Get Out of the Lab and Apply What You Have Learned

It is of course important for those who work in the IT field to get the training and certifications they need to be successful, but at some point it is vital for those students to take what they have learned and apply it in the real world. There is simply no substitute for the power of hands on experience, and in fact many IT recruiters value this first hand knowledge and experience as much, or even more, than classroom training and the latest certifications.

In fact more and more software and hardware vendors are recognizing the importance of these real world experiences and using that knowledge to make their exams more realistic and more useful to real world employers. Performance based certification programs are popping up all over, including in the world of Cisco certification. Cisco Systems refers to these performance based certifications as "proof of concept" simulators, labs and other hands on exercises. These simulations are designed to allow candidates to practice the concepts they have learned in a safe environment, and this lab work is an integral part of the learning and certification process.

It makes perfect sense that candidates for certification would want to spend as much time as possible in these test labs, since these lab simulators are designed to recreate what those candidates will face when they get out in the real world and work with real Cisco equipment.

Almost every course offered by the major software and hardware vendors includes some sort of lab or simulation exercise, and students and trainers agree that these type of exercises are vitally important to success in the real world. After all, it is one thing to read a book, but it can be quite another to actually sit down and do the work. These type of lab exercises help to assure employers that the candidates who pass their vendor exams will be equipped to perform the job functions for which they have been hired.

Of course all the lab exercises in the world cannot make up for a lack of real world experience, and many employers will be looking for some type of real world experience even for their entry level employees. One of the most effective ways for those without a job history to build up their resumes and enhance their chances of landing a job is to volunteer. Many nonprofit organizations and charities are constantly on the lookout for qualified computer technicians, and this type of volunteer opportunity can have real benefits for both the worker and the chartable organization. Volunteer opportunities abound in many locations around the country, and there are many volunteer clearinghouses whose job it is to match volunteers and the organizations who need them.

After those skills have been honed in the volunteer world, it is time to take them to the corporate world, and that is where all that training and all those lab exercises will really come in to play. It is important for IT workers to get as much hands on real world experience as they can, and there is simply no substitute for real experience.

Of course Cisco certifications coupled is still one of the best formulas for getting hired, and those in need of such certification should be sure to consider training with an organization like CBT Planet. CBT Planet is proud to provide the best in computer based training and instructor led computer training classes in a variety of different disciplines. From training in desktop applications and Microsoft Office to advanced training for Cisco, CompTIA, Microsoft, Oracle, Red Hat, IBM, Sun and other, CBT Planet has the courses you are looking for. Contact CBT Planet today to discuss your training and certification needs.