Cerco IT Training and Recruitement

Discussion in 'Training & Development' started by Mathematix, May 13, 2007.

  1. Mathematix

    Mathematix Megabyte Poster

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    Just was watching CSI Miami after a good dose of CnC3 when an advert came on with these guys:

    http://www.cercotraining.co.uk/

    I don't know anything about these guys, so am not endorsing them. It might be an option for those looking for certs. :)
     
    Certifications: BSc(Hons) Comp Sci, BCS Award of Merit
    WIP: Not doing certs. Computer geek.
  2. zebulebu

    zebulebu Terabyte Poster

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    Plenty of warnings about them from various sources - just Google the name and you'll see what I mean.

    I think I've seen their ad before - is it the one where the people are shown in 'dead end' jobs then shown with a ridiculous strapline which says something like 'average pay for IT jobs is £38,000 pa'?

    LOL at these companies - although its not really funny - the number of times people post on these forums having been suckered in by them is heartbreaking.

    Thanks for the heads-up though fella
     
    Certifications: A few
    WIP: None - f*** 'em
  3. Mathematix

    Mathematix Megabyte Poster

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    No problem, mate. I'm glad that someone knew about them before people go and waste their money! :D
     
    Certifications: BSc(Hons) Comp Sci, BCS Award of Merit
    WIP: Not doing certs. Computer geek.
  4. theskillsgap

    theskillsgap New Member

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    have a good look at what you are signing up for here, its a lot of money for a city and guilds...

    a certified cerco network engineer ie, ccne looks awfully recognisable and ever so slightly misleading to the undeducation...

    maybe something to do with the hybrid MCSE-CCNA they've tried out.

    I don't know any employer that would recognise this...also watch out for the option to undertake the MCSE....its not a specialism of Cerco,


    fixing printers is however...if you fancy that..crack on and fill yer boots.

    Look for a company that is officially recognised as a technical and..authorised training deliverer for a vendor, ie, Microsoft or Cisco Academy then vet the trainers to make sure the bloke in front of you is over qualified...

    oh ...and stay well clear of any salesmen... good luck to you fella....by the way JBC function along the same lines...buyer beware:ohmy

    cheers

    Justin
     
  5. Mac

    Mac New Member

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    Just seen this thread on Cerco IT Training and Recruitment, a very close friend of mine attended one of their course's with the view to starting a new career in I.T.

    He was given the " Focused on securing you a real entry level role in the IT support industry, this means a genuine PAID position with a reputable company utilizing the skills gained throughout your CCSN training. and

    Genuine permanent, short and long term contract job opportunities nationwide

    A team of specialist recruitment consultants working on your behalf committed to securing your first role and providing further support throughout your career" This is according to Cerco.

    So my friend paid his £4000 and attended the course where apparently they are given "Online Practice Exams" at the beginning of weeks 2,3 and 4 in preparation for each weeks final exam. You can easily establish the correct answers as you are advised at the end of each exam which answers are incorrect. Very similar I believe to the Mike Meyers Comptia A+ Practice Exams However all of the questions within each practice exam are also in that weeks final so in theory all you have to do is to keep practicing the exam until you hit the required pass rate and then take the final. From my understanding most people achieve at least 80% scores so it comes as no surprise that employers laugh Cerco candidates out the door.

    As for finding work, my friend got three weeks contract work and that was that the Cerco recruitment team are unlike any that I have ever known, they constantly fail to return calls or e-mails and do not appear to be interested unless you live in London or Birmingham.

    So my advice to any one thinking of attending the Cerco course ask them to prove there claims on finding you suitable employment. My advice would be to ask of the last 50 candidates how many did Cerco place with employers, and do not fall for their favorite line that most of the candidates found their own work as this is very probably inaccurate.

    So buy be warned unless you live in London or Birmingham you will get as much satisfaction from putting your money on a fire then you will from signing up for Cerco
     
  6. DAVEY-D

    DAVEY-D New Member

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    how succered do i feel i just forked out 4k, and am due to start the fast track course on jan 7th in crewe.
    surely there's some good feedback from cerco students but its a bit thin on the ground,

    please can anyone relieve me of my anxiety i have remorgaged the house to get the money.
     
  7. alsav54

    alsav54 New Member

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    Hi Davey-D , I was almost on the verge of signing on the same Cerco course as you in Crewe but in April 2008 ,but reading this forum has put me right off the idea.Can you give us any feedback on how you got on.
    Would Appreciate any help from anyone who can recommend any good training courses "It's my first step into IT" £4000 a hell of a lot of money to me I need to spend it wisely.
     
  8. jon2k24

    jon2k24 New Member

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    I have been trying to break into the IT industry for the letter part of 12 months researching and thinking about what exact career route or direction to take to get my foot through the door.
    After about 6-7 months of researching jobs, courses, apprenterships etc. I was dead set on getting breaking in through a network support/technician route.
    I didn't have anything higher that an Intermediate GNVQ in ICT which put me off the studying IT, this was because my asociasion with it was through my own curiosity with the way in which a computer operated.

    Sorry to be long winded but I feel I should explain my situation clearly because this site has help me allot in the past

    I got my first real break when I was offered a free course with JBC computer training Ltd in June of this year, this was based on my fact that I was in receipt of a state benefits(I don't know there criteria for state benefits applies).
    this was a six week course that help me a lot because there focused was not on training you to how to get a job in the network support sector of employment- Cv writing basic client admin on server 2003, some active directory work, hardware+software fault finding, and a little intro to Cisco at the end of. The basic for this six week course was to get me to the next step toward were in want to be.

