Adobe Dreamweaver is the starting point of study for almost all web designers. It is thought to be the favourite environment for web development on th...
Adobe Dreamweaver is the starting point of study for almost all web designers. It is thought to be the favourite environment for web development on the planet. To utilise Dreamweaver commercially as a web designer,
a thorough comprehension of the full Adobe Web Creative Suite (which includes Flash and Action Script) is without doubt a bonus. Having such skills means, you could subsequently become an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) or Adobe Certified Professional (ACP).
Building a website is only the beginning of what's needed - to maintain content, create traffic, and work on dynamic sites that are database driven, you'll be required to have more programming skills, namely ones like HTML and PHP, and database engines like MySQL. You should also gain a practical knowledge of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and E-Commerce.
One feature provided by many trainers is job placement assistance. This is designed to help you find your first job in the industry. Often, people are too impressed with this facility, because it's really not that difficult for any motivated and trained individual to secure work in IT - as there is such a shortage of well trained people.
You would ideally have CV and Interview advice and support though; and we'd recommend everybody to get their CV updated as soon as they start a course - don't procrastinate and leave it till you've finished your exams. You'll often find that you will be offered your initial position whilst still on the course (sometimes when you've only just got going). If your CV doesn't show your latest training profile (and it hasn't been posted on jobsites) then you're not even going to be known about! If you'd like to get employment in your home town, then you'll probably find that a specialist independent regional recruitment consultant or service may be more appropriate than a centralised service, due to the fact that they're far more likely to be familiar with local employment needs.
A slight grievance of a number of course providers is how hard students are prepared to work to get qualified, but how un-prepared that student is to get the job they have qualified for. Have confidence - the IT industry needs YOU.
A lot of commercial training providers only give office hours or extended office hours support; most won't answer after 8-9pm at the latest and frequently never at the weekends. Never buy study programmes that only provide support to you through an out-sourced call-centre message system outside of normal office hours. Companies will always try to hide the importance of this issue. The bottom line is - support is required when it's required - not at their convenience.
The most successful trainers have many support offices active in different time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to seamlessly link them all together, at any time you choose, help is at hand, avoiding all the delays and problems. Find a training school that goes the extra mile. As only true live 24x7 round-the-clock support provides the necessary backup.
Far too many companies only concern themselves with gaining a certificate, and forget what you actually need - getting yourself a new job or career. Always start with the end goal - don't make the journey more important than where you want to get to. It's quite usual, for instance, to find immense satisfaction in a year of study but end up spending 10 or 20 years in something completely unrewarding, simply because you did it without some decent due-diligence at the outset.
Get to grips with what you want to earn and what level of ambition fits you. Usually, this will point the way to which particular certifications will be required and what you can expect to give industry in return. Always seek guidance and advice from a professional advisor, even if you have to pay - it's usually much cheaper and safer to find out at the beginning if your choices are appropriate, instead of finding out after several years of study that the job you've chosen is not for you and have wasted years of effort.
'Exam Guarantees' are often bundled with training offers - this always means you have to pay for the exams at the very beginning of your studies. However, prior to embracing the chance of a guarantee, be aware of the facts:
They've allowed costings for it ultimately. One thing's for sure - it isn't free - they've simply charged more for the whole training package. Qualifying on the first 'go' is what everyone wants to do. Entering examinations when it's appropriate and paying for them just before taking them puts you in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt - you put the effort in and are mindful of the investment you've made.
Sit the exam somewhere close to home and hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take it. A lot of extra profit is netted by a number of companies who get money upfront for exam fees. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don't get to do their exams but the company keeps the money. Believe it or not, there are providers who rely on that fact - and that's how they increase their profits. It's worth noting, with most 'Exam Guarantees' - you are not in control of when you are allowed to have another go. You'll have to prove conclusively that you can pass before they'll pay for another exam.
Exams taken at local centres are currently clocking in at an average of 112 pounds in the United Kingdom today. Students should be very wary of forking out hundreds of pounds extra in 'Exam Guarantee' costs (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.
