| Congratulations! As you're looking at this we guess | | | | Why would you want to throw away any job |
| you must be considering retraining for a new career - | | | | advancement, income boosts or accomplishment in |
| so already you've made a start. Only one in ten of us | | | | your job while you're training. When your boss |
| are satisfied with our careers, but most just moan | | | | discovers that you're undertaking accreditation in a |
| and do nothing about it. You could be a member of | | | | different industry, what will they think? |
| the few who decide to make the change. | | | | * Surely, all of us at some time have avoided putting |
| We'd recommend that prior to beginning a training | | | | our hand's up, because we wanted to fit in? |
| course, you chat with an expert who knows the | | | | * Where students have to on occasion live or work |
| industry and can give you advice. The right person | | | | away from home, consider the added problems of |
| will be able to assess your personal likes and dislikes | | | | travelling to the required events, as time becomes |
| and help you sort out a role to fit you: | | | | even more scarce. |
| * Is it your preference to work in isolation or perhaps | | | | The perfect situation is to watch a pre-made |
| being around others is more important to you? | | | | workshop - providing direct instruction any time of |
| * What elements are you looking for from the area | | | | the day that suits. If anything comes up, get onto |
| of industry you choose? (Building and banking - not | | | | the live 24x7 support (that we hope you'll insist on |
| so stable as they once were.) | | | | with any technical courses.) Don't forget, if you've |
| * And how many years do you want to get out of | | | | got a laptop, study isn't restricted to the home or |
| your retraining, and will the market sector give you | | | | office. You have the ability to come back to any of |
| the confidence that will happen? | | | | the study units as many times as you need to. And |
| * Do you feel uncomfortable with regard to your | | | | of course, you don't have to scribble any notes |
| chances of new employment opportunities, and being | | | | because the class is available whenever you want it. |
| gainfully employed right up to retirement? | | | | Could it be simpler: A lot of money is saved and you |
| Pay attention to the IT sector, that's our best advice | | | | avoid all the travelling; plus you have a far more |
| - unusually, it's one of the sectors of industry still | | | | peaceful learning atmosphere. |
| growing in the UK and Europe. Salaries are also more | | | | We can guess that you're quite practically minded - a |
| generous than most. | | | | 'hands-on' individual. Usually, the world of book-reading |
| A major candidate for the biggest issue to be got | | | | and classrooms would be considered as a last resort, |
| round in IT training is often the 'in-centre' workshop | | | | but it doesn't suit your way of doing things. You |
| requirement. Many trainers harp on about the plus | | | | should use video and multimedia based materials if |
| points of attending, but most students end up finding | | | | book-based learning really isn't your style. Many years |
| them a major problem because of: | | | | of research has consistently shown that becoming |
| * Masses of travelling to and from the workshop | | | | involved with our studies, to utilise all our senses, is |
| centre - often quite a distance away. | | | | much more conducive to long-term memory. |
| * For those of us that work, then Monday to Friday | | | | Programs are now found in the form of CD and DVD |
| events are hard to attend. You're usually contending | | | | ROM's, where your computer becomes the centre of |
| with 2-3 days at a time as well. | | | | your learning. Using video-streaming, you will be able |
| * Holiday days lost - the majority of IT hopefuls only | | | | to see the instructor presenting exactly how it's all |
| get 4 weeks annual leave. If you use up half of that | | | | done, and then have a go at it yourself - in an |
| with study events, that isn't going to leave much | | | | interactive lab. Don't take any chances and look at |
| vacation time for students and their families. | | | | some of the typical study materials provided before |
| * Training classes usually become overly large as well. | | | | you make your decision. You should expect video |
| * Some trainees lean towards a pace that is different | | | | tutorials, instructor demo's and interactive modules |
| to the other class members. This can create classic | | | | with audio-visual elements. |
| classroom tension. | | | | Often, companies will only use purely on-line training; |
| * A lot of attendees talk of the high costs involved | | | | and although this is okay the majority of the time, |
| with getting transport to and from the centre whilst | | | | consider how you'll deal with it if your access to the |
| paying for accommodation and food gets very | | | | internet is broken or you only get very a very slow |
| expensive. | | | | connection sometimes. It's preferable to have |
| * Keeping your training private from your employer | | | | physical CD or DVD discs that removes the issue |
| can be high on the list of priorities to many trainees. | | | | entirely. |