Microsoft Project Training - Where Do I Start?

Microsoft Project is the world's most popular project management software - but even regular users would often benefit from a better understanding of its full capabilities. Moreover new reporting and communications features in the 2007 release are well worth understanding.
Non users know it might be handy for drawing project schedules - but make do with an Excel imitation and fail to appreciate the powerful planning and tracking functionality. As project management becomes a core methodology underpinning most modern organizations it is time for companies and individuals to learn just how much more effective they could be by using Microsoft Project, alongside other everyday tools such as Word and PowerPoint.
This Guide explains the range of training options that are available
There is no simple answer! It depends very much on your current familiarity with projects and project management software tools. You also need to take into account the skill sets that you are looking to achieve.
Basic Awareness
- You want to be able to set up project timelines using Microsoft Project and understand the basic tracking and reporting functionality
- If you are starting from scratch we would recommend a 2 day Introductory (Level 1) course.
- If you already have some familiarity with the software (perhaps from an earlier release) then a 1 day course would be appropriate
- If you are totally new to a project environment then introductory project management training may be a useful start point. This will help you to understand project organisation and timelines
Advanced User
- You already know how to set up a project but you want to be confident in using Microsoft Project to update plans, produce custom reports and interface effectively with other programmes
- You have probably already been on a Level 1 course and should now choose an Advanced (Level 2) course
- Depending on your level of existing knowledge choose a 1 or 2 day course
Certified Professional
- If you need certification or you require the expertise to deploy Microsoft Project in an enterprise environment then follow the official Microsoft courses
- These will prepare you to take the relevant Microsoft exam
The content of these courses is explained in the following sections.
2. Introductory Courses - Level 1
If you need to understand how to build and manage project plans, an Introduction, or "Level 1", course in Microsoft Project will get you started. Courses cover the essential skills necessary to create and modify a project plan including tasks and resources. The emphasis will be on creating the initial plan. There are versions of these training courses tailored to align with both 2003 and 2007 releases of Microsoft Project.
• Build and edit a project plan
• Create and assign resources
• Manage project costs
• Track progress
• Filter and print project plans
• Communicate your plans
• Produce reports
There are options of one or two day courses depending upon your previous knowledge and experience. The one day course assumes basic awareness of projects and project planning - perhaps from an earlier version of Microsoft Project. If you are completely new to project management you will find it beneficial to attend a general project management introduction course first.
Please check the different training course outlines which may have a slightly different content. The Level 1 training is not accredited by Microsoft or associated with an exam. However, all Focus courses are developed and delivered by Microsoft partner companies with a deep knowledge of the subject.
3. Advanced Courses - Level 2
Advanced or "Level 2" Microsoft Project training courses are designed for existing MS Project users who want to add to their basic skills. They will also benefit Project Managers wishing to learn how to customize Microsoft Project to their own specific requirements. You will learn to use advanced features to plan, track and analyze variances from plan. The emphasis is on how you work with a plan in the implementation phase.
• Resolve resource over-allocations
• Manage multiple projects
• Integrate MS Project with other Office applications
• Customize the MS Project interface (fields, tables, views, filters and reports)
• Record and run simple macros
• Exchange project plan data with other applications including Excel & Word
• Create and print custom reports
• Import data
• Track project progress
There are versions of these training courses tailored to align with both 2003 and 2007 releases of Microsoft Project. There are also options of one or two day courses depending upon your previous knowledge and experience.
Please check the different training course outlines which may have slightly different course content.
The Level 2 training is not accredited by Microsoft or associated with an exam. However, all Focus courses are developed and delivered by Microsoft partner companies with a deep knowledge of the subject.
4. Microsoft Certified Training & Qualifications
Microsoft operates a comprehensive structure of internationally recognised certifications. Project 2007 skills have recently been incorporated into the MCTS (Certified Technology Specialist) and MCITP (Certified IT Professional) framework.
The MS5927 "Managing Projects" course is a 3 day course which provides the entry point for the other Project 2007 training. A basic knowledge of project management and experience of using to create project schedules are pre-requisites.

