Like most things in life, getting certified comes at a cost. Yes, there is a financial cost associated with getting certified, as well as the time it takes to study for your certifications. But what about the opportunity cost? What else could you have done with that time, and how does getting certified compare? We’ve already covered some of these differences in a previous blog, but in this one we’ll be focusing on the timeline of return on your investment in education.
In this blog, we’ll be taking a look at the costs and opportunities for certification training as opposed to pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
Part 1: Getting IT Training
First, we’ll take a look at the timeline for these training options.
Bachelor’s Degree
Typically, a bachelor’s degree requires four years of study to complete. In these four years, students will complete 120 semester credits or around 40 college courses.
While this is the longest of any of the four options, it’s also important to mention that a bachelor’s degree program aims to create well-rounded graduates who learn about history, language, math and literature in addition to their chosen area of study. Usually only 30 to 36 credits or 10 to 12 courses will be in a student’s major area of study.
According to LendEDU, for the 2017-2018 year, the average cost of tuition for a semester at a public 4-year in-state college or university was $9,970. For four years at that rate, one would expect to pay $39,880 for tuition.
LeaderQuest Training
At LeaderQuest, we recognize that highly employable graduates aren’t created overnight. While each IT certification is a powerful addition to a resume, a single certification is not typically enough to secure employment in the industry. That’s why our Computer User Support Specialist program includes four of the leading IT certifications for entry-level work: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, and ITIL Foundation.
The Computer User Support Specialist program takes five weeks to complete the courses (or 10 weeks if taken part-time in the evening). Students will need a few more weeks to study the material, take practice exams, and prepare themselves for their certification exams. Most students will need two months to complete all of their courses and get certified.
Our certification courses cost around $3,000 each (varies by course), with the total cost of our Computer User Support Specialist program coming in at $12,775.
Part 2: Getting Hired in IT
Once you have your certifications and training or degree, how hard is it to get hired in IT?
Bachelor’s Degree
With your bachelor’s degree in hand, you’ll find a large number of entry-level positions that you qualify for. Depending on the focus of your studies, you may be able to get a head start in the specific IT field you’re interested in. However, with more and more high school graduates attending college, the value of a college degree has begun to decrease.
While a degree will help you qualify for more jobs, it’s by no means a golden ticket. As you can see from this Quora thread, you’ll still need to look for internships during college, network with other IT professionals and employers, create a great resume and work on your online presence.
If you can’t show potential employers that you have the hard skills they are looking for, a degree may not mean much to them. They’ll want to know that you worked with the systems and hardware that they’re currently using. In fact, many of our graduates have combined a degree with certifications to help them compete in the job market. For more on this, check out the success story of Michael Cost who got an Information Assurance degree but still wasn’t able to find work until he added a Security+ certification to his resume.
LeaderQuest Training
Certifications like CompTIA Security+ are ideal for employers because they provide third party verification of the worker’s skills. For most IT jobs, skills are far more important than college degrees. Employers want to know that you’ll be able to configure a router, rebuild a computer or help secure the company’s systems. Because of this, the four certifications offered in the Computer User Support Specialist program are an ideal gateway to working in the tech world.
80% of our graduates are hired within six months of completing their studies and certifications. This is because our training is an ideal way to meet the increasing employer demand. According to CompTIA research, nearly 4 in 10 U.S. IT firms report having job openings and are actively recruiting candidates for technical positions. For those who wish to continue their education and expand into the cybersecurity market, they’ll have an even easier time getting hired. In fact, The Cybersecurity Jobs Report predicts there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions by 2021.
The final component to our employment rate is one-on-one Career Service support. Each campus has a dedicated Career Services team, ready to help you optimize your resume, polish your LinkedIn profile, and practice your interview skills. When you’re certified and ready, they’ll connect you with local employers that are looking to hire.
Part 3: Where Will You Be Five Years Later?
Bachelor’s Degree
After five years, a bachelor’s degree student would have only been in the working world for about a year, or possibly less given the time needed to secure employment. In an entry-level position like Information Technology Specialist, one could expect an average salary of $48,063. Working for one year in a role like this, the bachelor’s degree recipient would have incurred $39,880 for tuition and would just be able to start to pay that off.
