Jobs | Job opportunities | Job Search Strategie – Interview Tips and writing a winning CV

Everybody is busy these days, and generally should we decide to learn a new profession, getting educated at the same time as holding down a job is the only option open to us. Training tracks certified by Microsoft can fill that gap. You might like to find a training advisor, who can give you some ideas on whereabouts in industry would be best, and the kind of tasks that are a good match for someone with your personality. When you’ve settled on the career path you want, a suitable training program needs to be singled out that’s goes with your ability level and skill set. You should expect to be offered a bespoke package for you.

Many training companies offer a Job Placement Assistance program, to help you into your first commercial role. But don’t place too much emphasis on it – it isn’t unusual for training companies to overplay it. The fact of the matter is, the still growing need for IT personnel in the United Kingdom is why employers will be interested in you.

Help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews should be offered (if not, see one of our sites for help). Make sure you update that dusty old CV immediately – not after you’ve qualified! Various junior support roles have been bagged by trainees who’re still on their course and have still to get qualified. This will at the very least get you on your way. Generally, a specialist independent regional recruitment consultant or service (who will get paid commission to place you) will perform better than any sector of a centralised training facility. It also stands to reason that they’ll be familiar with local industry and the area better.

A good number of men and women, so it seems, are prepared to study their hearts out (sometimes for years), and then just stop instead of looking for the right position. Sell yourself… Make an effort to get in front of employers. Don’t think a job’s just going to jump out in front of you.

Ensure all your exams are current and commercially required – you’re wasting your time with programs which end up with a useless in-house certificate or plaque. Unless your qualification is issued by a company like Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA or Adobe, then chances are it won’t be commercially viable – because it won’t give an employer any directly-useable skills.

Don’t forget: a training program or a certification is not what you’re looking for; the career that you want to end up in is. A lot of colleges seem to put too much weight in the qualification itself. You may train for one year and then end up doing the job for 20 years. Don’t make the error of finding what seems like a program of interest to you and then put 10-20 years into a job you don’t like!

It’s well worth a long chat to see what expectations industry may have of you. What particular exams they’ll want you to gain and how to gain experience. Spend some time considering how far you think you’ll want to progress your career as it will present a very specific set of accreditations. All students are advised to chat with experienced industry personnel before following a particular retraining course. This helps to ensure it has the required elements for that career path.

An effective training program will undoubtedly also offer accredited simulation materials and exam preparation packages. Ensure that the practice exams are not just posing the correct questions on the correct subjects, but also asking them in the exact format that the real exams will pose them. It throws students if the phraseology and format is completely different. For many reasons, it’s essential to be confident that you are completely prepared for your actual certification exam before taking it. Practicing simulated tests will help to boost your attitude and will avoid you getting frustrated with thwarted exam entries.

Many training providers only give support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later; It’s rare to find someone who offers late evening or full weekend cover. Many only provide email support (too slow), and phone support is often to a call-centre that will make some notes and then email an advisor – who’ll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, at a suitable time to them. This is not a lot of use if you’re stuck and can’t continue and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.

If you look properly, you’ll find professional companies which give students online support 24×7 – including evenings, nights and weekends. Never ever take second best where support is concerned. Many trainees who fall by the wayside, are in that situation because of a lack of support.