I feel I have achieved a lot recently.
I had quite a few months break in doing my course due to other commitments. I have now resumed doing as much of my course as possible. This is between looking after my 1 year old daughter, who is into everything, including trying to tear apart my course books.
I have now returned back to work, where, thanks to me undergoing this course, I am working my way up to be an IT professional. I have recently got a job working for a bank in their IT head office, and this course helped me to get there.
I also now, aim to study my course every lunchtime at work, as this is the only time I can now do this without any distractions.
I feel I have achieved a lot recently with juggling my little girl, working full time, commuting to work, and studying too, but feel it is all worth it, and will someday be an IT professional, and someone who my daughter will look upto.
-Heidi
Since enrolling on my CIW Web Design manager course I have been offered placement on web design & development projects in which I never would have been invited if I didn't gain the amount of skills that I have developed.
Some of these projects involve: Designing HTML email newsletters and micro-sites for major companies such as Adobe UK, Potterton, Baxi Group, ArgosBs, and many more.
Due to the skills I have gained, I now manage and maintain my own web server with websites, blogs, and an attractive portfolio of web designs.
I have also been able to help some friends who are students at the local university to gain more skills and understand their work because of the skills gained on the CIW course. I have helped them with design, development and project management and this helped them to be better prepare and organized to get the most of their university experience.
I was also told by a Professor in their university that this year that I can enroll into their Bsc (Hons) Computer Science and Software engineering course “with direct entry into the second or third year of the degree” because of the skills that I have already developed.
that is excellent as I've always been interested in going to university but could not afford the time required to attend for a full degree (3 or 4 years). Thanks to the skills gained from the course and my hard work, I can now get a degree in just 1 or 2 years.
That news is great because such an opportunity will allow me to gain added skills such as Object Oriented programming languages, relational databases and much more. Those skills along with the ones being learned on the CIW course (Perl, JavaScript, Server administration, etc) will definitely help me to achieve my goals and dreams
I now look towards the future with content, knowing that I will succeed.
-Daniel
I've recently passed my JavaScript exam and have been having trouble with my Perl exam and on my last exam I was only 1% away from passing.
Despite all the troubles I have had over the past few years, fires, floods and temperamental computers I have overcome it all and persevered with my course.
I have learnt PHP and Visual Basic as well as loads of other languages and hope to go on to become a CIW website design manager.
-Kim
Well, today (9th March 2009) has been a real achievement for me.
After 11 months of study, I finally sat and passed my Comptia N+ today on my 2nd attempt with 675 scored out of 900. Maybe the questions were slightly easier than the last time back in January, but I still felt the same amount of pressure because missing out on the pass the first time by just one question or so was just ridiculous (540 scored with a pass mark of 554) and frustrating.
I feel that this has been quite an achievement for me as I havent just been able to sit back and study, I have had to work 2 different part time jobs (In the education and entertainment sectors - sometimes staying up as late as 4am) and care for a parent with a cancerous condition (Waldenstrom's Macroglobulnaemia). My time has been very occupied!
For this reason, I am putting myself forward for this competition because after working so hard towards the Comptia N+, I realise now why employers value it so highly... it is a broad and far reaching qualification that covers so many different areas in Networking. I also feel that I deserve some luck after having to put in so much effort towards my future.
The next month for me will see me broaden my horizons in terms of my qualifications now that the N+ is out of the way. I currently hold an Intermediate class licence for the transmission of amateur radio equipment. With the new confidence I have found with the help of skillstrain, I am planning to read and sit the advanced level exam before cracking on with my studies for the CCNA. What use is this you ask? Well, there is some overlap in some of the areas I have had to study for the N+ (antennas, cabling etc) so this extra exam will help reinforce what I have learnt already. The main reason however, is because I have heard recently that during 2012 when the Olympic games are to be held in this country, there will be the opportunity to set up amateur radio stations to help co-ordinate various events such as the rowing which will be held in Dorney (local to me).
I have found the study material provided by Skillstrain very helpful, and am looking forward to the commencement of my studies with skillstrain towards CCNA.
-Jonathan
I have managed to maintain a high pass mark for the TMAs even though I have a hectic work environment, plus with other commitments. I am also preparing to take the N+ exam and so far I have been able to achieve 80%+ in the practice tests that I have done. Also I have been able to apply some of the N+ training at work where we have Novell Servers, so I have a better understanding of it.