LeaderQuest Training
Assuming two months to complete training and certification, and six months to find a job in the industry, a LeaderQuest graduate would have been working for four years and four months. Considering the average salary of $48,063 for an Information Technology Specialist, the LeaderQuest graduate could have already made as much as $208,271 in the same amount of time that the bachelor’s degree holder was just getting started in the working world! If you factor in the potential for promotions or pay raises, they might even be making more. And they’d be gaining valuable industry experience that can help them get ready for the next move in their career—instead of just starting it.
Timeline
Bachelor’s Degree
LeaderQuest Training
Year 1
Studying, -$9,970
Training, -$12,775
Working, +16,021
Year 2
Studying, -$9,970
Working, +48,063
Year 3
Studying, -$9,970
Working, +48,063
Year 4
Studying, -$9,970
Working, +48,063
Year 5
Working, +48,063
Working, +48,063
TOTAL
Total: +9,183
Total: +195,498
Looking at the table above, the benefits of accelerated training through LeaderQuest are obvious. Get trained, get into the field, and start earning experience and money!
College or LeaderQuest?
You don’t have to choose! The American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT®) has recommended 14 LeaderQuest courses for college credit. ACE CREDIT® recommendation means you could get trained with entry-level certifications, quickly start a job in IT, and still have college credit if you decide to go back to school to specialize. Really, the only thing better than certifications or a degree is certifications and a degree!
LeaderQuest also has an articulation agreement with Colorado State University-Global Campus (CSU-Global) which makes our Computer User Support Specialist program worth about as many credits as a semester of classes. In addition, LeaderQuest students can take advantage of a 10% tuition discount at CSU-Global. This means you can use the training and job relevant skills you learn at LeaderQuest in high demand career areas of information technology, cybersecurity, and project management, and apply it toward your continued education and career advancement with CSU-Global.
Are you ready to get started on an IT career today?
If you are, it might be time to talk to a Career Advisor and schedule a tour of one of our campuses. During the tour, you’ll get a free career consultation with one of our Career Training Consultants to help you determine if IT is a good fit for you, and what field you might like to work towards. They’ll also talk to you about funding, training timelines, employment rates, and anything else that’s on your mind.
Getting into the IT industry doesn’t have to be time consuming. LeaderQuest can make it easy to take the first steps on a new career path.
When seeking to join the ever-growing field of information technology, two of the most common paths to competency are degrees and certifications. While both of these options can get you a job in IT, they are by no means created equal! In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the important differences between these two routes (as well as a couple of ways that you may not have to choose at all).
Time Invested
College or Degree Program
In general, it takes about 4 years to earn a college degree. This is usually spread out over 8 semesters, with four courses per semester. This enables students to get a huge amount of information in their time at college and really process each individual class before moving on to additional learning materials. Especially determined students may be able to finish their major in 3 years (or less) if they take more than 4 classes per semester, or take classes during the summer.
In terms of time spent during the week, most courses are 3 credit hours. With four courses, that means about 12 hours per week spent in class. Additional time will of course be needed for homework, writing papers and exam-prep.
Certification Courses at LeaderQuest
Certification training at LeaderQuest is intensive and accelerated. We’ll take our Computer User Support Specialist program as an example, because it prepares students with enough certifications and knowledge to confidently enter the IT industry. This program includes training for four certifications: ITIL, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, and CompTIA Network+. These courses take 5 days or 10 evenings each, except for A+ which is split into two courses. That gives us a total of 25 days of instruction, or 50 evenings.
For those taking the course during the day, instruction and labs comprise a 40-hour week. Each day is packed with instruction, hands-on labs, and time for questions and answers. Evening courses are spread out over twice as many days, with only 4 hours of instruction per evening. After instruction, students will need some time to review everything they’ve learned and take advantage of the additional materials offered by LeaderQuest. Most students complete their certification exams within the following month.
Cost of Training
College or Degree Program
According to LendEDU, for the 2017-2018 year, the average cost of tuition for a semester at a public 4-year in-state college or university was $9,970. For four years at that rate, one would expect to pay $39,880 for tuition. Of course, this doesn’t include other costs such as room & board, transportation, supplies and so on.
A college degree offers value that is above and beyond what certifications offer, which makes it difficult to compare these two items accurately.
Certification Courses at LeaderQuest
Our certification courses cost around $3,000 each (varies by course), with the total cost of our Computer User Support Specialist program coming in at $12,775. That’s close to the cost of a single year at an in-state college or university! Included in the overall cost of tuition are the industry-recognized certification exam attempt(s).
