SkillsTrain Reviews from Students

I haven't been keeping up with my CIW course as much as I would of liked to due to health reasons, but after an MRI scan a neuroma was found which has been causing my excruciating pain almost daily now & I can have an operation very soon to remove the neuroma, finally after 12 years I will be pain free.

During the same time the neuroma was found I was approached by the Youth Support Services (YSS) and they have asked me to design and manage a website for one of their departments. Both my sons are members and when they were told that they would not be able to have a website of their own my sons told them that I am doing a Website Designer course so that is the reason they approached me. They informed me that they would pay me to design the website for them but I have told them that I will do it for free as they have done such a lot for my sons since they became members. They've been on holidays, days out, sleep overs & many other activities without me having to contribute any money towards the things they have done, and my sons have really enjoyed all the holidays and activities. I am so impressed with all the help they have given to us all.

Being asked to design the website for them has made me more determined to continue with my course, even though I've had a really hard time in my life health wise being asked to design this website has made me realise that being a website designer and manager is what I want to do. Everyone involved in the website, the staff, children and parents, are so excited about having a website, I've had so much input from all of them about what it is they want that it has made me excited about doing it for them too. I wouldn't of been able to contribute anything if it wasn't for the course I am doing, so I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at Skills Train for giving me this opportunity.

Thank you so very much, I hope that you continue to offer courses to many people so that they too can turn their lives around just like you have turned my life around.

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I would like to share my experience so far as my studies have extended long in time beyond expected I took time off my current work in a pursuit of the CIW certificate.

At the same time registered on a few job sites polished off my CV looking for a position as a graduate Front End Developer. Just when started to regret that all the phone calls from agents were more of a waste of valuable revising time and an opportunity appeared. Went for an interview on Thursday, registered a Limited Company at Companies House on Friday and started a contract on Monday. The pressure was immense, at the start for a first time employed to do web design, something that has always been a hobby so far and that the company was barely managing to get the project complete on time put so much of strain on me that I had a cold sore coming up.

It was a two week contract but the experience was so valuable to be part of a big project, to apply all you have learnt, have a little help from the experienced is a great way to start building a commercial portfolio.

Now in the middle of a second contract in a pretty much the same situation putting a great effort to complete a project and been the only XHTML, CSS Developer in the team having to cope with a 5000 + lines of a CSS file for a huge project...

All I can say to you guys it is not going to be easy neither finding your first job, neither getting used to the pressure at every beginning but it is a great pleasure having completed the job. Some how makes you feel proud of the achieved and at the same time urges you to learn more. And my advise is: 'Go ahead and do it! It will only help better understand your courses.'

I have not left the studies behind just have less time to devote to but really enjoying the experiences putting it in practise.

Good luck everyone!

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I have just completed my first tma, and achieved 90%. I have never passed anything before at all. Even though I still have to do my job, I am determined to put as much effort in as I possibly can to become a ciw manager as quickly as possible.

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I've completed my assignments so far with fantastic results, none as yet having to be resubmitted which I'm really proud of. I have been combining my studying with looking after my kids, a baby and an active 5 year old and also working in my employment.

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With my IT knowledge I have taken on an additional role as a desktop publisher for an in-house newsletter at work. I work as part of a team to collate ideas, but the actual layout and design is something I complete on my own. I use clip art, photos and different colourful fonts to make the newsletter as attractive as possible. We print off approx. 90 colour copies and distribute them throughout our office. The newsletter is something that I enjoy creating and I am glad I am apart of it. The next step is to see about publishing it to the Intranet for all offices to look at, but this will take me a while before I have the knowledge to do this, as I am still working on my course.

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When I started out on the course, I was excited about it, but as a few days went by, I found that I wasn't studying nearly as much as I really wanted to. So I decided to look at a few case studies from this course, and found people have really acheieved something through this course, which gave me the kick up the backside needed to get my head down, and get on with the course! I've just given in my next assignment just before I entered this. Not much I know, but as the lazy person I know I am, it's kind of a personal achievement.

