A little knowledge goes a long way. To the other end of the country in fact.
My 23 year old daughter phoned up from the other the other end of the country. She, and her boyfriend had been given a four year old computer. The computer had worked fine for a few days and then developed a fault which stopped it from fully booting up. Hence the phone call (and dad's know everything ..)
As chance would have it, I'd just been working my way through sections 3-5 of the Comptia book which dealt with errors, trouble shooting and beeps and all that. And you know what - it works! The step by step guide really does work! Twenty minutes later I'd come to the conclusion that there was a problem with the RAM, which after my daughter had 'wiggled it' worked properly (I think it's called a 'dry joint') and then I was able to identify the one long beep followed by three short beeps was a keyboard fault caused by a stuck key, caused by a three year old girl with 'sticky chocolate fingers'.
My daughter was mightily impressed. So was I... and boy, it certainly helps your confidence!
-Glenn
Well, it's been a tough 2 years with breaks in my studies for illness and relocation, but I've successfully got to the end of my course with just the exams to go. Time to revise like mad! My life has changed so much for the better since starting this course. When I started, I hadn't worked for 15 years because of illness. I am now self-employed as a web designer and making a living working from home. The course has given me the knowledge and confidence to do this. All the hard work has been so worthwhile.
-Jane
Just before November 2008, in the heat of the credit crunch one of my wishes was to see the recession period out without any major problems at work or with finances, but sadly my job was affected and I was out of work by the 7th of November. I began wondering what to do and how to get a job quickly because the job market was flooded with so many IT professionals who had been laid off from bigger jobs like financial banking IT jobs or jobs within the Law sector, these are people who had been on very good salaries and I just felt it would be so difficult getting a job ahead of these people but I had to do something still so I started applying for jobs. I would tactically avoid jobs that paid over £25k because I felt the demand would probably be overwhelming… how wrong I was!
A week later and I had probably done well over a hundred applications but had no serious feedback, it started becoming a worry. I worried so much that one of those days I fell asleep in the middle of the day – probably around 1pm, when I woke I went back to my PC, looked at my CV again, and found nothing significantly wrong with it except there was nothing about my CIW in it, went back to my PC, modified my CV, and logged into my online jobsite. First thing I saw was one financial banking role that had a lot to do with programming in Perl… This role was paying a base of £35k [Per Annum] and had many fringe benefits. Bearing in mind that I was on less than £21k [Per Annum] at the time (which was the largest amount of pay I had been on), I felt a bit intimidated but decided to apply all the same.
It was about 5 minutes after this application that my phone buzzed and it turned out to be the HR team from this bank, we went through a few questions and I was invited for an interview the very next day. They urgently wanted qualified starters because the bank had recently acquired a European bank and wanted to move it's IT operations to the UK. During the interview it felt like most of what they wanted to know was regarding the subjects that were treated during my CIW course and how comfortable I was with Perl and scripting. I was asked to start in the middle of December 2008 after my security and criminal check results had come through – it was awesome! Not only did I have a job, it was paying some good money too.
We have now completed the training and gone live, I've been on the job for a month or so and it doesn't get better than that. Looking back, Alex, who had no banking IT experience and didn't earn up to £22k a year now has a great job with loads of free perks and a wallet-gratifying salary. It has done a massive difference to my self confidence and I now compete at a high level. I know that the CIW experience has got something to do with this and I want to say thanks.
-Alexander
I am 64 years old and I have not taken formal training or learning for the past 20 years. Coming back to formal learning is a big challenge but I am into it and intend to succeed. I am not working formally and find it a bit hard to even pay my tuition, but I am putting my meagre resources in this course so as to get something out of it. I live with my wife in a tiny single room and the situation is inconducive to study especially when she is around. So I have decided to conduct the best part of my studies from 3:30am to 7:00am daily, and do assignments and lab work from 10:30am to 1pm daily. There is no word "failure" in my vocabulary and I intend to succeed with all odds.
-Ebrahima
I developed an interest in web design a few years ago upon the purchase of a computer that had Microsoft Frontpage preinstalled. Playing around with the software taught me some of the fundamentals of web design and I enjoyed making a personal website with this software.