The certifications included in our Computer User Support Specialist program do not offer the breadth and depth of knowledge that a Bachelor’s degree does, but they offer a more expedient path to employment in the Information Technology sector. As you’ll see in the next section, the tight focus of our training courses provides a huge benefit to their holders.
Focus of Training
College or Degree Program
Most degree programs require students to take electives or general education credits to help ensure a well-rounded education. Even within their major, college graduates study a huge variety of topics, not all of which will be useful in their career after school. General education requirements can take as much as one to two years to complete before students can really focus on technology skills.
Certification Courses at LeaderQuest
Certifications instead offer focused training designed to confirm skills in very specific areas that employers have a high demand for. These programs do not require students to take courses in other subject areas. Students are able to jump right into technology courses, each of which has a clear application and certification to show 3rd-party skills verification.
For those looking to start a career in IT as soon as possible, certifications offer a much more direct path to employment because of their increased focus.
Style of Training
College or Degree Program
Many college courses focus more on theory and the history of a subject than on its current practice. Textbooks may have been written years ago but still be in use until a new edition is released. Courses will vary in how much focus they offer on hands-on training depending on the instructor and the availability of lab facilities.
Certification Courses at LeaderQuest
All of our courses include a mixture of lecture time and hands-on labs. Labs are different for each class. In A+, you’ll be taking apart and putting back together computer hardware. Network+ and Security+ are more software focused, with students configuring network components and checking the security of connected virtual systems.
We want to make sure that our students get the experience they need, working with real computer systems and programs. We understand that it’s important for our students to get certified, but we also want to make sure that they have mastered the skills they’ll need to excel in the workplace.
Getting Hired after Training
College or Degree Program
The completion of a degree marks a huge milestone in one’s career and shows that they have the dedication and determination needed to complete their program. Degrees are respected all over the world as a sign of accomplishment and knowledge, but they don’t signify the same kind of skills-verification that a certification does. This is because certifications focus on very specific bodies of knowledge, while two graduates with Computer Science Bachelor’s degrees may have very different skill sets.
Certification Courses at LeaderQuest
One thing that many colleges lack is follow-through with students who’ve graduated. Once you’re done, you’re pretty much on your own when it comes to finding a job. At LeaderQuest, we make it our #1 priority to help you get hired in a job you’ll love. Each campus has a dedicated Career Services team that will work with you to optimize your resume, perfect your LinkedIn profile and practice interviewing. When you’re ready, we’ll connect you with our network of employer partners that are looking to hire entry-level It roles.
When applying to careers in the IT field, certifications can be a very persuasive credential. For example, if a company wants to hire a Network Engineer, knowing that a candidate has their Network+ and CCNA certifications may be valued over a degree that may or may not have covered the expertise they need. This is especially true of the IT careers in demand right now. If you look at a list of IT jobs, you’ll see certifications listed for almost every one of them. According to a survey conducted by CompTIA, 93% of hiring managers believe IT certifications are valuable in validating expertise. Not only that, but 80% of employers reward their staff for passing certification exams with an increase in salary or pay, public recognition, bonus or promotion!
Certifications vs. Degrees: Who is the Final Winner?
And the final winner is… *drumroll*
Really, we can’t say that one of these routes is superior to the other.
If you want a strong foundation and an unparalleled breadth of knowledge, a degree is the best path.
If you’re interested in quickly gaining skills and certifications that will get you employed in IT, certification training is a great option.
But did you know that at LeaderQuest you can do both?
With LeaderQuest, you don’t have to choose just one!
In January of 2018, the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT®) officially recommended 14 LeaderQuest courses for college credit. The American Council on Education (ACE), serves as the major coordinating body for the nation’s higher education institutions. Simply put, ACE CREDIT helps adults gain academic credit for courses and examinations taken outside traditional degree programs.
One can debate the merits of a degree or a particular certification endlessly, but there’s no doubt that having both a degree and the right certifications is a perfect recipe for career success! You can read more about which courses are approved and how many credits they’re recommended for on ACE’s website.
LeaderQuest also has formed a comprehensive partnership with Colorado State University-Global Campus (CSU-Global) to create career-relevant, continuing education pathways for technology professionals. This partnership includes an agreement for credit articulation, as well as a 10% tuition discount at CSU-Global for LeaderQuest students! CSU-Global is an online university, and students can attend from anywhere.
