Author Archives: wpadmin

[Posted 26 Feb 2013]

The IC3 Certification is a basic technical test that many offices issue to their employees. This test ensure that you can use the core Microsoft programs, and it also ensure that you have enough technical skill to do common office work. If you want to make the test easy on yourself, there are many things that you can do to prepare:

Understand the Exam

The two types of questions that you will have to answer on an IC3 Certification exam are multiple choice and questions about functionality. The multiple choice questions are fairly easy, and you have a 25 percent chance of getting the question right even if you randomly guess.
The other questions are about functionality. For example, if you were asked a question about using the mail merge function in Word, you would open Word and use this function to score points. Be sure to know all of the basic functions within the Microsoft Suite to get the most points possible.

Sections

There are three sections to the test and each one focuses on certain computer skills. The Computing Fundamentals section focuses on using software, understanding hardware and working with the OS. This is mostly identifying parts of the computer and showing that you understand how they work.

The next section is Applications. This section has many functional questions about Word and Excel. You must be able to format text, insert tables and manipulate graphics.

The last section is Living Online. This deals with the Internet and many Internet-based applications like emails and networks. You must identify how these applications work and why they are important.

Preparation Course

The IC3 Certification offers a preparation course that can be taken before the actual exam. The course will show you all of the information that will be on the test, and the teacher will discuss how to use the functions examined during the exam.

This is easily one of the best ways to prepare for the test because you will immediately be able to use this information on the actual test. If you are having a hard time understanding the concepts, then this course might be the thing you need to pass IC3 Certification.


Practice Tests
There are practice tests for the IC3 Certification that you can take from Total Seminars. This gives you a chance to see how you will do on the real test, and it also shows you your problem areas so that you know what you need to study. This might be good even if you are an experienced computer user just to ensure that you won’t fail.

Use Basic Functions

Most people taking the IC3 Certification have a hard time with the functional side of the test. This is because it might be difficult to remember where a certain tool is if you haven’t actively practiced using it.

Many experts suggest opening Word and Excel and just playing around with the different tools. This will give you a better understanding of the menus and the location of tools, and you won’t feel as overwhelmed when the test is asking you to quickly find and use a function.

Conclusion

The IC3 Certification is a fairly easy exam that most people will be able to pass without much difficulty, but there are those that might have a hard time with certain aspects of this exam. If you aren’t that familiar with computers, then follow the suggestions above to help prepare for the test.

Posted by: Kathy Yale

The IT field is incredibly competitive and there are thousands of very skilled people doing their best to get an IT career. If you want to stand a chance against the competition, then you need certification. There are many certifications available, but many IT professionals say that the CompTIA A+ Certification is the best. Certification is becoming mandatory if you desire a career in the IT field.

Required for Careers

The CompTIA A+ Certification used to be required only for advanced careers and promotions. While this is still true, there are many entry-level careers that also require applicants to have this certification. This is because the company doesn’t want to waste time on applicants and employees that cannot operate certain technology.

You might know a lot about technology, and you might be able to easily complete your daily tasks without being certified. At the same time, you need to remember that your resume is the employers point of reference until they meet you. If you don’t have a CompTIA certification, then your chances of ever meeting an employer will significantly decrease.

Vendor Neutral

Another great benefit of the CompTIA certification is that it’s neutral. For example, a Windows certification only teaches you about Windows technology. This limits your prospects because many companies use Linux and other operating systems. While these certifications are great if you want to specialize in a certain area, the CompTIA is completely neutral.

The certification process will teach you how to work with technology as a whole. This is highly prized because the company might switch from one type of technology to another.

Better Salary

While getting an IT job is difficult without certification, it is possible. You might have the opportunity to show that you have enough skill to become an employee, or you might find a new company that isn’t very discerning. Even though you can get a job without certification, you should still become certified.

IT professionals with a CompTIA certification tend to make more than others in a similar position without certification. These professionals also tend to be promoted quicker.

Business Benefits

Companies don’t just want to hire skilled employees. They recognize that there are many benefits to hiring certified employees, and they want to use these advantages as much as possible. IT companies that hire certified applicants will spend less training new employees. Certification ensures that the new employees are both competent and serious about their careers.

