My path to I.T training

Discussion in 'Training & Development' started by richsps, Oct 12, 2004.

  1. richsps

    richsps Bit Poster

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    Hi all,
    i thought it may be useful to share my experiences of the last 3 weeks to any one wanting some i.t. training.
    £ weeks ago i was told i would be veing made redundant by P+O Ferries. I will probably be out of work by March. Right i thought, bit of time to finally get off my but and do some training. Just the push i needed.
    I love touring cars and saw an advert for Computeach. Got the DVD pack and rounds pops the course advisor (salesman). CIW it is for me then. I have my own website, they can get me into work by March and all looked rosey.
    £4200. :ohmy Hmmmm
    Thought i would do some research. Glad i did. Can't say that after looking on more than 10 forums, anyone had anything good to say. Some friends who are in the industry have said that the market is flooded with web designers. Having built my own PC they recommend being an engineer of some kind. Companies will always want engineers.
    I heard and was advised about a company called NITLC. Again round pops the sales man and gives me a whole different spill to what the other guy did. Try the MCSA route with A+ and Network +. £2600?
    Or MCSE with CISCO - £3900?
    Again i did some research.
    The same course with Computeach - £10500! :eek:
    Better future prospects with an engineers course with the advantage to spiecialise in security latter on. Thanks for the advise NITLC guy.
    conclusion:
    • Computeach - BAD
    • NITLC - Good but expensive
    • Learning yourself - Cheapest but most commited
    It's all fun and games thats for sure. Just hoping i dont finish with a £4000 bit of paper.
    Rich M
     
  2. Phoenix
    Honorary Member

    Phoenix 53656e696f7220 4d6f64

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    my gosh
    10.5K??
    omg, for that price you could goto one of those little 'training retreats'

    picturesque log cabin campus, your own room, full board, all meals/drinks supplied, flights included, 4 week stay
    somewhere up in the rockys

    saw the classroom too, top of the line modern kit, interactive whiteboards, projectors, server pods assigned to each student

    very nice

    i think that worked out at a little over 6K GBP

    lol

    which route did you take matE? the full MCSE/CCNA? or the MCSA? i would recommend doing that first as A+ and N+ will have stuff you wont pick up in much detail during the MCSE, even though youc ould likely pass it anyway
     
    Certifications: MCSE, MCITP, VCP
    WIP: > 0
  3. richsps

    richsps Bit Poster

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    10k did make me chuckle. Not to the salesmans ammusment. He never called back though . . . . .
    Gone the MCSE route because i feel that could leed to better job prospects in the long run. Im led to belive the courses are the same with the MCSE and CISCO parts stuck on the end. Could be wrong though.
     
  4. christof

    christof Nibble Poster

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    I had the same thing with computeach. Decided to go it alone sort of.

    Starting off with A+, just working through my bible now! and I also found this site, an invaluable find as well it was.

    Any how I've terrorised a few people here with questions and such, and can honestly say I'm glad I found this place, not just for the help and knowledge, of which there is plenty around, but also for the criac ( spelling!! )

    I would advise you to bookmark us, and I extend a hand to you and say welcome[​IMG]

    Also there is an A+ quiz tonight in the forum at around 9:30ish I think. If you have a quick look at one of the other post you'll find a bit more info.
     
    Certifications: certificate of life!!!
    WIP: A+
  5. Phoenix
    Honorary Member

    Phoenix 53656e696f7220 4d6f64

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    well thats good, the MCSE is really just a few more exams over the MCSA
    but the cisco bit will be a whole new ball lol
     
    Certifications: MCSE, MCITP, VCP
    WIP: > 0
  6. richsps

    richsps Bit Poster

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    So i gather. A bit to go yet though.
    Will pop over to the quiz later.
     
  7. michael78

    michael78 Terabyte Poster

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    I would stick to doing it yourself mate. At the end of the day £4000 is a lot of money and you would have to fail the exam 40ish times to spend £4000. Get a good A+ and Network+ book and start them first then when you have learnt and done those exams move onto the MCSA and the MCSE (you get an MCSA on the way to doing an MCSE anyway). Your mates in the industry are right about web designing it is flooded so it's very difficult to get a job in that area. If you do still want to go for web designing make sure you learn something like Java, ASP or my favourite PHP as you need to be able to do more than just knock websites up.
     
    Certifications: A+ | Network+ | Security+ | MCP | MCDST | MCTS: Hyper-V | MCTS: AD | MCTS: Exchange 2007 | MCTS: Windows 7 | MCSA: 2003 | ITIL Foundation v3 | CCA: Xenapp 5.0 | MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator on Windows 7 | MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician on Windows 7
    WIP: Online SAN Overview, VCP in December 2011
  8. richsps

    richsps Bit Poster

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    i've been doing a lot of thinking over the last few days and i am liking the idea of doing it my self a lot. Does any one know a good a+ and network+ book, cost and exam costs. I think these are the basics of getting on the I.T road and could fund them now.
     
