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 This not only reduces the number of tickets being forwarded, it can result in tickets being rescinded, and will improve the image of your IT department within the company.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.

5 Ways to Beef Up Your IT Department is a post from: Palaestra Training

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.

Are You a Visual Learner? Then CCNA Video Training Is For You is a post from: Palaestra Training

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.

Reap Career Benefits From CCNA Training is a post from: Palaestra Training

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.

At a Dead-end Job? Palaestra Training Can Help is a post from: Palaestra Training

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.

Gain A plus certification through your iPod is a post from: Palaestra Training

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.

Step 1 -Visit the Community Awards website  (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/windowsitpro-communitychoice2011-finalvoting)

Step 2 – Go to the bottom of the first page, and hit “Next” to go to the second page

Step 3 – Go to Category #27 (“Best Training & Certification Product or Service”) and choose “Palaestra Training”

Step 4 – Enter your Name and Email and select “Done”!   Super easy and a BIG help to us!

Thanks very much for helping get the word out about our company, and helping us bring you even MORE great training videos!

Regards,

Christopher Rees

President, Palaestra Training

Help us Win – Windows IT Pro Community Choice Awards is a post from: Palaestra Training

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.

Start Your Own Computer Repair Business with CompTIA A+ Certification is a post from: Palaestra Training

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.

Pass the CCNA Exam for Job Security in an Uncertain Market is a post from: Palaestra Training

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.

CompTIA A+ Certification for People Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place is a post from: Palaestra Training

Results

By having CCNA training on video, learning on a fluctuating schedule is much easier. With many things going on outside of training, it may be difficult to spend time in the classroom for training. The videos allow you to learn anywhere, at any time.  With the highest quality training at your fingertips, you will be fully prepared for not only a CCNA certification, but all the challenges of the real world.

Success is waiting

To be successful in an up and down economy, you have to make your resume stand out.  With a CCNA certification, success is waiting. Certification will open doors to many different industries. Your carrier can only benefit from the proper training. When success is knocking at the door, let a CCNA training video help you open it.

CCNA Training: The Key To Success is a post from: Palaestra Training