Are you interested in starting an IT career?
If you’re ready to get started in IT, LeaderQuest is a great choice. Our intensive training will quickly teach you everything you need to know to get hired in IT. Many students are employed in IT within 3 months of starting classes at LeaderQuest. Our classes are taught by expert instructors who hold the certification you’re training for. LeaderQuest covers the cost of one certification attempt per class, we also have onsite testing centers to make sitting for the exam easy and stress-free. Once you’ve completed your certifications, our Career Services team will work with you to get your resume and LinkedIn profile polished, and then connect you with local employers that are part of our Employer Partner network. That’s what makes us the experts when it comes to helping students start IT careers.
To find out more about how we can help you start an IT career, click the link below and get in touch with us!
Have you been considering a career change? Nobody likes working a dead-end job with no chances for promotion or advancement, but it may not be your boss’s fault. Some industries, like manufacturing, have been stagnating in recent years as emerging markets generate more and more output. Other jobs, like customer service or food service positions just don’t offer lower level employees an easy way to climb the ladder. But it doesn’t have to be that way. A career in IT can provide great job security and advancement opportunities.
There’s never been a better time to make the switch to working in IT. Check out our five powerful reasons to join the tech industry, below!
1. The Average Annual Tech-Sector Wage is $112,890
Sure, Silicon Valley skews this stat a little bit high, but even if you leave California out of the equation the average wage is still $102,800! Entry-level positions won’t command this kind of salary, but it shows the salary potential for experienced workers in the industry. At an entry-level role like Computer Support Specialist, you can expect a median salary of $52,810 (BLS, 2017).
While many tech workers are salaried, there is a growing “gig economy” in the tech sector. For tech occupations the median hourly wage was $38.90, not bad! Gig workers can’t take advantage of benefits like health care, but they still command high wages.
2. Tech Unemployment is at a Rock Bottom 2.3%
For context, that’s nearly 70% less than the national unemployment rate of 3.9%. Nearly every industry has a need for tech workers, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. As more and more businesses go digital, get online or otherwise adopt 21st century technology to run better, there is a huge need for tech workers. If you’ve got tech skills and you’re not working, it shouldn’t be hard to find a job.
3. Huge Growth Potential of 11-12% by 2026
Considering that we’re in what historians call the “Information Age,” this should come as no surprise. Our economy’s focus has shifted from production of goods to the management of data and digital assets, and it shows in the kinds of jobs being added to the economy. The BLS reported growth rates of 11% for Computer Support Specialists, and 12% for Computer and Information Systems Managers from 2016-2026. Compare this to the national average of 7% growth and it’s not hard to see that tech is on the rise! In 2016 alone, the tech industry added 200,000 new jobs to the economy.
While mining and manufacturing continue to decline in their share of the economy and the number of jobs they create, the tech industry is going in the opposite direction. Of course, not every sector of the tech industry is growing at the same rate. Since 2010, the IT services and custom software services category powered job growth, accounting for 67 percent of job gains.
4. Predicted Shortage of Over One Million IT and Cyber Security Positions in the U.S. by 2026
If you think that the need for workers in this sector is powerful now, wait until you see what the future has in stock! According to CompTIA Cyberstates, “When factoring in the need to replace retiring or career-change workers, the total potential tech workforce need will exceed 1.2 million through 2026.“
Part of this need is driven by the expanding role of tech in other industries, but the increasing need for cyber security is also a huge factor. As fast as tech has grown over the last twenty years, we are only just beginning to understand the need for strong security measures for our networks and data. With every passing year, protecting our voting systems, financial infrastructure, and communications networks becomes more and more important. The US government has made its commitment to cyber security clear with Directive 8570/8140, and American businesses are making their commitment clear with more job roles and increased spending on security.
5. Tech Workers are Needed in Nearly Every Industry
According to the Cyberstates 2017 report, over half (56%) of technology professionals are employed at companies not in the tech industry. Nearly every modern company needs to use computers, the internet, data storage and more. To manage and secure these devices and networks, companies from nearly every industry are hiring IT positions.
This is great news for workers with tech skills because it means that you can move anywhere and know you’ll be able to find a great job. It also helps ensure excellent job security, because there are so many jobs for tech workers in so many different industries.
Are You Interested in Information Technology?
