cerco training

Discussion in 'Training & Development' started by ant2005uk, Dec 28, 2004.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. ex cerco student

    ex cerco student New Member

    1
    0
    18
    I did the Cerco training course in Feb/Mar 05, got a short term contract that only lasted 9 day. Only had one interview arranged through Cerco for me in 15 months! I didn't get the job and they said i live in an area where there is very few IT jobs. I live about half way between Hull and Leeds!!
    Wrote a letter to the MD complaining about the way i have been treated in April this year. Still waiting for a reply.
     
    Certifications: CLAIT, IBT2, ECDL, NEW CLAIT+
    WIP: A+
  2. wizard

    wizard Petabyte Poster

    5,767
    42
    174
    The main reason why you should never be wooed by a job guarantee scheme.
     
    Certifications: SIA DS Licence
    WIP: A+ 2009
  3. Baron210

    Baron210 Bit Poster

    46
    1
    25
    Hi again all, Hope you lot don't mind me replying to such an old thread, but you've all been so helpful and kind to me that I think you should know whats been going on in my "IT Life",
    I gained an Intergrators position with a small company near me which specialises in Embedded PC components and Industrial Rack mounted PC's plus Compact PCI (multi-card power PC's), assembling PC's out of mainly new components, and component testing.
    I know it's a small start, but at least it's got me out of the unemployment rut and onto the ladder, To be realistic, the pay's not fantastic (£14.500 pa paid monthly), but when I first gained this job (Not from Cerco, although I went on the Cerco course and got the T Shirt et al), they hadn't contacted me much, and certainly took their time in finding me a job.
    Eventually, they found me a temporary position in a large contracting service and repair company in Stevanege called AVS. I had already started my new Job in Kontron UK by now, but decided to take a day out nevertheless to see what this new role entailed.
    I didn't like the setup one bit, and thought what they were asking for the money was too much for 1 guy / girl to perform in the time allowed (pulling out Servers / Switches , routers and UPS's (uninteruptable power supplies weiging in at 300 lbs each), and reinstalling , remote re-imaging these in a rack.
    I told them a day later that i felt this way, and a guy at Cerco said that I had let them down, and that they wouldn't be seeking employment for me again, but I was contacted by the girl that I had had a lot of correspondance with, who basically apologised and wished me all the best for the future.
    I wanted you good folk's to know how I was dealt with, In hindsight, I wished I had saved 5 grand and gone it alone to seek employment within the industry, At least now I have stable work, and am using the job A - to gain experience and B- to fund a Cisco (CCNA) course which I am about to commence at a local Adult education college. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
     
    Certifications: Cerco CCSN comptia A+ & N+
    WIP: Cisco CCNA (Aiming for CCNP)
  4. NickyYates

    NickyYates Bit Poster

    12
    1
    3
    The stuff about holding on to £2000 until they find you a job is rubbish. There is no contingency under which you would get your money back other than if the company went into liquidation. It doesn't stop them getting the money - it simply delays it. How long this delay lasts is determined by you - i.e. how long are you going to attend the interviews they set up? Fail to attend one and the money is released.

    Similarly, the 98.3% success rate is rubbish. If they had such a success rate, they would have it audited by an independant standards body. In October last year - the ASA adjudicated against their claim to have 14 years of success behind them. The basis for this was the fact that they didn't pay people who lost money in the liquidation of the previous Cerco and, therefore, they weren't entitled to trade on the "goodwill" of that company. There is no law against any of these claims - the only thing that is required is that, if you make the claim, you are required to substantiate it. They couldn't do this, so they were asked to stop making the claim.

    If you wish to pay £1000\week for training at the level they offer - it's your choice.
     
  5. Michael R

    Michael R Bit Poster

    21
    1
    13
    Hello there

    I recently seen the advert on TV and thought i'd apply (using their online tesT)

    Didn't realise it would cost 4/5k as i couldn't find that info on the site anywhere.

    Thought before i go i'd try finding a bit about them and this thread has been a great little find.

    The main reason i'm looking to go with them is i'm finding it very hard to get in to the IT industry and really this seems like a good chance.

    Because i'm pretty computer literate, can build computers etc.. but don't know what to do or which courses to take so this looks like a good way for me

    Thanks for everyones views.
     