  9. michael78

    michael78 Terabyte Poster

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    richsps, personally I used Sybex Deluxe A+ and Sybex Deluxe Network+ books which I found excellent and they came with some good tests on CD. I've also heard Mike Myers books are excellent as well (It's just down to reading preference). Cheapest place for books is either amazon.co.uk or compman.co.uk

    As for exams they are about £100 each for the A+ exams (of which there are two) and £150 for the Network+ exam. I found a website that sells discounted vouchers (http://www.examvouchers.com/) which only work for Pearson VUE test centres (http://www.vue.com/) check to see if there is a test centre in your area. I got my A+ exams for around £60 each and my Network+ exam for about £80 so you can save a load. The discounted vouchers site only accepts $ but if you have a credit card then most don't charge to convert from £ to $. The site is legit believe me. Also if you do intend to use the site make sure you buy vouchers for Europe and not USA. Once you buy your voucher all you have to do is ring Pearsons up and give them the voucher code to book your exam at your nearest test centre.

    Hope this helps...:D
     
    Certifications: A+ | Network+ | Security+ | MCP | MCDST | MCTS: Hyper-V | MCTS: AD | MCTS: Exchange 2007 | MCTS: Windows 7 | MCSA: 2003 | ITIL Foundation v3 | CCA: Xenapp 5.0 | MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator on Windows 7 | MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician on Windows 7
    WIP: Online SAN Overview, VCP in December 2011
  10. noelg24

    noelg24 Terabyte Poster

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    always better to learn yourself..I think cos they know IT is so demanding that they can rip people off with so much money...I mean who has £10.5K sitting in their pocket doing nothing? they expect us to pay that money and then make us think we can earn that back within 2 months! yeah right...self study is the way to go...richsps...I use a book called A+ Complete Stduy Guide by David Groth but everyone else will tell you that Mike Meyers is the daddy...so check it out at Waterstones if there is one near you or go to www.amazon.co.uk
     
    Certifications: A+
    WIP: my life
  11. AndyL

    AndyL Nibble Poster

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    I did MCSE with NITLC and firmly believe that I could have done it without them. (Not their fault, I paid the money but didn't use them except for the 210 workshop) It takes commitment and hard work though.
     
    Certifications: MCSE 2000,2K3,MCSA:M 2000, MCSA 2K3
    WIP: Painting the doorframes.
  12. richsps

    richsps Bit Poster

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    God this is really doing my nut in!
    Right while waiting for my CDL to be decided by Barclays i am going to plod down to my local big book shop and read parts of these A+ books and network + books to see if i understand them my self. I'm sure help and advice is available if i get stuck. :blink
    By my calculations and by passing first time A+ and Network + should cost about £440. A superior small chunk of £4000. If i dont like it or dont understand it, i have not commited to an expensive course.
    I live in Portsmouth, does anyone know where the nearest exam centre is? Or are they done on-line?
    Thanks for all your advice guys, you seem to be saving me a near fortune. :p
     
  13. Jakamoko
    Honorary Member

    Jakamoko On the move again ...

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    Have a look at VUE and Prometric for info on test centres.


    And btw, CertForums Rules state that 50% of money you save as a result of advice from these Boards should be donated to the Moderators' Beer Fund :biggrin
     
    Certifications: MCP, A+, Network+
    WIP: Clarity
  14. Bull Gates

    Bull Gates Byte Poster

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    lol @ JAK!!!
    Best Luck for ur MCSE mate n study hard n give ur 100%.
    I guess its not so tuff, 1 jes needs to be disciplined.
     
    Certifications: MCP
    WIP: MCSE
  15. Phoenix
    Honorary Member

    Phoenix 53656e696f7220 4d6f64

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    it does?

    what about all the money i have saved by giving advice on these boards?
    i tell ya, sure keeps me busy and away from the pub!

    lol :)
     
    Certifications: MCSE, MCITP, VCP
    WIP: > 0
  16. nugget
    Honorary Member

    nugget Junior toady

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    Since when did this change from the 'nugget and Jak beer fund' to the 'moderators beer fund'?? Are you doing the dirty on me again Jak??[​IMG]
     
    Certifications: A+ | Network+ | Security+ | MCP (270,271,272,290,620) | MCDST | MCTS:Vista
    WIP: MCSA, 70-622,680,685
  17. Jakamoko
    Honorary Member

    Jakamoko On the move again ...

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    <WHISPERS: Shhhm m8 - go along with it - I'll see you right as always :biggrin >
     
    Certifications: MCP, A+, Network+
    WIP: Clarity
  18. shumon_70

    shumon_70 New Member

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    i live in portsmouth as well, i am looking for some1 to do group study with for cisco or solaris.


     
    Certifications: mcp
    WIP: scsa and ccna
  19. VantageIsle

    VantageIsle Kilobyte Poster

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    I live in Portsmouth, does anyone know where the nearest exam centre is? Or are they done on-line?

    There is an exam center in Burgess Hill which is not that far from you I think.

    Good luck BTW:D
     
    Certifications: A+, ITIL V3, MCSA, MCITP:EST, CCENT, 70-432-SQL, 70-401 SCCM
    WIP: MCSA upgrade MCITP:SA then EA
  20. TheEdge

    TheEdge New Member

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    I have taken my MCP and CCNA tests in Brighton ampmittraining.co.uk, not too far from Pompey!

    Adam.
     
    Certifications: 218,270,215,ex-CCNA
    WIP: MCSA 2003

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