Up until recently it was somewhat of a hobby and something I hadn't really thought of as a career. That was until a friend asked me for some help, as his wife had a designer children's clothing boutique and wanted to sell her merchandise online to accompany her bricks and mortar store. Although this was something I had never done before I agreed to look into it for him, and after much research agreed to help.
I started work on zookids.co.uk, with little background knowledge and learning as I went. From designing the look and feel of the site to editing graphcs with Photoshop and even creating flash animations I learnt it all. It was then I started my CIW course with skillstrain. The information learnt through even the first few chapters of the course was invaluable to me.
It gave me a great understanding of the software I was using and before long the website was not only up and running, but selling goods and even attracting admiration from big designers, some even asking whether we'd be interested in selling their goods. And these designers keep their number of retailers to an exclusive minimum.
It showed me how invaluable a well presented and well thought out website can be. I'm now looking forward to learning more aspects of web design and for a future career in this exciting sector.
-James
I have completed all TMA's for 70-270 Part A with outstanding results. I recently applied for a 2nd line technical support specialist role that became available in my current workplace. During the interview I mentioned how I was studying for my MCSE with Skills Train alongside my existing skills. Days later I was pleased to hear that I had been accepted for the job role which I will be starting on the 26th January 2009.
-Carl
When I first looked at enrolling on this course, I was more than a little apprehensive of what the course would involve and how difficult it might be to understand and complete. It is many years since I last did any training, which incidentally was a Visual Basic course, unfortunately it was in the days when CD Writer's had only just come out, and due to it being a distance/home working course it was virtually impossible to get any help whatsoever from my tutor, who was sat on the other end of a phone and obviously could not see the programming code I had entered to assist me with issues I was having.
I have mentioned the above purely so that anyone who doubts their ability to complete this program will hopefully gain some confidence, especially as these days sending files, visiting forums, asking for help are so much more accessible and easy to find. I also do not rate myself as being naturally bright or intellectual, but so far I have achieved 90% markings on two TMA's & 100% on 1 TMA, which has given me great pleasure and confidence to go on. Since starting this course in October I have had to completely wipe the hard drive of my family PC due to a virus, and have had my Laptop send back to dell for a new Hard Drive, Memory & Motherboard, due to long standing issues I have experienced, so the laptop itself was basically wiped clean and I have lost 2-3 weeks not being able to submit my TMA's earlier. I hope this little tale of disaster gives those of you who May doubt their ability the strength and courage to continue with confidence
-Alexander
I wish I could say I have found a better job, been promoted or been given a pay-rise but I found out 3 weeks ago, that due to the credit crunch I am being made redundant at the end of the year. I have worked for the company for 4 and a half years so it came as a massive shock and completely out of the blue, especially when a few months ago there was talk of me being promoted to an IT based position and now those dreams have been shattered….
But its not all gloom and doom, thanks to SKILLS TRAIN I have being doing the CIW Web Masters course for 18 months now and I know that will keep me going during this very difficult time. It keeps me focused on the goal of being a web professional with an exciting and rewarding career in something I enjoy.
Recently on the plus side I have had more spare time and I have devoted that time to entering the ICT Competition 2008 which I am so excited about. I am so glad I entered this year as last year I let myself down by not entering. I am so lucky SKILLS TRAIN has given me so much confidence over the past year which has grown and grown. That confidence has inspired me to enter and do something positive for my future.
This Christmas I have also felt very competitive especially when it comes to the Christmas games of Pacman and Invaders, I have massively improved since last year and have learned some tricks along the way. Although I haven't got a chance of winning at the games it has made this year a lot of fun and has taken my mind of the fact I won't have a job in a few weeks and has kept my spirits high.
I would like to wish SKILLS TRAIN, the TUTOR TEAM and all my fellow students a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR and all the best of luck in 2009!