    Certifications: CCNA, MCP, MCTS, MCITP:SA, VTSP 5, MCITP:EMA 2010
    WIP: MCITP:EA, CCNA Sec / CCNP
  6. wizard

    wizard Petabyte Poster

    5,767
    42
    174
    I wouldn't bother with them, if at all possible go the self study route. Even though I have been involved with computers at quite a young age, I turned up there about 6 or 7 years ago, went through some aptitude test which had nothing to do with building computers just some engineering type questions which I have never seen before as I'm not an engineer, at the end of it they decided on the basis of the test that I wouldn't be able to cope with an intensive course which to me is a load of bollards, but on the upside it saved me 5k :D
     
    Certifications: SIA DS Licence
    WIP: A+ 2009
  7. riaz.hasan

    riaz.hasan Kilobyte Poster

    289
    0
    38
    also have a look at this post by Zimbo:
    here
     
    Certifications: Degree, A+, HDA, MCP(270 finally!!)
    WIP: MCDST, MCSA2k3
  8. Michael R

    Michael R Bit Poster

    21
    1
    13

    wow thats certinally something to think about.

    I guess a part time job + doing it that way will save a lot of money in the long run
     
    Certifications: CCNA, MCP, MCTS, MCITP:SA, VTSP 5, MCITP:EMA 2010
    WIP: MCITP:EA, CCNA Sec / CCNP
  9. spitfirebob

    spitfirebob Bit Poster

    20
    0
    33
    !!!!!!!!!!!!! TRUE !!!!!!!!
    Been there seen it done it passed it got the toilet paper award.
    Would not recomend them. The hands on training is ok I learned
    a lot but the job side is a joke. If you dont live in London forget it as for us in the cold wet scotland the jobs are bad and you wont get your money back.


    Now back to my croft like. :cussing :mad :sick :knife :silly
     
    Certifications: Cerco CSNS
    WIP: Old Age
  10. Michael R

    Michael R Bit Poster

    21
    1
    13
    I got a phone call from them asking me to go to the milton keynes "information day"

    Breifly got chatting and he said where i'm located (northamptonshire) near Milton Keynes is a good area as a lot fo jobs are based around that area.

    I don't know what to think to be honest. I'll go along to the information day to see what it's like i suppose.
     
    Certifications: CCNA, MCP, MCTS, MCITP:SA, VTSP 5, MCITP:EMA 2010
    WIP: MCITP:EA, CCNA Sec / CCNP
  11. spitfirebob

    spitfirebob Bit Poster

    20
    0
    33
    Hi Michael R
    I was given the same speech "we would not advertise in Scotland, Glasgow if we could not get the job's" and the part about half your money being "HELD BACK,SAFE" is not true. Ask them how you would get it back
    if it goes pear shaped. At my seminar we done two test's and on the second one we wrere told we have 12
    min's for the test. As i was busy filling out a from i did not hear this and 10-12 min's later i was 3 quarts way thru when i handed in the test. Imagine my suprise when i got a high score (that i seen him write down)
    but was never told my score. I should not have passed that test. Someone else on this thread said the
    instuctors gave big hints to the friday test's (mock up test on thursday) that very little was changed and it's true. I'm trying to get some money back but can see it's hopless and what i'm finding is cerco are knowing for the wrong reason's. I'm not saying "DANGER-DANGER-WARNING-RUNAWAY" just read as much as you can
    talk too as many as you can like this thread me, Rhino, Baron210, Gman, excercostudent, nickyyates,
    Steve.l. As i see it you will be paying £5000 to learn something you already know its the job you want
    and cerco DONT promise a job. £5000 to show you how to look for your own job come on.
    Later Michael,
    let me know how you get on mate . . Remember "DANGER DANGER" LOLL,LOL :deal
     
    Certifications: Cerco CSNS
    WIP: Old Age
  12. zebulebu

    zebulebu Terabyte Poster

    3,748
    330
    187
    I feel really sorry for anyone who has trained with this bunch of clowns in the past. I used to work with a guy who got sent on a course with them by one of his former employers.

    Their certifications are utterly, utterly worthless outside of a few select employers (more of that later) - I will repeat that people ' THEIR CERTS ARE WORTHLESS. As many people have hinted at, they seem to have a 'quota' system where a set amount of people pass a nonsense 'entrance exam' to make themselves feel confident prior to signing 5 grand away. ANY company that does this should be strung up - its one of the oldest psych-tricks in the book.