Personal Benefits

Certification is useful because it will help you get a job, but it will also help your self-esteem. Many people don’t think that they are ready to pursue an IT career. Obtaining a certification shows that you are capable of performing the necessary tasks, and that you have the skills required to become an IT professional.

While it is possible to get an IT career without CompTIA certification, you will find that it is much easier if you are certified. Companies are looking for certified professionals as it is a sign of competence and companies have to pay very little to train certified people. If you are serious about having an IT career, then you need CompTIA certification.

Posted by: Kathy Yale

Professional certification is just one aspect of the portfolio of the IT professional. It not only helps to define the scope and skill of your expertise, it also offers many opportunities for an employer to create a better picture for you as both a potential hire and employee. The extensive material in a Network+ Certification differs from other certifications in that it not only includes specific network troubleshooting, but also aspects of basic network design and troubleshooting. This is often the very basic requisite for future leadership roles. It serves as a launching platform to more advanced understanding of the OSI model as well as a great pairing with certifications such as the CCNA.

Shows Interest in the Field of Networking at Large

The Network+ certification procedure requires re-certification every three years. Those who took the test before December 31,2010 are excluded from this rule. This requires recent test takers to prove their knowledge more quickly, showing interest in the networking field at large.

Show Competency in Crucial Networking Configuration Duties

The Network+ Certification contains many areas of study in the networking field. Specifically it focuses on network design, configuring TCP/IP, cabling, hardware setup, configuration, and support for troubleshooting. This shows an employer that you know these areas well.

The Network+ Certification is a Product of Choice for Many Companies

Companies like Dell, Sharp, and Xerox often require the use of CompTIA Network+. The job candidate can serve many roles within the company by obtaining Network+: IT network technician, installer, or help desk technician are just a few of the roles available. It is also a requisite for the industry-standard for partially fulfilling more advanced certifications such as the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator certification.

CompTIA is not Product-Specific

While in many cases, certification is bound to using specific products, the benefit of CompTIA Network+ is its lack of being bound to a specific technology. Instead, it focuses on the general technology that can work for any networking product. This allows for both an easy way to gain entry into the field for beginning IT Professionals (or anyone working with technology), as well as the ability to apply skills to any vendor.

Many corporations and businesses may not be vendor-specific and the benefit of a generalized certification is the ability to lock in to some corporate training programs that combine well with the Network+ path.

Preparation of Network+ Will Improve Your Chances for Future IT Certifications

Much of the foundation of knowledge in Network+ includes a scope in networking that applies to almost every other IT Certification that deals with communication between servers and computers. The theoretical knowledge behind Network+ is critical to opening these new doors for employment. Besides showing a boost to a resume, this certification will go in your tool belt of vendor-neutral certs that create a networking profile or portfolio for future employers. In fact, it contains the theoretical components necessary to understand the function of networking and networking layers in almost any networking environment. As a result, this increases training opportunities often required for far more advanced IT certifications.

Posted by: Kathy Yale

The IT field is incredibly competitive and there are thousands of very skilled people doing their best to get an IT career. If you want to stand a chance against the competition, then you need certification. There are many certifications available, but many IT professionals say that the CompTIA A+ Certification is the best. Certification is becoming mandatory if you desire a career in the IT field.

Required for Careers

The CompTIA A+ Certification used to be required only for advanced careers and promotions. While this is still true, there are many entry-level careers that also require applicants to have this certification. This is because the company doesn’t want to waste time on applicants and employees that cannot operate certain technology.

You might know a lot about technology, and you might be able to easily complete your daily tasks without being certified. At the same time, you need to remember that your resume is the employers point of reference until they meet you. If you don’t have a CompTIA certification, then your chances of ever meeting an employer will significantly decrease.

Vendor Neutral

Another great benefit of the CompTIA certification is that it’s neutral. For example, a Windows certification only teaches you about Windows technology. This limits your prospects because many companies use Linux and other operating systems. While these certifications are great if you want to specialize in a certain area, the CompTIA is completely neutral.