Making the transition to a tech career could be easier than you think. While a degree in Computer Science or a similar discipline can be very helpful, skills are more important than diplomas for most hiring managers. IT certifications can prove your skills and offer a faster route to skills competency and entry level positions.
LeaderQuest offers accelerated training courses that can give you the skills and hands-on experience you need to pass your certification exams and excel at a new job. Our courses generally take 5 days or 10 nights and are taught by industry-expert instructors that can answer your questions and help you work through the material. With a mix of lecture and lab, you’ll gain the confidence you need to secure a new position and start a brand new career in a thriving industry,
If you’re interested in learning more about accelerated IT training, don’t hesitate to get in touch! We’ll schedule a time for you to meet with one of our expert Career Training Counselors and see if a career in IT could be right for you.
Today, we are living in a digital economy. Every business can see that technology has become a critical part of their current operations and their future success, and leadership is pushing for digital transformation. In order to remain competitive, companies know they must invest in IT. This includes everything from the computers that workers use every day, to the networks they communicate with the internet over, to data storage, to cloud computing, and more.
CompTIA A+ is the industry standard for launching IT careers into today’s digital world. Why? Because it’s performance-based, trusted by employers, regularly re-invented by IT experts, and offers a complete skills development solution.
Getting your CompTIA A+ certification will enable you to join this digital revolution and ensure a competitive salary and great job security. Read on to learn about why A+ is so powerful and what you’ll learn.
What Makes the A+ Certification Valuable?
CompTIA A+ vendor-neutral certification is the preferred qualifying credential for technical support and IT operational roles. A+ demonstrates comprehension of hardware, software, operating systems, system troubleshooting, technology repair, networking, mobility, security and operational procedures.
Directive 8140/8570: The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recognizes CompTIA A+ certification for information assurance technicians under DoD Directive 8140/8570.
Mapped to NICE: CompTIA A+ maps to the Customer Service and Technical Support specialty area of the framework developed as part of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE).
Highly In Demand: CompTIA A+ ranked 7th in U.S. job listings showing the certification is required or recommended for potential candidates. (Source: CompTIA IT Employment Snapshot, Q4 2017)
The A+ certification is ideal for those looking to get started in the Information Technology industry. It was created to certify that readiness and skills for job roles such as Service Desk Analyst, Field Service Tech, Help Desk Tech, and IT Support Specialist.
Employers look for candidates with their A+ certification because it helps them know they’re making a great hiring decision. Being able to pass the exam is a form of 3rd party skills verification that gives hiring mangers confidence that this hire will be able to do the job and do it right. In fact, 96% of HR managers use IT certifications as screening or hiring criteria during recruitment!
What Does the A+ Certification Cover?
This in-depth certification covers the most important basics of the IT industry: security, infrastructure and hardware, networking, operations, operating systems, software and troubleshooting. For a more in-depth look at what you could learn, read through the exam objectives below.
Security
Tech support teams face a growing challenge to accurately triage a flood of security issues.
Physical and logical security
Social engineering
Malware detection and removal
Device hardening
Biometric authentication
Privacy concerns, including GDPR and handling PII
Security Objectives
Summarize the importance of physical security measures.
Compare and contrast wireless security protocols and authentication methods.
Given a scenario, detect, remove, and prevent malware using appropriate tools and methods.
Given a scenario, implement security best practices to secure a workstation.
Infrastructure & Hardware
Connectivity is the lifeblood of productivity. Troubleshooting device connectivity issues are table stakes for IT support professionals.
Cloud and virtualization
IoT devices and protocols
Internet appliances, including endpoint management
Different network types, including wireless mesh networks
Mobile Devices Objectives
Given a scenario, install and configure laptop hardware and components.
Given a scenario, install components within the display of a laptop.
Given a scenario, connect and configure accessories and ports of other mobile devices.
Given a scenario, configure basic mobile device network connectivity and application support.
Networking Objectives
Compare and contrast TCP and UDP ports, protocols, and their purposes.
Compare and contrast common networking hardware devices. (Routers, switches, access points, firewalls, bubs, repeaters, etc)
Given a scenario, install and configure a basic wired/wireless SOHO network.
Compare and contrast wireless networking protocols.
Hardware Objectives
Explain basic cable types, features, and their purposes.
Given a scenario, select and configure appropriate components for a custom PC configuration to meet customer specifications or needs.
Given a scenario, install and configure motherboards, CPUs, and add-on cards.