    I have managed to work on my CV writing and interview skill and have to offers at the moment and three choices. Sign up with Cerco It training and REDTRAY.

    They are similar to me in a number of ways based on my under standing I have gained through me research; they both want you to pay for the training that they provide you
    They say you will be employed with one of there sister companies, in Cerco's case they of the added option of perm ant employment of contract work. REDTRAY is attractive because they are new the providing training on a consumer level because they main aim is to fill the current demand etc., but I also like the fact they I am going to be studying to join an organization that handles projects such as customizing database's for government sector clients.
    Both attractive offers ONLY if the lead me some-were Cerco is asking for around £4000 and REDTRAY is asking for around £3500.
    My other option is to continue on state benefits and keep looking for a part time Job that allows me to survive while studying for my access to computing

    Any help advice would be greatly appreciated
     
  9. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    Looking back through your posts, it seems that you're trying to look for a training company to do all the heavy lifting for you. What you need to do is put down the training brochures and start pounding the pavement looking for entry-level IT jobs. The only company that can guarantee you a job is the company that has a job to offer you.
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  10. sn00

    sn00 New Member

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    Today I met the Cerco training and almost made a mistake by signing with them, but luckily I searched this forum and now I clearly see what I need to do to start my career in IT (as I decided that that's what I want to do in life, it took me 10 years of thinking :D ). In my opinion training providers are just for improvement when you're already in the industry and not for starting. For starting will be enough to get some recommended literature and if something is unclear just use the forums. Pass entry level exams find entry level position and move on. That's the plan.

    P.S. I canceled also the meeting with Dynamics IT for the same reasons.

    P.P.S. please read carefully this forum before you spend lots of money as you can avoid that. Good luck!
     
  11. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    That is indeed a good plan! :thumbleft
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  12. Srcowny

    Srcowny New Member

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    Hi guys

    i am also looking into training with Cerco. i have been thinking about it for a while deciding should i do it or not. £4000 is a lot of money. i have spoken to them and they have said that because of my location it would be difficult but not impossible to get me a job. i am very close to taking them up on their training as i am going nowhere very very slowly in my current job. i even asked the magic 8 ball and its answer was negative lol. any help please

    thanks
     
  13. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    The Magic 8 Ball is wise, indeed.
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  14. Daveyb

    Daveyb New Member

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    Hi Guys

    I am in a situation whereby my friend has recommended I sign up to the Cerco Training scheme. He currently has finished his training course and is now working for the Carphone Warehouse under contract from Cerco earning £80 a day. I have recently graduated with a 3rd in business and have not had any luck with a job and has left me with few avenues to go down because my grade is poor. I have a stable job at the moment at EON ENERGY call center with little prospects which is why I am considering Cerco but I stumbled upon this forum and some other bad news stories and now I'm having second thoughts. I have an open day on Thursday in London but I'm not sure what to do now £4000 is a lot of money and I don't want to fork out that sort of cash and get nothing at the end of it and I certainly don't want to give up the job I have to work for Cerco for 6 months then not be able to get anymore work. Any advice would be good.

    David
     
  15. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    Well, you can do it or not do it - ultimately the decision on what you do with your life and money is yours.

    However, I would say that your friend was probably 'lucky' to get what he did out of it, so you might want to keep that in mind.

    But once again, the real warning bells in all of the posts we have on this particular subject is that the candidates are all pretty much under the impression that they are buying themselves a better job. Worse than that, they are accepting the fact that it's a bit of a lottery. Everyone seems to say 'oh, £4k is a lot of money, but they tell me that afterwards I'll be earning £28k, but I might not be so I'll have paid my money for nothing.'

    You're not buying a raffle ticket, you're buying a training course.

    Why has nobody asked if their training is any good? Has anyone seen their facilities, their training material?
    It just strikes me that everone is approaching this from the wrong angle.

    So everyone wants a better job.
    There's a tried and tested way of doing that.
    You work hard at what you do, you study - by all means go do some training - you improve your skillset, you network and you apply for better jobs.

    As BM said, you don't just pay someone to do the heavy lifting for you and close your eyes and hope for the best. That really isn't the mental attitude that is going to get you places.

    8)
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCTS, i-Net+, CIW CI, Prince2, MSP, MCSD
  16. dmarsh
    Honorary Member 500 Likes Award

    dmarsh Petabyte Poster

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    Totally agree with JonnyMX, nobody can do it for you, train hard everyday, excell at something you enjoy, and if you're lucky someone will pay you to do it.

    Ideally you want to aim to be constantly in the top 10% of your peers, nobody wants second best.

    Trying to 'buy yourself a job' is fairly unethical and probably not effective 99% of the time, even if it were effective, as a student with no money why do you think such a system would benefit you ? Rich people would just buy themselves the best jobs.

    Your best bet is to use your natural abilities and develop them however you can through hard work, books are cheap, free even if you have a library card...
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2009
  17. soundian

    soundian Gigabyte Poster

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    I'd save yourself 4K and start looking for entry-level jobs now while starting to self-study.
    Without realising it, you already have what most companies are looking for in a helpdesk tech: Call centre experience.
    So stick with your job, brush up your CV and start applying while you investigate the self-study options.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+,MCDST,MCTS(680), MCP(270, 271, 272), ITILv3F, CCENT
    WIP: Knuckling down at my new job

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