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I took on this course to help me learn about how to go about developing websites etc. I knew this was going to take time but time was something I had. Since starting the course I have achieved promotion in my day job (and considerable additional work and overseas travel). I have for many years been a school governor but again since starting this venture I have taken on the role of Chair of Governors (a task not to be taken lightly as it requires giving a considerable amount of spare time with no financial reward) and to top all that off I am the company secretary and Finacial controller (unpaid) for our local childrens early years centre (attached to the school I am chair of governors at) and have managed to guide the company from a standing start to a 40 place nursary with is able to employ 15 staff and remain profitable. This is no mean feat as we are in an area of social deprivation.

As you will appreciate the demand on my time is heavy for just these three projects but on top of that I have a wife and 3 children, a daughter and son-in-law, 3 wonderful granchildren and a home all of which make demands on my time which I willingly give. My wife and I also give up every 3rd Sunday of the month to do a Sunday lunch for between 20 to 25 senior citizens.

The above is not stated for people to think what a nice guy, and he does a lot of things for a lot of people quite the opposite. What it is meant for is to show that if you want to achieve anything in this life you have to put your heart and soul into it. Bad time management is the fuel for failure - but structured time management and the will and drive to achieve brings something far more special - a sence of achievement. NEVER say you can't do something. Better to say I AM NOT CERTAIN IF I CAN BUT I WILL GIVE IT A GO. Something my teacher at school told me when I was about 12 (some 40 years ago) was never put off until tomorrow what you can do today because, If you do it today and like it you can always do it again tomorrow.

One thing this course has shown me is that anyone can learn and EVERYONE can achieve something, no matter how big or small. I knew very little about computers and even less about the PC jagon and all the things that happen or need to happen so as you the user can use your PC as simply as you use a book or the TV. But this easy to follow but well supported task has been hard, but at all times well supported and I am certain has helped me focus on what I wanted from life - TO ACHIEVE.

Thanks You.

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Having realised that due to a back problem Iwould have to give up nursing, I started to look for a new career. I came across an advert for skillstrain and spoke to one of their representatives. They informed me of several choices and career paths I could take in IT. I'am presently near the end of my CIW Assosiates and E-Commerce+ Project management course, after studying at home in my own time and a relaxed enviroment. I'am pleased to say that recently I have been able to submit several TMA's in a relatively short space of time and getting results between 90-100%. I'm so pleased that I decided to take the step of changing careers and by enroling on my present course. I now know that although I wil not be able to continue nursing to health problems and chronic pain, I will be able to have a enjoyable and rewarding career in IT, which enjoy emencely. There is a futre for myself and one with good prospects thanks to skillstrain. I would advise anyone to train with skillstrain as it is a pleasant and rewarding experience leading to a satisfying future.Thanks skillstrain.

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As I learn more about using computers both at home and at work, I have become more aware of the importance that is in the course, for example the need to back op your files at regular interviles. This course has become moreinteresting to me the more I got down to it, and would recomend this work to anyone who is interesded in computers and there usage. Many people have them at home but few, like myself put them to there full advantage.

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Infact I am working under pressure and managing to continue with the course work. I am the General Overseer of our Churches in Europe. I knew nothing about IT when I started the course, but have gain an excellent understanding.
I am really glad about that. Many thanks.

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First time studying for over 11 years. Working 12 hour shifts and still fitting in 20 hours+ studying a week. Getting a real grip of it, despite numorous interruptions from 2 young children (age 2 and 7).

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When I came here a 1.2 year ago I thought I can never find a job better than work on the production assembly line, After months of trying to find a job close to IT, struggling the studying, homelife, kids and work (shifts patterns) I can finally see that it will all be worth it in the end - thank's to my hard work and knowledge from my studies I got a better job in Virgin Media as a Service Technician and this role will give me more time to study and more time for homelife and will help me to have try move more into the I.T dept.

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Last month finally I got a new Job close to IT and telecommunication business.
Actually, in the one of the largest Telecommunication company.
I went straight from production line to Service Technician position.
That's show me it's worth studying.