    From what the guy was telling me, it appears that the instructors (as is usually the case with most training providers) are the strong link in the chain - most of them do know their stuff and will tell you things that, starting out in IT you probably do not know. However, NONE of the stuff he was taught on his course (some networking thing or other) was rocket science and NONE of it could possibly lead to him passing a 'real' cert (e.g. Cisco's entry level exam or (haha) MS' network infrastructure exam)

    I'll underline this point here for impact:
    You are basically paying £5000 for a glorified job-centre run course

    It's hardly surprising that a lot of people on here are reporting problems finding work independently after training with them. Up against you, for near enough every technical role (including, sadly, first line support jobs) will be probably thirty newly qualified MCSEs churned out by 'real' cert schools. These people , although probably 70% of them will be braindumpers, already have a massive advantage over you - as they have an industry-recognised qualification (it used to be one of the premium certs in the tech industry :cry: )

    Regarding getting work with one of the companies they partner with, all I can say is: read the threads on this board about that carefully. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what they are doing. They obviously have a partnership arrangement with a few companies whereby they get people from them at the most junior level, on crap jobs, on crap money, with no prospects, on a short-term basis. Cerco can then say they have fulfilled their part of the bargain and 'got you a job', the employer gets a broom to push around the factory floor for a couple of months and you lose your 2 grand/3 grand - whatever it is you have 'held back - safe' by them. If you turn down any of the joke jobs they offer - they cry 'breach of contract' and take your money anyway.

    Seriously - this lot are the lowest of the low. At least other cert schools, whilst not exactly covering themselves in glory by encouraging you to braindump, provide you with a 'real' certification. After training with this mob you will have nothing but a hole in your pocket and disillusionment with the IT industry.

    Oh, and just in case anyone from Cerco (including the regular shills they place on forums) starts accusing me of badmouthing them as a way of attracting traffic to a particular cert school - you'll note that at no time does my post mention any 'real' schools. Thats because I am a firm believer that most things in life can be done off peoples' own backs if they want it enough (and work hard enough). Self-studying doesnt cost a thing apart from the cost of books and the electricity to run your PC!

    In short - if you have 5 grand to spend:
    spend it on a home lab and every book you can buy
    spend it on a training course
    spend it on a car or a holiday...

    Just DON'T spend it on something that is worth as much to your career as a piece of toilet paper
     
    Certifications: A few
    WIP: None - f*** 'em
  13. spitfirebob

    spitfirebob Bit Poster

    20
    0
    33
    AMEN to the toliet paper :clap
     
    Certifications: Cerco CSNS
    WIP: Old Age
  14. Michael R

    Michael R Bit Poster

    21
    1
    13
    Hey guys, sorry to bump this thread again!

    Well the times come, i've got an "appointment" down there tommorow, and don't worry i won't be signing anything, or signing up.

    No doubt i'll come back tommorow thinking this is too good to be true!

    I'll make a note of some the questions in the this thread and make sure i ask them tommorow.

    Problem for me is, self study looks good and all, but i'd rather do a course, than self study.

    Well i'll see what they say and report back tommorow!
     
    Certifications: CCNA, MCP, MCTS, MCITP:SA, VTSP 5, MCITP:EMA 2010
    WIP: MCITP:EA, CCNA Sec / CCNP
  15. Baron210

    Baron210 Bit Poster

    46
    1
    25
    Thanks for the honest post zebulebu!

    I too was "brainwashed" by, as you put it, this "Bunch of Clowns".
    I hate to use degrading terms about them in a way, and also feel sorry for my personal instructor (in the London - Moorgate site), because he really knows his stuff, and told me when I passed the coveted (by Cerco only it seem's) CCSN certificate, that to be honest, He didn't agree with their method's of finding employment for student's.
    If the course did one good thing for me, It got me out into the big wide world, and convinced me that I could "go it alone" without Cerco's help, because after turning down one of their clients job offers (where I would have been paid intermittently for non-guarenteed part time work, I didn't like the sound of the whole set-up), I was told that i'd been akward, and Cerco wouldn't be persuing any further search for employment for me, I think they are unreasonable, and also found out with a bit of background "detective" work that they were charging the client almost £20.00 per hour, yet paying us £8.00 p/h.
    My advice to anyone with the knowlege I now have, Go it alone and save your hard earned cash!