Given a scenario, select, install and configure storage devices.
Troubleshooting Objectives
Given a scenario, use the best practice methodology to resolve problems.
Given a scenario, troubleshoot problems related to motherboards, RAM, CPUs, and power.
Given a scenario, troubleshoot common wired and wireless network problems.
Given a scenario, troubleshoot hard drives and RAID arrays.
Operations
As the systems that users connect with increase in both number and variety, the definition of competency for an entry level IT support pros has expanded.
Scripting, Python, Bash, Javascript
Working with log files
Knowledgebase best practices
Change management
Basic disaster prevention and recovery
Using remote access
Operational Procedures Objectives
Compare and contrast best practices associated with types of documentation.
Given a scenario, implement basic change management best practices.
Given a scenario, implement basic disaster prevention and recovery methods.
Explain the processes for addressing prohibited content/activity, and privacy, licensing, and policy concepts.
Software
Hardware knowledge underpins tech support competency, but the day-to-day requires software expertise.
Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome OS, Mac OS
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Hypervisors
iCloud, Exchange, Google Inbox
Active Directory
Operating Systems Objectives
Compare and contrast common operating system types and their purposes.
Summarize general OS installation considerations and upgrade methods.
Given a scenario, use appropriate Microsoft command line tools.
Given a scenario, configure Microsoft Windows networking on client/desktop.
Software Troubleshooting Objectives
Given a scenario, troubleshoot Microsoft Windows OS problems.
Given a scenario, troubleshoot and resolve PC security issues.
Given a scenario, use best practice procedures for malware removal.
Given a scenario, troubleshoot mobile OS and application issues.
Are you interested in IT training?
Does the idea of installing and configuring motherboards make you grin? Do you want to learn the ins-and-outs of running virtual machines? A career in IT could be the perfect choice for you. If you enjoy working with your hands, fixing broken things, and understanding the latest technology, consider giving IT a chance.
LeaderQuest can help you get the training you need to get hired in IT. Our training courses take 5-10 days to complete and are taught by instructors with years of industry experience. We include hands-on labs in every course so that you’ll have the skills you need to excel. Finally, we offer one-on-one career services to help you with your resume, LinkedIn profile, cover letter, interview skills and more. We’ll even connect you with local IT employers that are looking to hire.
So what’s stopping you? Your IT career is waiting for you!
After 15 years in the the commercial real estate industry, Khozema Raja found himself jobless with a new child on the way. He knew he wanted to head in a new career direction but he didn’t have much time. Luckily, the stars aligned and he found LeaderQuest!
Khozema was faced with a difficult situation. “I really needed to step up and take care of my family,” he told us. He could either go get a low-paying non-career job or go to the unemployment office and see what options there might be out there for him. He decided to head to the unemployment office. After discussing his situation with his counselor, he was introduced to the idea of transitioning into the IT industry with an accelerated training program at LeaderQuest. Fortunately, he qualified for a state grant that would cover his training costs wherever he decided to go. LeaderQuest is proud to partner with workforce centers that provide funding to help those who’ve been unemployed get the training they need to get back to work.
“I’ve always liked being around computers and my father worked at IBM, so I was like, why don’t I actually try to make a career out of it?”
Watch Khozema tell his story about training at LeaderQuest Dallas in his own words, below.
Know Your Career Training Options
He was advised to go to LeaderQuest’s campus and take a tour with a Career Training Consultant whose job it is to help people understand what a career in IT entails and ultimately if it is the right move for a candidate. He decided to check it out and headed to LeaderQuest the next day. “They were so friendly to me, they gave me a tour and answered all of my questions about the IT industry.” The tour ended up going very well for Khozema.
“It was a no-brainer to enter the IT industry. I didn’t even hesitate when I decided to go with LeaderQuest. They made me feel like family as soon as I walked in.”
Soon after Khozema’s decision to go with LeaderQuest he was enrolled into the Computer User Support Specialist program. This program is designed to help individuals with little to no IT experience enter the industry comfortably and confidently. The program is made up of four different certifications: ITIL Foundation, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+. As Khozema put it “This program gives you a foundation for everything IT-related from the basics of how a computer works and operates to security and networking.”
This carefully curated array of internationally recognized certifications is the perfect combination of entry-level and mid-level IT training that allows students to get a taste of different facets of IT so they can see what areas interest them the most. From cyber security to network engineering, there are many areas one can explore.
