What Course Should I Choose?

[Pyroman]

Hey there,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

Anyways, my line manager just mentioned that my performance management is coming up and that he wants me to go on some sort of training course so that he can tick his boxes.

My question is, what courses are available and which do you advise?

For a bit of background info, i'm 19 i've been working in education for 2 years my first year was as an assistant ICT tech on a CC3 network but now i'm a lone ICT tech at a special needs school and we're using server 2003 which has been set up by the borough before i got here so i'm a total beginner when it comes to setting up/managing servers.

I don't have any formal ICT qualifications just the experience under my belt

I have seen the CompTIA A+ and N+ courses advertised, are these "real" or mickey mouse qualifications? I'm loooking for advancing my skills for if i stay in education but would also like something that counts in the "real world" lol

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated

Cheers, Pyro

[Joedetic]

As per many other threads on this, it really depends which area of IT you're wanting to go into. I'm also 19 but I'm at uni studying Network Engineering.

I'm part way through my CCNA and my CCNP at the moment. I've also done the Cisco IP Telephony and Network Security courses which are supplimentary to CCNA from what I was told by tutors.

If you're after getting qualified before your performance management (I'm assuming some kind of appraisal??) then you'll be pushed to get Cisco quals if it's soon because they're quite a long winded process of learning.

Unfortunately Cisco courses are the only ones I've had personal experience of so that's where my usefulness ends on this matter, other members on the forums might be able to give you some more information on courses such as MCSE and MSCA etc.

With regards to the A+ and N+ courses, yes they're real. They would be useful to have on your CV, most relavent qualifications are, the Cisco qualifications are quite highly thought of in industry from what I've seen. I'm in the process of searching for an industrial placement at the moment and there are a large number of companies that are asking that you have CCNA at least for some of the network placements.

[j17sparky]

As said yeah the + exams are real. But given the choice id go for a CCNA or a MCSA

[DSapseid]

I am 20 and have been here for nearly 3 years, staring of as junior techie and now basically network manager allthough that isnt my job title! I am going to be doing the Network+ hopefully after easter as my local college runs it at evening school. Will get this then hopefully start MCSE/MCSA in September.

I might also be going on an Oracle traing course that the school have been told we have as we were given sponsorship by them for our recent successfull specialsit schools status - not sure what its going to be on but have been told that its either in switzerland or florida.

[mattx]

I prefer Intercourse myself.....

[Pyroman]

Originally Posted by Joedetic

If you're after getting qualified before your performance management (I'm assuming some kind of appraisal??) then you'll be pushed to get Cisco quals if it's soon because they're quite a long winded process of learning.

Ah no, performance management is where I set targets for the future i don't need to have the qualification before it comes up as my meeting is tomorrow!#

Just need something to tell my manager i'm interested in going on.

[Joedetic]

Ah right. Well if you want to look into cisco have a look for your Regional Cisco Academy then get in touch with them to find out how much it costs. It's not cheap. Your school might be able to pay for some or maybe all of the course as part of CPD.

IIRC Webman is doing his CCNA but I don't know whether he's paying for it or his work etc.

[plexer]

A+ and N+ would be good to do.

Also Microsoft MCSA then onto MCSE or even just doing a server 2003 or windows xp course and take the exam to give you MCP for that product.

You can learn at your own pace using books or computer based training or go to a training provider and have an instructor teach you.

You then book an exam with microsoft testing partner £88 each and go sit it.

Ben

[Pyroman]

Thanks for your help everyone.

He's saying that the microsoft courses are "too specialised" as he did a MOS course for office XP which is now out of date and therefore if i go on a server 2003 course it'll be out of date in 2 years, nevermind the fact i need to manage the server NOW!

/rant

[tech_guy]

Originally Posted by mattx

I prefer Intercourse myself.....

[Ric_]

The CompTIA + exams are a good foundation and 'expire' less quickly than MCPs. You will also find that certain exams can be put forward as your elective for MCSA/MCSE which is a bonus!

If the MCPs are too specialist, these will also satisfy your line manager's desire to have a 'generic' exam. I do think that comparing an Office XP course with some of the MCPs is a little wrong mind!

[torledo]

Originally Posted by Pyroman

Hey there,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

Anyways, my line manager just mentioned that my performance management is coming up and that he wants me to go on some sort of training course so that he can tick his boxes.

My question is, what courses are available and which do you advise?

For a bit of background info, i'm 19 i've been working in education for 2 years my first year was as an assistant ICT tech on a CC3 network but now i'm a lone ICT tech at a special needs school and we're using server 2003 which has been set up by the borough before i got here so i'm a total beginner when it comes to setting up/managing servers.

I don't have any formal ICT qualifications just the experience under my belt

I have seen the CompTIA A+ and N+ courses advertised, are these "real" or mickey mouse qualifications? I'm loooking for advancing my skills for if i stay in education but would also like something that counts in the "real world" lol

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated

Cheers, Pyro

courses and certs are only part of of the recipe for success in the 'real world'.

Experience combined with strutured training is what counts....i'd recommend the usual suspects, CCNA or MCSA. But, thinking outside the box, this could be you're opportunity to start on the track to specialising in a discipline. You could be a network specialist (although that's a very broad area) or an Windows specialist, but that's a very competitive arena for comparatively modest rewards, instead have a look at some of the tracks that can command big bucks later down the line......

CCNA, MCSA does count in the real world but every man and his dog are doing those courses, look for something a bit more specialised to help you're CV stand out.

[mattx]

My question is, what courses are available and which do you advise?

Save yourself a load of time and money.
Get some second hand equipment, there are tons of switches / servers etc on E-bay - set it up, play with it, break it, re-build it. Best way, you learn more and its cheap and more fun.
CBT's are quite good at putting elements of self taught stuff into place - check out http://www.trainsignal.com/ for that.
There were no such thing as courses / training when I was at school when IT was first around - in fact in the end I was banned from the IT Room [ handful of BBC's ] for knowing more than the teacher.....