-Lisa
Even though my website, submitted for the ICT Competiton, was simple in relation to others submitted, I was proud and pleased with the end result. The reason behind the site was for a work colleague who enquired about a website for her local parish. I advised her about WYSIWYG interface's and how this is a simpler, non-HTML coded way to look at completing a working site.
When my colleague saw the first draft of the site, and after I explained that it is easily accessible and easy to navigate, she thought it was a start and she asked me to give her a copy. My colleague advised that she was going to take what I had worked on to her parish meeting and discuss the possibilities further. Also, after discussing websites with her further, she asked if I was willing to talk in her parish meeting about what I thought would be a good, simple site, as she advised that they were looking at paying a professional to create and maintain their site.
I gave my colleague brief information about different scenarios, such as if the site was not needing updating much then paying someone to maintain it May be a waste of their money. My colleague suggested I meet with the parish committee to give guidance and advice.
With my new knowledge from Skills Train, I have the confidence to advise on such matters with conviction. I have agreed to speak to the parish priest and committee about a web site after Christmas and have offered my services, no matter how limited, to create an easily accessible web site for them.
Thank you Skills Train, I do have a long way to go yet but having created this site has brought my passion for this course to the surface and from now on I am going to knuckle down. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
-Jayne
At the beginning of this course, I found the willingness to commit to study very challenging. It was very difficult for me to stick to my goals and a schedule. IT was a new area and I had a lot of difficulty to understand.
However, I struggled a lot but I never gave up. My strength and my motivation to do better every day helped me to fight my weakness. Today, I am very proud of my achievements. I have finally grasped the concept of the course work and have submitted 5 TMA'S in one month alone - November of this year with success grades ranging from 90- 100%. Previously, it took months to complete just one assignment.
Four days ago, I received another course book which contains 9 chapters. I have eagerly read and completed the TMA for 8 chapters already within this short space of time.
Because of my hard work and determination, I have gained skills that allowed me to set up my friends' computers and printer on a wireless home network. I also, trouble shoot various problems such as reconfiguring internet connection, removing virus and installing a firewall.
I am thoroughly enjoying this program and I have the motivation to complete it in the next two months.
-Steve
Hi,
and since I started doing this Course it has helped encourage me to build a pc based touch-screen jukebox. My partner is a full time sole carer for a young teenager mentally handicapped child with autistic tendencies, he's a great kid and loves music, but he has no respect for cd's lol he knows how to use them he just cant keep them from getting scratched, ;0) a cd does not last long in this house, hence the need for mp3 jukebox.
I guess your thinking this has nothing to do with promotions, pay rises and the likes, But without this course giving me some basic know how on Amps, Volts, compatability of Software/Hardware and Trouble shooting, I think I would still be checking out Ebay wondering if that part would work do this part fit for what I need.
So as I have now made the jukebox with a 17" Elo Touchscreen, Boxeasy for the Software, Jamie-lee Tried it out yesterday. and he smiled so much and ran round the house dancing the way he does laughing and screaming with excitement. Knowing that he will be getting this for Christmas is enough for me.
All it needs is for me to check my woodwork skills to make a frame for it to fit in to lol and I have to two left hands when it comes to that. nothing that a bit of glue and plenty of paint won't cover ;0)
Merry Christmas,
Leigh Badger
-Leigh
I Have studied for 2 and a half years with skills train and am preparing for my CCNA having passed my network exam a year ago.
My studies and closeness to completing my CCNA has meant that I have changed Jobs and careers and now work on an IT Help Desk for Christians Against Poverty. I've just completed my 2nd week.
Keep reading reading and reading. Take it all in and when you're ready apply for lots of jobs.
I now know it was all worth it!!!!
-James
I have now began to run my own IT consultancy and repair business. I am not going to say it has been easy, but thanks to the tutors at SkillsTrain, it has been easier than expected, due to the training support offered. I stood little chance of employment on the open job market due to my many medical problems, and family commitments to my disabled son, but now two years down the line, I am once again financially sound and it's all thanks to SkillsTrain. I can't thank you enough for the support and encouragement provided by the staff and tutors, May I wish everyone more success for the future and May you continue to go from strength to strength, as I myself have done.
-Robert
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