Alternative Learning Environment
While traditional teaching techniques that lock students into a read-study repeat routine, LeaderQuest strives to create an alternative learning environment that helps trainees master the basics by focusing on the hands-on experience that will translate into a real world job. Khozema found this out in his first week of training, “It was refreshing. It didn’t feel like you were in school again, It felt really comfortable.”
His favorite certification course was CompTIA A+. “I enjoyed the hands-on training. We had different labs where you had to troubleshoot problems. I would always try to be the first one to get done, we all started to get real competitive which made it more fun.” This is exactly what LeaderQuest is all about, creating a place to train, a place to create new bonds, and a place to launch a new future.
More Than IT Training
At LeaderQuest we understand that many people are intimidated by the whole process, and sometimes that intimidation stands in the way of their success. This wall of intimidation is broken down throughout the duration of the program with easy to understand training, study sessions, and one-on-one career counseling with our Employment Development Managers (EDMs) who are heart of our Career Services Team.
Our EDM’s sole purpose is to guide trainees through the employment process in conjunction with their training. As Khozema was settling in to LeaderQuest he was able to start meeting with the EDM at our Dallas campus. “We set up mock interviews, as well as resume building sessions, where I was able to learn what exactly I needed to put on my resume.” In addition to interview training and resume writing, our EDMs can connect students with our network of employer partners. This is made possible because LeaderQuest has fostered relationships with recruiters as well as direct relationships with employers in each of our markets. This allows us to have multiple opportunities waiting for our trainees as soon as they finish the program. We do not charge our partners to hire our students which has created a symbiotic relationship, beneficial to everyone involved.
While following his plan, Khozema was getting much more out of the program than just training.
“The process was inspiring, empowering, and really helped me grow.”
As he went through the training and employment services, more and more opportunities started to present themselves. The LeaderQuest employment services helped him to understand what these offers really meant and which offers better aligned with his goals. Towards the end of the program, Khozema as well as other trainees were presented with help desk job opportunities with an oil and gas company looking to fill multiple positions. He and a few other trainees decide to take positions at this company. “It was a stress relief and really nice actually knowing someone on my first day on the job.”
Career Training that Empowers Students
“I really liked the whole process from becoming a student to being successfully placed. Thank you for empowering me!”
This word “empower” is key in understanding the goal of LeaderQuest. We not only provide our trainees with the skills to enter the IT industry but the confidence and backing to do so. Khozema was faced with a hard situation, he found out his options, planned, and most importantly of all executed.
His situation is not unique. Thousands of Americans are currently sick of their jobs, unemployed, or are longing for something more. LeaderQuest provides a path to education for those looking for a new career. Currently there are over 300,000 unfilled IT jobs in the U.S., a number which is expected to balloon over the 1,000,000 mark in 2020. The salaries for Information Technology (IT) positions are among the highest in the country. See the numbers for yourself from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There has never been a better time nor a better opportunity to make the transition.
Turn Your Story Into a Success Story
Khozema Raja went from being unemployed with a baby on the way to an employed father with a bright future ahead. His story is similar to hundreds of LeaderQuest alumni. Our goal is to help as many people as possible change their lives through a new career.
Here is Khozema’s advice: “To anyone thinking about transitioning, come down, meet the staff, and have a real conversation about what is going on in your life and what your aspirations are.”
We firmly believe in the human connection. If you are interested in turning your story into a success story with one of our IT programs, please reach out and we’ll have a conversation to see if this is the right path for you.
The IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is one of the most commonly requested certifications for IT support staff. For those looking to start a career in IT, this certification is an important addition to their resume. LeaderQuest offers a 5-day ITIL course that will teach you everything you need to know to pass the exam and get certified, even if you don’t have any IT experience.
This blog will cover what ITIL is, why it’s important for a career in IT, and how it doesn’t just apply to support roles.
What is ITIL?
ITIL is a framework for best practices for delivering IT services. In the 1980’s, the British government’s Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) started collecting best practices in an effort to reduce inefficiency and standardize IT processes. The library eventually included 30 volumes, collected from all over the world. These volumes covered a variety of best practices, including ones from technology vendors all over the world.