Apple Mac Training and Certification

Why become Apple Certified? Differentiate yourself to employers, and prospective clients as an Apple Certified Pro, and gain a competitive edge in the ever-changing job market. Apple certification programs create a benchmark for assessing users' proficiency in Apple's professional applications. The job market is becoming ever so competitive that having the professional certification from Apple under your belt (so to speak) shows future employees your commitment and willingness to learn your job to a professional level. Application Based Training Software applications are constantly being updated and tweaked by the developers, users have to continually find their way around applications which seem to change year on year, companies which provide the staff with training on new software versions find productivity increases due to staff making use of time developers have spent adding new features and short cuts into ever increasingly difficult to use software.
Certified training courses give you.........As an Apple Authorised Training Centre, GBM Digital Technologies Ltd is able to deliver Apple courses provided by Apple Certified Trainers, delivering the content to give you the option of obtaining an Apple Certification. Training for IT professionals, GBM Digital Technologies Ltd offers technical training for professionals who are responsible for planning, maintaining, and integrating Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server and Xserves into a network environment. The curriculum objectives support a tiered certification program for system administrators and support professionals.
Training on everyday applications such as Adobe, Apple, Microsoft have great benefits but what about applications like font management, Email server, backup software, tape management?, even something as simple as making sure you get the most out of the operating system. All these can be problematic applications and workflows. If you feel training can benefit users then speak to someone who can provide training and expertise on a wider scale.
Here or there? GBM Digital Technologies Ltd can provide application training at your office location or here at our training suite. We do recommend coming to our training suite, why is this?......on-site training can sometimes be disturbed by trainees being required for urgent last minute phone calls, distractions from being in the work surroundings, taking staff off-site for training gives a much more controlled environment. Whether is classroom training, one to one or a days training for a group of people from the same company, trained staff have all the latest and best knowledge to perform the tasks they're paid to do.

Training For Technology Jobs - IT Training

Unless you're extremely well-versed or have many years of experience working a specific Information Technology job then it's likely you will be required to gain certification before any professional IT track is officially started. Without certification these days you can, no doubt, get a job in the IT world, but it'll be just that - a job. If you want more such as an IT position with attached professionalism that can lead you toward a career you must possess some type of certification (even multiple ones).
Yet, even before being able to gain an IT certification something else must be sought on your end. 'What might that be,' you inquisitively ask? It's merely a preparatory action, specifically that of seeking IT training.
Successfully Taken Tests Lead to Acquiring Certifications
Just like any form of academic or professional betterment, there are steps involved to reach your desired success. In the IT professional sphere, this is no different. What you need to do to gain certification in an IT field is take a particular and required test, one in which you must pass and score noticeably well on to gain certification. This passing requirement in mind, wouldn't it make sense to take some preparative actions as to fully ready and inform yourself of the knowledge that will placed in front of you in test format?
It most certainly would. And one sure fire method to ready yourself for the prospective exams is through seeking the many available options of IT training.
IT Training To Ensure Successful Exam Taking
No matter what IT sector you're interested in or are considering, know that there are a plethora of training options for you to sort through and choose from. If you're looking into MCSE training options, Comp TIA training choices, CISCO training selections or any of the many other training selections, they're all clearly there and ready for the training, rather, taking.
So, if you have a specific certification in mind what you need to do is look into what you exactly must become knowledgeable of. From this point, it's simply a matter of taking that information and going through the specific training process diligently and with successful intent. If this is carried out, it's almost certain that you will pass any IT exam with flying colors and be on your way to having and working under a respectable IT certification.
Keeping With IT Trends
To keep up with IT trends involves staying on top of certifications and knowing when their expansions, improvements and upgrades are introduced and publicly provided. You will need to gain these advances to push you ahead. And you guessed it - to keep progressing you will no doubt need the required training, resulting test taking and - hopefully - successful certification attainment.
Now, keep in mind that the IT world is ever-changing, as are the jobs and positions within it. Training is constantly required and sought after by all IT individuals, even those who have been in the industry 10 plus years. So, the importance of going through any sort of IT training is not only based on preparedness, but also on maintaining and supplementing one's professionalism.