There are actually 4 different sectors in the full CompTIA A+ syllabus, of which 2 passes are needed for your A+ qualification. However only learning about 2 of the specialised areas might well not equip you for a job. Try to cover all four – for greater confidence in the world of work.

In addition to learning how to build and fix computers, students on A+ courses will have instruction on how to work in antistatic conditions, along with remote access, fault finding and diagnostics.

If you would like to be a man or woman who works for a larger company – fixing and supporting networks, build on A+ with Network+, or consider an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft to give you a wider knowledge of how networks work.

Students will sometimes miss checking on something of absolutely vital importance – how their training provider divides up the physical training materials, and into how many separate packages.

Often, you will join a program staged over 2 or 3 years and get posted one section at a time – from one exam to the next. This sounds logical on one level, until you consider this:

It’s not unusual for trainees to realise that their training company’s standard order of study isn’t ideal for them. You may find that a slightly different order suits them better. And what if you don’t get to the end inside of the expected timescales?

To be in the best situation you would have all the training materials packed off to you immediately; the whole caboodle! This prevents any future issues from rising that will affect the reaching of your goals.

Many men and women are under the impression that the traditional school, college or university path is still the most effective. Why then is commercial certification becoming more in demand?

As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, the IT sector has been required to move to specific, honed-in training only available through the vendors themselves – in other words companies like Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA. Frequently this is at a far reduced cost both money and time wise.

Vendor training works through concentrating on the particular skills that are needed (alongside a relevant amount of related knowledge,) instead of trawling through all the background ‘padding’ that degree courses often do – to pad out the syllabus.

It’s rather like the advert: ‘It does what it says on the label’. All an employer has to do is know what they need doing, and then match up the appropriate exam numbers as a requirement. That way they can be sure they’re interviewing applicants who can do the job.

Some training providers supply a practical Job Placement Assistance service, to assist your search for your first position. Don’t get overly impressed with this service – it isn’t unusual for eager sales people to overplay it. At the end of the day, the still growing need for IT personnel in the UK is the reason you’ll find a job.

One important thing though, don’t wait till you have passed your final exams before polishing up your CV. As soon as you start a course, list what you’re working on and get promoting!

It’s possible that you won’t have even taken your exams when you land your first junior support role; yet this can’t and won’t happen unless you’ve posted your CV on job sites.

The top companies to get you a new position are most often independent and specialised local recruitment services. Because they make their money when they’ve found you a job, they have the necessary incentive to try that bit harder.

A common grievance for various course providers is how hard people are prepared to work to become certified, but how little effort that student will then put into getting the job they’ve trained for. Don’t give up when the best is yet to come.

Traditional teaching in classrooms, utilising reference manuals and books, is often a huge slog for most of us. If you’re nodding as you read this, dig around for more practical courses which feature interactive and multimedia modules.

Learning psychology studies show that much more of what we learn in remembered when we involve as many senses as possible, and we get physically involved with the study process.

Modern training can now be done at home via easy-to-use DVD or CD ROM’s. Instructor-led tutorials will mean you’ll learn your subject via the expert demonstrations. Then you test your knowledge by interacting with the software and practicing yourself.

Every company that you look at should be able to show you a few examples of the materials provided for study. You should hope for instructor-led videos and a wide selection of interactive elements.

It doesn’t make sense to opt for on-line only training. Because of the variable quality and reliability of most broadband providers, you should always obtain CD or DVD ROM based materials.