Are you an IT Help Desk Associate or LAN Administrator who is considering enhancing their marketability in this tough job market?  Then the CCNA certification is for you!

Given the current generation entering the job market has grown up with computers, they don’t need help configuring a printer or setting their background color.  So the need and demand for basic Help Desk associates is dwindling.  But what is increasing is the need for associates who know how to manage data and traffic.

You see, the Cisco CCNA is really your first step to you becoming that advanced LAN administrator or Network Architect.  As with the Cisco CCNA certification you will learn about network traffic down to the packet level and also how to control the flow and route updates.

This is becoming an increasingly critical skill as the demand for bandwidth is exploding.  As you know, everything is connected to the Internet these days and if you don’t understand how systems communicate, how will you architect the network infrastructure and determine the best place for server placement to avoid latency issues?

So how do you obtain your Cisco CCNA?  There are two main options that most people consider.  The first is going to a boot camp.  This is unrealistic for most people.  If you are out of work, you probably do not have the $3,000+ it costs for the course and the $1,500 it will cost for hotel, car rental, meals and air fare.  If you are lucky, your company may pickup the tab.  That is if they don’t mind you being out of the office for a week (which is pretty unlikely).  But let’s say that they do pickup the tab for you.  You will get a week of great instruction and hands-on training.  Then at the end of the week what are you left with?  Simply a notebook full of notes and whatever stuck in your brain.  There has to be a better solution and there is!

Palaestra Training and CertificationKits have teamed up for the last 3 years providing CCNA candidates with the best, most economical solution.  Your very own home based CCNA Certification Lab & Training.  By purchasing the Palaestra Training CCNA CBT DVD you get the very same lectures that you would receive in the much more costly CCNA Boot Camps.  Then you may ask, what about the hands-on CCNA labs?  Well you with this great opportunity you’re able to purchase your very own CCNA Lab for well under $1,000 which is a lot less than the cost of a CCNA Boot Camp.

The self study model offers you the ability to tailor the pace of the CCNA training to your lifestyle.  Not only that, it affords you the ability to review the lectures and repeat the lab scenarios as many times as you want until you are comfortable with them so you can be sure you know the material before you sit for your exam.  So when you are serious about really learning the CCNA concepts and having the hands-on experience employers are looking for, decide to pickup your copy of the Palaestra CCNA Training DVD and compliment it with CCNA lab hardware from CertificationKits.com.

Handling IT concerns in any company can be a stressful task, and lying at the base of this stress is a simple imbalance between the capability of work that can be done by any given team, and the amount of work that is flowing in at any given time.

It therefore only stands to reason that, unless you can increase your staff to accommodate the work flow while avoiding Parkinson’s Law, the only surefire method to reduce the stress of working in an IT department is to better educate yourself and your staff in the best practices possible.

Sometimes this is a simple change in day to day work, other times an education comes with the realization that an increase in technology is needed. The purpose of this article is to inform well-meaning IT gurus and workers on some common sense techniques and practices that will increase performance without increasing overhead.

Maintaining an even baseline of efficiency over a certain period of time, barring any changes in the end user technology or any necessary IT training, should allow you to create a timeline for standard trouble tickets. Use this information to inform the end user, as this information removes the dreaded waiting game from their minds, and relieves much of the stress from both receiving and responding to complaints regarding the status of their ticket.

Always attempt to follow up a closed ticket with an attempt to gather feedback from the user. The most important forms of feedback should concern not only the ability of the IT responder, but the source of the problem, whether software, hardware, or both, and the strength of the proposed solution. This is where current technology plays its strongest role, as simplifying the source of software by considering a Dell virtualization server that operates through cloud computing can greatly reduce the complexity of software issues.

Each new ticket received should strive to quickly address the issue of the end user. This does not have to be a full assessment, it simply has to inform the user that their issue is being worked on. Addressing new tickets helps by not only informing the user of the timeline for resolution, but it can also be a source of quick fixes for known issues.

A scheduled day, out of either every quarter, or even every month, for an IT staffer to spend their time in another department, can result in a multitude of nagging problems being resolved. This not only reduces the number of tickets being forwarded, it can result in tickets being rescinded, and will improve the image of your IT department within the company.

Everyone lacks in something, and while this can be easily forgotten when helping others with their problems, it must be understood. Failing to empathize with an end user, or worse, giving poor attitude in response to a problem, can often halt the resolution process instead of speeding it along.

