Computeach

My experiences with Computeach seem to be somewhat different to some others I have read on this site...

Originally, I was seen by one of their reps just over a year ago and he was very helpful. I knew a little about computers, but I wouldn't call myself a techie! I can't remember everything now, but he spent plenty of time with me going through which sectors of the market would suit me and we both arrived at programming.

I chose the microsoft certfication program called MCSD (Solutions Developer) in VB (Visual Basic) as it seemed a more gradual entry route than jumping into 'C' systems programming!

He didn't make any wild promises and the salaries that he covered were in keeping with my own research on various job sites. I do remember that he mentioned several times that I would be starting on a lower salary and then moving up gradually over the first 3-5 years. I know I was hoping that he would tell me that I would be straight in at 30k(!) - but that was just wishful thinking. I just recently got my first job after 11 months of training and I started on 19k - which is 5k more than I was earning before - so I am happy. Plus I realise that I am at the start of my career. From my new colleagues I know that my earnings will be increasing substantially over the next few years. I am now working with people who earn over 30k and for the first time in my life, I am in the same situation as them - all I need is to build some experience.

Computeach have been good at most things. The instructors are helpful, the service has always been reasonably prompt. Yes, it did cost quite a lot, but I (unlike others I have read about) didn't expect a free lunch. At the end of the day, I looked at cheaper ways of doing it myself but realised that just like losing weight, if I relied entirely on myself I would never do it! I wanted telephone support (not just to buy a bunch of books from Waterstones) and I liked their exam guarantee and careers service (which has worked for me.) Sure... there have been niggles with courier deliveries etc. but nothing that I wouldn't expect from any company.

The bottom line is, as one of my colleagues said the other day - you only get out what you put in. If you don't go at it with the right attitude and commitment then nothing will work for you. I don't understand really why people moan about paying thousands for retraining. University would have cost me about 25k over 3 years (and I would have had to give up my fulltime job) and other trades I considered like plumbing etc were going to cost me the same as my IT training. Plus now I don't have to worry about having shot knees by the time I'm 40!

It seems odd to me that the majority of bad reviews I read about Computeach were based on their cost without any experience of their service - Just people moaning that it was more than they had expected. Did they really do their homework? Every training company I looked at were all the same ballpark prices when you took all factors into account (like exam fees included/excluded) etc. And Computeach were the only Gold Microsoft partner I found which I thought sounded like a good idea considering I was doing a Microsoft course!

By all means, listen to the negative people out there - God knows there are enough of them in life. Just remember that it will be you who gets you through the training, not the name on the letterhead of the company you go with. I chose Computeach and am glad I did!