-Clevelon
Well for me it hasn't been submitting TMA's but the fact that since I have taken this course my life has changed big time. Before I had very little going for me but as soon as I passed my comptia a+ I found myself working for the NHS , and later even for my local council. Submitting the coursework was affected but I was installing servers , PC's , Routers, Switches. I always kept the latest updates for the course with me and applied what I had learnt reading them in my work. My wife is extremely happy with the way life has changed for us as my life before was very bad with me being a heroin addict. I got into this course because I liked computers and it was more of a hobby, however it helped me overcome addiction at the same time as open doors and today I am so happy and grateful because of it :)
-Nooh
Studying this course have open the door to computing for me, before taking this course I didn't know much about computer maintenance, now that I am studying the course materials it has open my eyes, and my mind to computers. I am very please to have this opportunity to study on-line with the Skillstrain Institute it has taken the pressure of going to college studying while trying to make a living. AS a new student what I have learnt so far has made me able to navigate more around the computer without fear. What I have achieve so far; I am very pleased. My children are computer literate and uses the computer to do their course work and their homework, but don't know how to implement or to navigate round the computer if a problem occurs, so what I have learnt so far I am able to show them how the computer is made up and how its put together, so while I am studying this course I am showing them things that I have studied so that they can have more insight in the future about computer maintenance and troubleshooting, we are all excited and looking forward for me completing this course.
This course has taken my computer knowledge to another level, the materials that I have received are excellent thank you very much.
-Donald
I recently had my yearly appraisal at work. Normally these are just run of the mill, 'you've achieved expectations'. However this time I mentioned that I was currently doing my A+ and would shortly be doing my N+ followed by CCNA and would be looking to either move on within the company or look elsewhere.
To my surprise my operations manager had put down that I had ‘exceeded all expectations' and he would like me to build a CCNA lab for our other engineers to use and achieve there CCNA if they wish to do so, whilst aiding them in there learning.
I am yet to even start networking and skills train is already opening more doors for me.
Thank you.
-Martin
Studying with skills train has totally changed my outlook on my career, I was previously working as an engineering technician basically testing IT equipment for 3 and a 1/2 years before deciding that a change was needed.
I left my job in September 2008 which was a major risk in itself due to the impending recession and other factors and decided that I was going to get qualified to help progress my career further.
I got in touch with skills train and signed up for 2 courses A+ and N+ as I felt these would suit my needs most. After leaving my job I did temporary work here and there whilst lookin for a field engineering job. Due to the fact of me having to work all kinds of different hours I found it hard to settle down and study, this was shown by the fact I only completed 5 TMAs in 4 months.
After applying for numerous jobs I finally received an offer from a computer company to work as an engineer starting on the 5th January, since then I have been working hard to settle down due to the fact I had some stability and not much to worry about and have since completed another 6 TMAs in the month of February and have completed the 1st section on my course.
Due to the skills I have learnt it has taken me a matter of only 2 months to be sent out on field calls for the company and have also taken over the duties of looking after the IT equipment of a company who is contracted to us. I have made progress a lot quicker than expected and I thank skills train for that.
-Joseph
I have finally finished part A of my CIW Unit 2 Javascript Fundamentals, I always struggled as a young lad with programming issues and finally on Saturday, after many months worrying about this unit, completed the assignment which had to be passed to the Tutor, and best of all it worked!!!
As well as completing this qualification I am also in the throws of completing other work to achieve my Teaching qualifications, this is taking up much of my time too and I am finding it extremely difficult to fit everything in as well as have a social life.
Despite this, once I receive my pass for my final assignment, will be ready to undertake the exam for the JavaScript Fundamentals side of the qualification, I have already passed the CIW Associate Examination which surprised me greatly and am hoping that I will surprise myself again when I enter for the second stage of the examination process.
-Darren
I am studying for C.I.W With the help of skill train giving me the skills I need. I have become self employed and run my own web design and host business.
-Roy
I have applied many, many aspects of what I am learning into my work environment. Recently, I adjusted the setup of our 4 WINS servers over 3 different physical locations. Based on my studies, I have now streamlined something that I was previously unaware needed adjustment. This has made my network much more efficient and my boss happy. Nice.
-Michael
I have studied with skillstrain for the last 6 years and first enroled on the PC installation & maintenance course where I gained Comptia A+ and N+ as well as City & Guilds and ACP certifications.
I enroled with the college again in September 2005 for the CCNA/CCNP course and in August 2006 I gained my CCNA certification.
In February 2007 I started a new career as a Cisco Network Engineer with a satellite communications provider where my working life has been transformed. I have kept up the studying and I have steadily been working through the CCNP course. Today I passed the CCNP ONT exam which now means I have gained CCNP certification. To say I am over the moon is an understatement.
The company I work for are expanding very quickly and are now one of the major players in the satellite communication industry. I now earn far more than I did before and receive double digit pay rises. I am going to the US next month to install a new network which will substantially increase our standing in the industry. I have even been to Monaco rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous and staying in 5 star hotels and all part of the job.
I could not have imagined all this 6 years ago and it goes to show that hard work can and does pay off.
Thanks to all at Skillstrain who have helped me over the years to really turn things around.
-Graeme
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