There’s no doubt that CCNA certification will make you more desirable as an employee and advance your career for years to come. This will yield more power, better pay and maybe even better hours. But sometimes learning and getting certification can be difficult. You may find studying from a book or listening to training tapes problematic; it may seem boring and you lose interest. The next thing you know, you fall behind in studying and you never end up with CCNA certification.

At Palaestra Training, we realize that getting certified isn’t an easy task and it can’t just be read. Instead it’s an in depth process of training. The best way to do this is through CCNA video. Video is perfect for the visual learner. The clips will keep you engaged and learning constantly from start to finish. The videos are set up where you get a hands-on approach to the complete mastery of CCNA.

So how do you know you’re a visual learner? Do you associate the learning of ideas, concepts, data and other information with images and techniques? The fact is more and more people are becoming visual learners as technology advances. Auditory learning techniques are falling behind, while visual techniques are helping people all around the world. Videos will not only give you the audio needed, but also the visual help that can create long-lasting knowledge.

With CCNA video, you can learn visually and actually digest the information that’s given to you. This way you can prepare easily for your CCNA certification. Once you get that certification, you will open plenty of doors to make your career fruitful.

The goal to any career is to gain enough experience and training to keep yourself marketable and employable – especially during a time of economic and job uncertainty. But even during these hard times, there are jobs out there that are in high demand. In the IT world, Cisco Certified Network Associate certification is a very marketable skill set to have.

Once you get CCNA training and pass your CCNA exam, you open doors to expand your career in many ways. Positions such as Network Administrator, LAN Specialist, WAN Specialist, CCNP Network Engineer and Router Configuration Expert are increasing in demand. These jobs offer higher salaries and, of course, job stability.

Typically, getting CCNA training will increase your salary from 10 to 12 percent. This can be a significant improvement that will allow you to possibly buy a home, a new car and live comfortably. Passing the CCNA exam and getting certified will also be a rewarding journey. You’ll have knowledge and expertise that will make work more enjoyable. Since you’ll be moving up or getting a higher ranking job with the certification, you will earn more respect within your workplace. It will also put you on a fast track to a long and successfully career in the IT industry.

Finally, you’ll have a more marketable resume. In a time where so many people are looking for jobs, you want to have a resume that stands out. Companies across almost every industry have a need for an IT department. Your resume may get shuffled together with hundreds of others. With the dedication of CCNA training, your resume will stand out amongst the rest.

So if you want to really flourish in your IT career, make sure you pass the CCNA exam with the help of Palaestra training videos.

Do you dread going to work every day? Do you hate your job and feel like it’s going nowhere? Do you find it hard to pay the bills because your current job just doesn’t pay well? These are all reasons to find another career – a career that is pays well and provides the challenge that keeps you engaged every day.

With Palaestra Training, you can find that perfect job that will propel your career and life into something you want. You can receive CompTIA A+ certification and Microsoft certifications that will help you find a job or get promoted at your current job.

CompTIA A+ certification boosts a resume tremendously and makes you so much more marketable in the IT world. The fact is that the tech world is not going away any time soon. It’s here to stay and will continue to boom. Be at the front of the tech wave with CompTIA A+ certification and guarantee your spot in any job. Having technological certifications is helpful in any business. Since pretty much any type of company has or needs a tech department, this will give you many opportunities and allow you to set yourself apart from the rest.

Having Microsoft certifications will only make you more marketable in the workplace. Learning how to become a Windows 7 administrator is especially useful for anyone looking to move up or get hired. Windows 7 is the most robust and best operating system Microsoft has created and many companies are starting to transfer to it. With Palaestra Training, you can gain the skills necessary to install, upgrade, migrate, deploy and maintain a Windows 7 business setting. This will make you an invaluable asset to any company.

Whether you’re looking for a challenge or a job that gives you good income, make sure you get the right certifications to excel in the tech world. Let Palaestra Training help you make a difference in your life.

Do you lead a busy life? Are you always on the move or have a family to take care of? With a hectic and fast-paced life, it’s hard to gain proper A plus certification without having to set aside a big part of your day to attend a class or do long hours of training on your personal computer.

However, through CompTIA A+ you can gain A plus certification through lessons on your iPod. This is a great convenience for someone who has an extremely busy schedule. With the iPod or any other MP3 player, you can listen or watch video anywhere you go. That’s why Palaestra Training has made it easy for you to get A plus certification while continuing your daily lifestyle.

Now you can upload our high-quality and informative lessons onto your iPod and listen to it while in the car or traveling on a plane. You can listen to it while cooking dinner or taking your kids to school. It’s so convenient and user friendly because we know that life can be very demanding.

