What I like most is that I get to play with some of the coolest toys I have ever seen, and get paid for it. Virtual PC is by far my favorite. One reason I became a chef was that I liked the instant gratification; but I still have that doing this. It feels good to see the person’s face when you have just fixed their computer, or showed them how to do something that they couldn’t do yesterday.

My biggest concern was putting in the time and money to this program and still having to cook to support my family. Looking at colleges, I would have a degree but still be on my own when it came to getting a job. I would be in the age old predicament: no experience to get a job and no job to get the experience. After speaking with the Director of Placement and seeing the fervor she put into helping me obtain that first job, I wanted to put more effort into the job search. Since I now have that first job, I really do not have any other concerns about the decision, or where I will go from here.

My best advice for a new student would be to take it seriously. We are trying to cram into our heads in six months what traditional students spend four years learning. Granted, the traditional student goes into much more detail at every step. But the bottom line is that out in the real world, nobody cares. We are set right along side others with the same job experience, and are expected to perform the same. To be as successful as you can be with this program, you must be so consumed for the six months that you dream about Active Directory.

The most essential way the experience has changed my life, and my family’s, is that I have not graduated yet and I am already contributing my financial share within my family again, and I don’t even need to work eighty hours per week anymore to do so. I firmly believe that with this career change, the plans I have made will begin to be realized, even the ones I had once given up on as a chef."

Brian Bruce
MCTS, MCP
Computer Tech

My biggest concern before entering the program would be whether or not I’d be able to pick up a book and study, because it’d be a number of years, since I’d been in school. I overcame this by utilizing my time management skills. I would advise new students to take the program seriously. It’s not something where you can just come to class and learn; you’ve really got to put in the 10-12 hours a week to maximize your experience in the program.

The experience has given me insight into a new industry that I was always curious about. It has also started me on the path into a more stable industry where I can make a lot of money."

Jose Burgos
MCP
Desktop Administrator

"When I first walked into ComputerTraining.edu I had the "land of opportunity" idea in mind. I also wondered if I should turn right around and walk back out! I wanted a better future, but I was unsure if my many years of time off since I attended school would affect my ability to achieve this or not. With many of my friends encouraging me to attempt this career challenge and the idea of a better future for my children and myself, I decided to go for it regardless of my fears. After countless nights of lost sleep to my studies and plenty of challenges along the way I have made my first step into the IT industry. My new job is exciting and full of the opportunity I had hoped for.

Some advice for new students . . . Stand tall and be proud of your decision. Study hard and follow the instructors advice and you too will be writing a success story of your own! I had no professional experience and interviewed at only two jobs before I was hired into one of the largest companies in the world. It is possible! Don't give up! I had only self-taught experience with computers before I began! There are no excuses. Not one! With many thanks to the ComputerTraining.edu team which provided me with the opportunity of a lifetime. Thank you, I am forever grateful. "

Mary Cornett
MCTS
Help Desk Analyst

"I started out as a home geek making personal house calls to friends and family in 2001. While I was lacking the professional terminology, I was computer literate. I had wanted a career with computers since I was in high school but was unable to achieve the means to enter into the professional field. The other hurdle I had to overcome was financial in nature. I took a job driving trucks to secure the funds to put myself through formal training and found myself stuck and stagnating after a few years. In 2008 an opportunity presented itself that like most of you reading this seemed skeptical. Make no mistake, I would not be where I am today with out the knowledge and skills I learned at ComputerTraining.edu.

The program is intense, challenging and at times may seem a bit grueling but rest assured the entire staff is there to help you succeed. The instructors and staff ensure a positive learning environment and will teach you in a way that after only a few weeks you will begin to understand computers and if you utilize the tools they provide you and work hard you can only succeed. While the emphasis is on teaching you computer skills, they will also teach you how to be successful in a corporate environment.

I am now working with the largest global IT solutions company in the world and loving every minute of it. Hard work, dedication, and determination does pay off. Thank you ComputerTraining.edu for everything you have taught me. It has changed my life."

Ted Klimp
MCTS, MCP, MCSA
Field Technician/Customer Engineer

"I had a decent amount of computer experience, mostly personal use. I considered a career change because the IT field is growing rapidly even when the other industries are declining. I figured that there’s a lot of opportunity to advance. I like the fact that IT is a field that is constantly evolving. I’m confident that my new position will be a great transition and an awesome working experience.

Being able to succeed in the program was a huge concern for me. I knew that this was going to be hard work with a lot of information. I worked through it and succeeded more than I expected.Work hard, study even harder and work with the staff as much as possible. They will work for you!

I’ve learned so much information I don’t know where to start. My life and career will be strongly focused in IT. I plan to continue my education further with more certifications probably for the rest of my career."

Stephen White
MCTS, MCP
Technical Support Analyst

"When I came to ComputerTraining.edu, I already had a working experience with Microsoft products, but was finding it hard for anyone to take this experience seriously. I kept finding over an over again that employers wanted to see individuals who had taken the steps to become certified making their experience more valuable and credible. Once I started class I understood why. Not only did I learn all about Microsoft Vista, the upcoming client software which I had zero experience with before hand, but I also came to realize how much more I didn’t know. The labs and course material helped me fill in a great number of gaps in my knowledge and experience new ways of implementing them. Now that I am certified and have freshly honed skills, I found my opportunities multiplying.

Before going through ComputerTraining.edu, I was barely scratching by making $20-25,000 a year seasonally. The pay may have been good in the summer, but I would get laid off every winter, and in order to make that pay I had to work 60 or more hours a week. Now, I have skills and experience which have led me to my current employment making close to $50,000 a year in a job which is in high demand all year round working only 40 hours a week. With the skills I learned at ComputerTraining.edu, I have a strong fundamental base to explore many possibilities and career paths."

Michael Tuite
MCTS, MCP
Desktop Engineer

"I was always interested in computers, but with the exception of a few courses in college, I really had no training. I attended the information session and realized that ComputerTraining.edu was exactly what I was looking for. I had thought about going to there a few years ago, but never took it seriously and never committed to it. The deciding thing for me was that I didn’t want to look back three years from now and wish a second time that I had done it sooner.

My biggest concern was that I wouldn’t put as much time into the course as I needed to. But I set a schedule for myself and tried to stick to it. It wasn’t easy, life sometimes gets in the way, but I managed to get my priorities straight and make the time.

The course takes commitment, no doubt about that. There is a lot of reading and a lot of new terms. But if you stick with it, things will fall into place because of all the hands on experience in the classroom.

My life has changed so much in just six months time. I have my certifications, a new career, and I am much more ambitious. I have more confidence than I ever have and I am more focused on my goals for the future.

One thing I like about the IT industry is that it has lots of opportunity. My old job seemed like a dead end, but in the IT industry, there are so many different directions you can take. It’s exciting to have so much flexibility to learn many different things and then focus on the area I enjoy the most."

Bill Frey
MCTS, MCP
Tech Support