Should you be aspiring to become Cisco accredited, and you've not yet worked with network switches or routers, initially you should go for CCNA certification. This will give you skills for setting up and maintaining routers. Vast numbers of routers make up the internet, and big organisations with several different sites also utilise routers to keep their networks in touch.
Jobs that use this type of qualification mean you'll most probably work for large commercial ventures who have many locations but need their computer networks to talk to each other. Or, you may move on to joining an internet service provider. These jobs are well paid and in demand.
You'll need a specially designed course that covers everything to make sure that you have comprehensive skills and abilities before commencing your Cisco training.
The somewhat scary thought of landing your first role in IT is often eased because some trainers offer a Job Placement Assistance service. At the end of the day it's not as hard as some people make out to secure the right work - as long as you're correctly trained and certified; because there's still a great need for IT skills in the UK today.
Update your CV at the beginning of your training though (advice can be sought on this via your provider). Don't wait till you've finished your exams. Quite often, you'll secure your initial role while you're still a student (even in the early stages). If you haven't updated your CV to say what you're studying (and it hasn't been posted on jobsites) then you don't stand a chance! You'll normally experience better results from a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service than you'll experience from any training company's recruitment division, because they will be more familiar with the area and local employers.
A common aggravation for some training course providers is how much trainees are prepared to study to become certified, but how un-prepared they are to work on getting the role they're qualified for. Don't give up when the best is yet to come.
Trainees looking at this market are usually quite practically-minded, and don't always take well to classrooms, and slogging through piles of books. If you identify with this, go for more modern interactive training, with on-screen demonstrations and labs. Long-term memory is enhanced when we use multiple senses - this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for decades now.
Start a study-program in which you're provided with an array of CD and DVD ROM's - you'll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, and then have the opportunity to use virtual lab's to practice your new skills. You really need to look at examples of the study materials provided by your chosen company. It's essential they incorporate full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab's to practice the skills in.
It's usually bad advice to opt for on-line only training. Connection quality and reliability varies hugely across the ISP (internet service provider) market, ensure that you have access to actual CD or DVD ROM's.
The area most overlooked by people weighing up a particular programme is the concept of 'training segmentation'. Essentially, this is the breakdown of the materials for drop-shipping to you, which completely controls how you end up. Most companies will sell you a program spread over 1-3 years, and courier the materials in pieces as you pass each exam. If you think this sound logical, then consider this: Many students find that their training company's usual training route isn't ideal for them. They might find a slightly different order suits them better. Could it cause problems if you don't get everything done at the pace they expect?
Ideally, you'd ask for every single material to be delivered immediately - enabling you to have them all to return to any point - whenever it suits you. Variations can then be made to the order that you complete your exams if another more intuitive route presents itself.
Of course: a training course or an accreditation is not the ultimate goal; the particular job that you're getting the training for is. Many trainers unfortunately completely prioritise the actual accreditation. Avoid becoming one of those unfortunate students who set off on a track that on the surface appears interesting - only to end up with a qualification for a career they'll never really get any satisfaction from.
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