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I am 30 years old and I have been working in a factorys for most of my life working dirrerent shift patterns I have no skills or future. So I decided to do something about it and sign up with the skills train. I started the a+ (msca course) iam half way through the first book and iam am already giving advice to colleages and freinds how to fix problems and to upgrade their computers.thanks to skillstrain I can see a future infront of me now for me and my family.

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I have been with skills train now for a year, it has not been easy, my wife has depression and anxiety and up until August this year I have been working 3 jobs as well as doing my A+. Th course has kept me focussed despite not being able to commit as much time as I would like. At the beginning of September I was diagnosed with depression due to my workload and the pressures of family life. The A+ is almost complete and I am looking forward to the N+. With my new qualification I hope to change jobs and reduce my workload. 2008 could look a lot less stressful and a lot more hopeful.

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I have enjoyed every single part of my course so far and even due to ill health in 2006 and a near marriage breakdown I have returned this year to resume my studies,I'm now even more determind to pass my course and show people that even through aversities and struggles,that I can do it.
I have always spoken highly to friends and family of how enjoyable but also of how important it is for me to pass my course,as computers are more than just a machine to me,they are a passion and a hell of a lot of enjoyment, even more so in building, repairing and upgrading them.

My achievements in doing my course work so far,is pass marks of 100%'s,90%'s,80%'s and 70% score marks.I get these marks even though I'm a dad of 4 children and hold down a full time night porters position as my employment.

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Since I started my course I have found it very hard to settle into a routine of study due to the hectic pace of life for mdern day young families. I have changed my job 3 times since I started the course so it has been hard to set time aside to study at the same time as getting use to new jobs. I am now settled in my job as a postman which I started at the beggining of April and this October as a family we have made some changes to help me progress with my course. My wife has given up her job at tesco so that she can pick the children up from school, which then allows me to come home do housework and study before the children get home I find it very important to have peace and quiet whilst studying, although I am having to work extra hours as a postman to make up the money which my wife is now not earning so I go in early everyday (4:30am) to make that up, and we are also being agents for avon to bring in a bit extra to help. I have found it very usefull to draw up a plan to set time aside for everything in the day, including study and even the time I go to bed, it sounds very boring but it realy does work. I also had to change my course material to the 2006 objectives as I would not be finished on the 2003 objectives in time to take the examination so that was a bit of a set back to start the tma's again. But as I said we've made changes in October and I have already passed 3 tmas and I am waiting for results on a 4th, I am now determined to continue at this rate until I finish the course and then go onto the N+ course, I'll keep you all posted on my progress.

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I have successfully secured my first job in IT as support engineer & start on 1st of November. As you can imagine I am very excited to be given this opportunity.

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I AM WORKING ALMOST 78 PER WEEK... AND I HAVE STUDYING A LOT TRYING TO FINISH MY A+ COURSE BY THE END OF NOVEMBER.... THIS MONTH I HAVE DONE ALREADY 3 ASSIGMENTS... AND HOPE FINISH THE 4 FAST AS SOON AS I CAN...

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Finally settling down after relocation and adhereing to my study plan.
This has been very difficult over the last year due our big move from surrey to devon. During this time I have continued my work at the NHS , settled my 2 gilrs in to school and supported my husband trough a breakdown as his business had not taken off. But now after it has all settled down I have been able to fit into my lifestyle a structured time to study and re-train my self after 20years to do revision and take part in my TMA's. This has helped me build my own self confidence which took a major downward turn due to lack of training in my new job.
Now I am feeling more positive and working towards a goal of certification in my 20years+ knowledge on IT equipment.
I now feel I have turned the corner and will endeavour to continue my studies as the last 6 weeks have proved I can in my current lifestyle
So far I have completed TMA 3 then TMA4 with a retake as first time I tried without too much revision in one of my weakest areas, then did TMA 5 all with passes above 80% TodayI have just submitted TMA 6. I am now off to start on TMA 7 study.

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Now I have the job in the council, I helps people on the pc. I also rectify the problem and solve the problem. I am also doing very well to set up the computer.

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Until taking this course I knew nothing about computers and now ive only been doing the course a few months I can troubleshoot my friends and familys comps and more often than not,help with the problem. Not only that but ive also got two 100%'s and one 93% which personally I think is a great achievement.

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