The certification process will teach you how to work with technology as a whole. This is highly prized because the company might switch from one type of technology to another.

Better Salary

While getting an IT job is difficult without certification, it is possible. You might have the opportunity to show that you have enough skill to become an employee, or you might find a new company that isn’t very discerning. Even though you can get a job without certification, you should still become certified.

IT professionals with a CompTIA certification tend to make more than others in a similar position without certification. These professionals also tend to be promoted quicker.

Business Benefits

Companies don’t just want to hire skilled employees. They recognize that there are many benefits to hiring certified employees, and they want to use these advantages as much as possible. IT companies that hire certified applicants will spend less training new employees. Certification ensures that the new employees are both competent and serious about their careers.

Personal Benefits

Certification is useful because it will help you get a job, but it will also help your self-esteem. Many people don’t think that they are ready to pursue an IT career. Obtaining a certification shows that you are capable of performing the necessary tasks, and that you have the skills required to become an IT professional.

While it is possible to get an IT career without CompTIA certification, you will find that it is much easier if you are certified. Companies are looking for certified professionals as it is a sign of competence and companies have to pay very little to train certified people. If you are serious about having an IT career, then you need CompTIA certification.

Posted by: Kathy Yale

Information technology, the field encompassing computers, networks, software, applications, and the internet, is growing exponentially. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an entry-level help-desk position is expected to grow 18% between 2010 and 2010, which is as fast, if not faster, than average. In other words, a career in technology will not disappear anytime soon. The average starting pay for a basic I.T. job is over $46,000 a year. In fact, an entry-level tech job, on average, pays more than the average salary for Licensed Practical Nurses, truck drivers, licensed teachers, and plumbers. And the pay only increases from there in information technology; many workers earn an average of between $60,000 and over $100,000 per year depending on the specialization, degree level, and experience. Many prospective information technology job seekers are beginning to see the value in obtaining an A+ Certification to boost their credentials in this ever-expanding field.

Unlike other careers, an entry-level I.T. position does not require years of training in order to obtain a lucrative job. There are no clinical rotations to complete or extensive background checks to process in information technology. Tech positions can be found in nearly every business in every location. While many individuals do choose to get a degree in technology, the best way to obtain a career in I.T. is to start with an A+ Certification. Certifications are inexpensive and quick, which makes them ideal for those who want to get started in a technology job quickly.

Obtaining a Certification

The CompTIA A+ certification is considered by many to be the gold standard for breaking into a tech job. The A+ certification is recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Defense and is vendor neutral. Some employers like Dell, Intel, and Lenovo require the CompTIA A+ certification. Other employers do not require it of their techs but will give preferential hiring or increased starting pay to applicants who have the certification. The cost of the certification is relatively low at under a few hundred dollars for both the Practical and the Essentials exams. Many libraries carry a wide selection of CompTIA A+ study guides that individuals can use for free to prepare to take the exams.

What CompTIA A+ Certification Entails

The CompTIA A+ certification covers the field of information technology broadly. The Essentials exam covers hardware, computer troubleshooting and maintenance, operating systems and software, networking, and security. The Practical exam covers troubleshooting, installation, and maintenance steps relating to hardware, operating systems, and networks.

More lucrative technical positions do require advanced certifications or a degree, but these are not needed to get started on a well-paying tech career. Many individuals start in a type of help-desk position and advance as they gain experience, more certifications, or a degree. Other certifications include those offered by CompTIA like the Network+ and the Security+ certifications. Cisco certifications are especially popular among those already in the IT field, as pay for those certifications is easily over $60,000 a year. Unfortunately, these advanced certifications can be much more costly to obtain and are not a good start for those just wanting to break into technology quickly.

A career in technology is perfect for most people, as there are many avenues someone can take within technology. An individual who prefers customer service can focus on a computer support role. Those who like to be hands-on can set up networks or provide help-desk support. Entrepreneurial-minded individuals can create their own computer consulting and repair company. There are many avenues for success within the field of information technology and getting started is as easy as deciding to begin.