Tag Archives: School

More Questions To Ask A Computer Training School Before Paying

August 10, 2021   Matt

More Questions To Ask A Computer Training School Before Paying

The decision to attend a computer training school is one of the most important you’ll ever make, and even more important is which one to attend. Asking the right questions can give you an idea of whether a given IT school is a good investment. An earlier article I wrote on this subject was so popular that I thought I’d offer some more advice on the questions to ask before you write that check or take out that loan.

If the school offers a placement service, ask to talk to the people working in that department and ask them how they go about placing graduates. Most schools offer a list of companies that they’ve placed students with. Get this list and start calling some of these companies. Ask to speak to their HR department, and ask them for their opinion of the school. Even if they don’t say a lot, their tone of voice can speak volumes.

Ask to meet some of their teachers, and don’t be afraid to ask them how long they’ve taught at that particular school. If the average teacher has been there a while, that’s a good sign. If there seems to be quite a bit of turnover at the school, that’s not as good a sign.

Another key area is the availability of the computer labs during class and after the class is over. Speaking from experience, I can tell you that getting hands-on experience with the various software and hardware you’ll be working with in the field is the #1 way to get ahead – just reading books won’t do it. If you’re taking a router class, does the school have real routers for you to work on? If you’re taking a PC repair class, are there plenty of PCs for everyone in your class to work on, or do you have to share?

You want classes that offer hands-on experience during class, and you should be able to get into the computer labs after class. You may not be able to use the labs at night if the school offers night classes, but again I speak from experience – the time you spend in the computer labs after class is just as valuable as the time you spend in class. Make sure the labs will be available after class – and then get in there and work!

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Bartending School Is Just The Beginning

May 08, 2021   Matt

Bartending School Is Just The Beginning

While you may be thinking about attending bartending school, keep in mind that a bartending career is not all fun and games.

Bartenders work hard, and are often paid minimum wage. Working at a top club will, of course, up your take-home pay in the form of tips (sometimes as much as thousands per night), but you’ll have to do your time and gain experience at smaller clubs and bars first. Initially, you’ll also work the less crowded shifts.

Some bars and clubs even require new bartenders to work as barbacks first – this means you’ll be schlepping beer and liquor from the storage room to the bar, washing glasses and cleaning up. Not nearly as glamorous as you might have dreamed. As a barback, you’ll earn a portion of the bartender’s tips for the night.

The hours are often long, you’re on your feet the whole time and might have to deal with a lot of rude customers. Aside from that, once you’ve moved up in the ranks and have the popular, crowded shifts – those that you make the most money with – you’ll never have Friday or Saturday nights free. You’ll be working.

If you still are thinking about attending bartending school, make sure you pick a reputable organization. You can also attend bartending school online. Many bartending schools offer job placement assistance one you finish your courses – if you don’t have a job lined up already, you’ll want help finding one.

The best bartenders have an outgoing personality, are patient and tolerant of customers who may have had one too many and are able to multitask and work under pressure. Remember, you’ll be on a virtual stage once behind the bar, with a lot of eyes watching you!

Once you’ve completed bartending school and started your first job, know that you will make mistakes. It’s your ability to recover from them with grace and humor that will keep you going.

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