How to Avoid Twelve IT Training Tricks
Response:
Job Guarantee:
Most job guarantees are not worth the paper they are written on! When you look closely at the small print, there are usually many get out clauses such as the following:
You must accept the first job offered – this could be anywhere and the income could be very low. If you don’t accept the offer, the training company has done their job.
You may have to enrol on further training at the same company, as the job is not really being offered on the original course enrolled on.
The guarantee does not apply if the economic climate changes! This appears to be a normal get out clause in most job guarantees but what does it really mean? Basically, it can mean anything!
Looking at it from an employers viewpoint, if you ran your own company would you accept someone you had never interviewed to work in your company on your critical IT systems? ^top
Unbelievably low price:
If a training course appears to be a very low price for high level professional Certifications then the training is more likely to be of poor quality.
Remember that these are professional qualifications which can change or improve your career. Courses can (or should) take a huge investment in time and development to produce.
Alternatively, the material may be photocopied text, poor quality CD ROM’s, out of date material or the only "interactivity" is the fact that you click "next" on your cd rom!
This poor quality can translate to the support; no support may be available, or support is only available between certain hours.
It is also usual for support to be may be conducted by untrained people working from home.
We have heard of students being told to call back the following night as the support person did not now anything about that particular area of IT. Worse still, we know of one student calling a particular well known IT training company only to be told to call back as “I’m having my dinner.” ^top
Training leads to company diploma:
Company Diploma’s are not recognised within the industry. Does the Diploma mean that you studied for a year, or two weeks? Do employers recognise the Diploma? What standard do you achieve? Is the Diploma recognised in other countries?
These are all questions which need to be answered and the easy way is to do industry recognised Certifications such as CompTIA, Microsoft, Macromedia, Sun, CIW, Cisco, etc.
Also ensure that your training is following the current curriculum for the recognised Certification. A great deal of companies train using out of date material which does not apply to the current exams. ^top
Training company won't give you a price - or say they don't know!
If they will not or cannot give you the course fees, it usually means you will have to have a meeting with a salesperson who will try to hard sell you a course.
It is not unusual that the course is more suitable for the salesperson rather than the right course for you! Think commission! ^top
You have to complete a "Student Assessment" or "Interview" to assess your suitability to do a course:
These assessments or interviews are generally worthless. Most people pass and this “allows you” to do a course.
Note to that the reason you are more suitable for one course over another could be price (the salesperson will make more on that course) or this is the course that he knows better than the others in the training companies range. ^top
Visit arranged at home with your spouse present to allow you to "choose" a course:
These home visits are used to allow a salesperson to give you a presentation regarding the company and gives him or her a chance to pressurise you into buying a specific course and make more commission.
The companies in question need your spouse to be there so that they can pressurise both of you. They know that if you have to discuss things with your other half later, they will (sensibly) react to the inflated course fees which include high commissions. ^top
You have to be "accepted" by a "Selection Committee" to do a course:
This method of selling allows the salesperson to call you back to get your decision within a short timescale - usually a few days after the initial "interview".
It gives the salesperson another chance to pressurise you as you have been now been "accepted” to do the course, and you would not wish to lose your place, would you! ^top
Training companies advertise a position in the job pages which turns out to be a training course:
This type of advert in the job pages gets you to the company offices where salespeople can control a meeting and get you enrolled in a course.
Sometimes they offer a job at the end of the course, but it usually involves further training (and further fees) after the original course. ^top
IT training companies who employ salespeople rather than IT people to give you advice:
Companies employ commission only salespeople who visit your home to "interview," "test" or "select" you.
As mentioned previously they usually will insist on your spouse being there which is a common sales ploy. They are taught this as it is easier to get both your agreement at once.
No matter what the person says, they are salespeople and they are usually taken on in a commission only capacity. They do not get paid if they do not sell. So who's best interests do you think they have in mind when they recommend a course for you?
It is unusual to find any of these salesmen with IT experience, so usually their advice regarding your IT career is worthless. ^top
Salespeople require a deposit from you on the "interview" so that you can start immediately:
This is another hard-sell ploy. It’s a way of getting you to buy the course under pressure.
The salesperson will push you into an immediate decision, selling you a course and making their commission on the day.
They will probably leave you some basic training material to get you started and have you sign a credit or finance agreement.
You should have 14 days to cancel, but the companies concerned typically make it very difficult to cancel your course as you already have the material. ^top
Interactive Training:
Some training companies use the phrase “interactive training” to describe courses which have simply been typed onto a CD ROM or online.
Their “interactive” element is simply pressing “forward” or "next" on the CD ROM. Like a book, you merely turn the pages - and as this is what your "interactive" course is - just a book typed onto a CD, then you would be better to buy a book!
True interactive training material emulates the subject matter you are working on.
The training will incorporate video, text, graphics and sound. Your mouse will take control and move - like a tutor showing you what to do! And you can repeat it as many times as you want.
You will have questions pop up on subjects you have covered recently or some weeks before to keep you on your toes.
There will also be interactive testing and exam simulations giving you clear and precise test results - immediately.
This type of material is the most advanced method of training as it incorporates so many different sense which allow you to retain information quicker. ^top
High level certifications in a few short days:
If you are a newcomer to the IT industry then look out for promises of passing high level professional Certifications in a few days.
Too many training companies make promises based on doing high level training, when the Student has no background in IT and no previous qualifications.
They say that you do not need the basics, the background or the "apprenticeship", but can do any course at any level!
The IT industry is like every other industry. There is no quick-fix which means that you can jump from having no knowledge to becoming an IT Professional in one easy step.
If that was the case, wouldn't everyone be doing just that!
The MCSE 2003 is a prime example. You need to have the basics in place before you attempt to do this high level course.
Think of it like taking a university place but having never gone to school before and that will help you put the training level into perspective.^top
Report Ends.
If we can be of any further assistance in helping answer any of your questions regarding IT careers, training courses or funding your training, please do not hesitate to contact us at our training centre or on 0845 643 2899 (local rate) where a trained Personal Course Advisor will answer all your questions.
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