The certification videos and audio will keep you up-to-date with the latest hardware and software advancements. This is the cornerstone of any IT field and with this skill set you should be able to move up from your current position or expand your opportunities in the IT world.

So don’t be overwhelmed by your hectic life and give up on an opportunity to advance your career. Get CompTIA A+ training videos for your iPod and learn anywhere and everywhere your busy life takes you.

Windows IT Pro Community Choice Awards 2011

We need your Help!! We’re in the running for the Windows IT Pro community choice awards for “Best Training & Certification Product or Service”.   We’d really like your help, if you’ve ever watched our videos on YouTube, or used our training to help in your training or certification process, please consider voting for us.

It’s SUPER easy, an only takes a few minutes.

Simply to go to the Windows IT Pro Community Choice Awards survey page and go to category #27.

Read the rest of this entry »

Are you sick of working for other people? Do you find yourself at the mercy of a boss who makes it clear that the company is willing to fire you at the drop of a hat? If you are looking to start your own business, and want a career that offers good prospects for the future, CompTIA A+ certification can give you the expertise to go your own way successfully.

While the rest of the world languishes in economic uncertainty, the computer industry is booming. If you have some computer knowledge and are thinking of starting up a business, there are few fields that provide as good of a chance at success as the IT industry. CompTIA A+ is widely considered to be the most trusted measure of  having a solid foundation of technical ability in the IT world, and having certification will give you credibility with businesses and consumers alike. When you start a business, it is important to set yourself up as an expert in your field. Having an A plus certification can do that for you. A framed certificate on a wall may just seem like a piece of paper, but the amount of assurance and confidence it lends to potential clients is outstanding.

If you have a job, but your position in the company is highly unstable and subject to pay cuts, demotions, or complete loss at any time, starting your own computer repair business may be a real option. If you have a natural grasp on computers and are looking to expand that grasp to a professional level, or if you are simply seeking a new career path with a higher rate of success, CompTIA A+ certification can get you on your way to the job you have always wanted.

The job market is in bad shape. With the economy in the gutter, many businesses have had to let people (some with years of service and experience) go just to stay afloat. So how can you get a job and keep it in such an uncertain climate? The greater reliance on computers and technology has led to a growth in the IT industry. By passing the CCNA exam, you are taking one of the most secure career paths of the modern day.

The Internet is only getting more complex. As more and more companies move online, and technology gets more advanced, there is an increasing need for knowledgeable professionals to manage it. The CCNA exam certifies you as an associate, which is above entry level, so it gives you more than the standard skills found on most resumes. Having that extra knowledge will place you above the competition when you are job hunting. There are even CCNA video tutorials that can instruct you at your own pace. Classes are more expensive and can’t be tailored to your busy schedule. CCNA video tutorials can.

Passing the CCNA exam helps you do more than get a job. Once you get a job, you will be more likely to keep it. Passing the exam shows employers that you have the capability to adapt to changes in technology. Many businesses and organizations have to have an online presence to matter in the world. Companies that don’t sell their products online will be hard-pressed to keep up with their competition. Small business owners may know how to surf, but they are unlikely to be able to set up their systems or fix them if something goes wrong.

A marketable skill in a growing industry is one of the best commodities you can have.  Passing the CCNA exam and getting certification can give you the job security that is so precious in this economy.

Times are hard and over the past few years many people have lost their jobs, had to change jobs or work several just to make ends meet.  When you go straight from one job to the next, how are you supposed to have the time or money to attend classes? For people looking to improve their job prospects, that don’t have the time or resources, CompTIA A+ certification video training can provide all of the education needed to better a career.

If you are a working adult with no trade skills, you may be at a disadvantage in this job market. Even people with degrees are finding it harder and harder to get work in this economy, and people are turning to up-and-coming markets and essential trades to earn their livings. Computer technology has done nothing but grow in recent years, and it doesn’t look like it will stop anytime soon, so a lot of job hunters are jumping on the bandwagon. You may have thought about getting your CompTIA A+ certification, but if you already have two jobs that barely cover your bills, the idea of schooling might seem farfetched.

That’s where video CompTIA A+ training comes in. With video training you can get the knowledge you need to get a better paying job in a growing industry without breaking the bank. Videos come at a convenient low price that soundly beats the cost of schooling. Also, instead of being at the mercy of class schedules, you can watch your videos on your own time, which is ideal for retail workers whose schedules fluctuate. You can review as much as you want according to your own time frame, so that if you have less time for studying one week, or have more trouble understanding a certain topic, you don’t have to worry about being left behind.

CompTIA A+ certification can improve your salary and your life on your terms. You’ll never regret the investment.