In 2000, ITIL V2 was released. This revision of the ITIL reduced the number of volumes to just 7, each focusing on a different part of IT service management:
Service Support
Service Delivery
Planning to Implement Service Management
ICT Infrastructure Management
Applications Management
Security Management
The Business Perspective
In 2005 the ITIL was again consolidated, this time to just 5 volumes. In 2011, ITIL V3 was released by AXELOS, a joint venture of Her Majesty’s Cabinet Office and Capita PLC. V3 is the most current version of ITIL, and the version that LeaderQuest offers training on.
ITIL Foundation is the first of five certifications offered by AXELOS:
Foundation Level
Practitioner Level
Intermediate Level
Expert Level
Master Level
What makes ITIL V3 different?
In general, V2 was more focused on process, while V3 is more focused on business integration and a holistic service lifecycle for continuous improvement.
While V2 was very process-focused, V3 is more service oriented. V3 introduced the lifecycle approach to service management. V2 had a linear structure from business to infrastructure, whereas V3 offers a hub-and-spoke structure that enables flexibility. V3 also roughly doubles the size of the library that composes ITIL. While V2 did little to help IT service management professionals to clearly articulate the benefits of professional service management, V3 uses clearly defined roles and responsibilities through the entire lifecycle.
Finally, while V2 was more focused on “what” should be done and why, V3 has more practical focus on “how” one should go about doing it. V3 aligns much much better with the needs of modern businesses and their focus on seeing real results, instead of focusing on theory.
Benefits of ITIL and PMP
If you’re interested in doing project management for an online company or any business that has strong IT needs, this is a powerful combination. ITIL Foundation will give you a deep understanding of the processes and framework for IT service management, which will help you plan your projects in a way that works efficiently with those teams. When it comes to getting hired, this combination can put you on the top of the stack with the right kind of companies.
The PMP certification is the most important industry-recognized certification for IT project managers. Globally recognized and demanded, the PMP certification demonstrates that students have the experience, education, and competency to lead and direct projects. PMP is an ideal certification for project managers, project team members, functional managers, and others involved in the planning, implementation, and control of projects. If you are looking to solidify skills, stand out to employers and maximize earning potential, this certification is for you!
ITIL is also an important certification if you’re interested in going into management. By understanding the terminology, processes, and service management cycle, your ability manage IT teams with efficiency and confidence will be greatly increased. ITIL gives you a foundation to create best-practices through the latest tools and techniques available.
For those who are interested in going into IT security, ITIL is the perfect certification to combine with other more cyber security-focused certs. If you want to make sure that systems and networks are secure, it’s important to understand the processes that are used to create and maintain those systems.
Because CISSP has a focus on management, ITIL and CISSP are a great combination. It’s vital to understand the business front to back, soup to nuts, and IT infrastructure is an important part of how any business operates. ITIL will assist you in coordinating with all levels of IT efficiently.
Hands-On ITIL Training at LeaderQuest
We know how hard studying new concepts can be when you don’t have any IT experience. That’s why we custom-built our ITIL curriculum to empower career changers to master these concepts quickly and start a career in IT with confidence. An important component of our curriculum is a case study that we adapted for use. You can read all about it here.
Are you ready to start your IT career?
If you are thinking about getting into IT but have no experience, ITIL is the perfect place to start. Combining ITIL with the power of other certifications my seem daunting at first, but when you get started with LeaderQuest you’ll find that this training is designed for people just like you.
The truth is, you really only need a few key certifications to get started in the IT industry. Our Computer User Support Specialist track combines ITIL, A+, Net+ and Security+ to give you a strong foundation for career growth. After a few years working in the industry, you can use this as a base to grow into cyber security with certs like CEH, CND or CISSP. Or you can get into networking and infrastructure with CCNA. If you’d rather be in management, you can get your PMP and easily find work anywhere in the world.
If you’re ready to get started, consider LeaderQuest. We offer short-term training designed to get you skilled up and on the job market in as little time as possible. The Computer User Support Specialist program takes about two months to make you job ready, including instruction and time to take your exams. All of our courses are taught by live, industry-expert instructors, and LeaderQuest even covers the cost of one certification attempt per course.
Once you’re certified, our Career Services team will meet with you to optimize your resume, improve your LinkedIn profile and online presence, and help you prepare to interview for IT roles. We have connections with local IT employers, and can get your resume in front of their hiring managers. It’s our goal that every LeaderQuest graduate get connected with a great IT job, and our Career Services team is here to make sure that happens!