    On the upside personally, I am happy in a small (but global) company building Industrial PC's and also studying for me (somewhat well recognised) Cisco CCNA!

    Bye 4 now Baron210 :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
     
    Certifications: Cerco CCSN comptia A+ & N+
    WIP: Cisco CCNA (Aiming for CCNP)
  16. GmanUK

    GmanUK Byte Poster

    154
    5
    32
    Just a thought - look at your local college courses if you would rather do a course!! :biggrin

    Take this advice from another who has been there and done it :box2

    Have a read - here
     
    Certifications: CompTIA N+, Server+, CCSN, ITILv3 (f)
    WIP: MCITP Security
  17. Michael R

    Michael R Bit Poster

    21
    1
    13
    The main reason is (why i first considered cerco) is because i'm finding it very hard to find any kind of jobs round this area.

    I've just finished a computer programming degree and have always been interested and loved working on computers.

    For me it seemed like the perfect way of jump starting my career in to the IT industry, especially in to the field of computer repairs/service etc..

    I'm still gonna go down tommorow to the interview or whatever it is but don't worry i won't be signing up.

    But thanks, that post was really helpful.

    I've read the other post (on this forum) of self study, and i'm pretty set on wanting to do that, means i'd have to find a part time job for the time being whilst i do this studying and final exams how every many months or years down the line.

    But it looks as though finding a job might be a bit more easier with a MCSE that the cerco degree or whatever it is!
     
    Certifications: CCNA, MCP, MCTS, MCITP:SA, VTSP 5, MCITP:EMA 2010
    WIP: MCITP:EA, CCNA Sec / CCNP
  18. GmanUK

    GmanUK Byte Poster

    154
    5
    32
    Hey Michael

    I think you should go and check it out! It can sometimes be the route you should take...its just not for everyone!

    I would take a little time either tonight or tomorrow before you go and write down what you want from the course, you also need to write down what you don't want from the course!

    Just keep in mind that this might or might not be the best thing for you...so try to get as many questions in as possible on a one to one basis...NOT when they are making their presentation! You will only get the sales talk at that point.

    Whatever you do...try to tick as many boxes as possible from your list before making and final decisions....good luck.

    :thumbleft :thumbleft
     
    Certifications: CompTIA N+, Server+, CCSN, ITILv3 (f)
    WIP: MCITP Security
  19. Michael R

    Michael R Bit Poster

    21
    1
    13
    Well i got down their 45 minutes early, and could i park?

    Could i hell. I drove around for 45 minutes trying to park, so i gave up after that.

    Not once did i see a sign for cerco so godknows where in the building their actual room would have been but i was hanging around to find out.

    Think i'm going to look at self study and other "schools" which actually have a good reputation.
     
    Certifications: CCNA, MCP, MCTS, MCITP:SA, VTSP 5, MCITP:EMA 2010
    WIP: MCITP:EA, CCNA Sec / CCNP
  20. Michael R

    Michael R Bit Poster

    21
    1
    13
    Never thought of looking on my own doorstep.

    Just had a look at one of the local colleges and they offer this course:

    Duration//
    One year

    Course Content//
    This exciting new course combines hardware and software trouble shooting skills with Microsoft application user skills. You will study for the globally recognised CompTIA A+ Certification together with the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) and the OCR Level 2 Certificate for IT Practitioners (ICT Systems Support). You will learn how to assemble, install and troubleshoot computers including software installation and basic networking. You will also gain Key Skills qualifications.

    Method of Assessment//
    OCR Level 2 Certificate Unit 2 will be assessed through an externally devised assignment. This assignment will be centre assessed and externally moderated. OCR Level 2 Certificate Unit 4 will be assessed through a locally set, externally moderated practical activity. OCR Level 2 Certificate Unit 8 (A+) will be assessed through two CompTIA set electronic tests conducted at the VUE test centre at the Wellingborough campus. The ECDL is assessed through eight unit tests (6 practical, two multiple choice papers), externally set, locally marked and externally moderated.


    I suppose this is a good way for me to start out as everyone recommends the A+ and then N+ as starting out, before moving on to MS desktop tech then MCSE.

    Think i'll have a look in to that
     
    Certifications: CCNA, MCP, MCTS, MCITP:SA, VTSP 5, MCITP:EMA 2010
    WIP: MCITP:EA, CCNA Sec / CCNP

Share This Page

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Loading...
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.