCSE Networking Home-Based Multimedia Career Training Courses >>