JOIN USIt is an era of intense competition, where technology is the biggest tool. Even before they leave schools, children today are under immense pressure to decide a career path and take towards it. Some chose to specialise in their subjects after graduation and opt for higher studies, while others take up professional courses to be able to settle in a job as soon as possible. A large number of students in India today are taking up IT courses during and after graduation to make careers for themselves in the field.
An IT course not only gives you the know-how about current technology, but also teaches about the probabilities about the upcoming technology. However, choosing IT as a career path is a lot easier said than done. Not only you have to select your course very precisely keeping in mind yourcalibre, aptitude and interest, but you also have choose the institute very carefully. Let’s have a look at the do’s and don’ts that are essential to follow while choosing an IT course and an institute.
Do’s
Never take up an IT training course just because your friends are doing it. Make sure you have your heart in what you are doing. You should have an interest in what you are learning, as well as the right aptitude for it. You cannot become an IT genius if you are a writer at heart. Know where your interest lies.
IT training is a way to acquire niche skills. You must always be on lookout for authorised training centres. Training companies that have accreditations from multiple technological conglomerates are your best bet to procure certified and authorised trainings.
DO check if the training centre itself is an authorised examination centre as well.
DO make sure that the infrastructure is top-notch. If the training centre has a
dedicated data centre, you would be better served.
Do ascertain that the training centre also provides access to labs and emphasises on practical training, and hands-on learning. Theoretical knowledge can serve you no good while dealing in the field.
Do read up on the student testimonials, if any, written for the training organisation. While it has been noted that testimonials might not always be the most credible sources of ascertaining the quality of the training company, if the organisation can readily provide references for these testimonials on demand, you can rest assured of the quality of the company.
Try to talk to a few former students of the institute and ascertain whether what the classes are offering in theory do deliver it in practice. Often, some institutes befool students by promising a lab upgrade during the course of study, make sure this doesn’t happen, and you join a course only if the infrastructure is all set and working.
Do check if the training centre provides after course support, so that when you make the transition into the workplace, you can easily troubleshoot the technical problems with the trainers’ help.
Do check the credentials of the trainers. If the trainers are certified by the
technological conglomerate that they impart trainings on, it’s a huge green tick for the training organisation.
Don’ts
DON’T judge a course or a training centre by the course fee. Niche IT courses often tend to be heavier on the pocket, but the return on investment is pretty spectacular.
DON’T choose courses at random
because everyone is suddenly going gaga over it. Understand your needs, research, and then choose a particular course or set of courses to fulfill your requirements. You might not have the aptitude for learning softwares but you might well be equipped to learn hardware networking.
DON’T stop only at your course.
Enquire if the training centre provides combo courses that focus on additional skills important for career development
DON’T forget to check out and judge the social media presence of the training organisation. The more frequent and engaging the posts, the more likely is the company to live up to its billing.
So, go ahead and choose the perfect IT course for yourself.
(The author is CEO, Koenig Solutions)