Best choice I ever made
Similar to my namesake below, I am surprised at the earlier comments too. I would also agree with him that review sites do tend to sit in either end of the spectrum and you have to ascertain what it is you want from the course but also if you are prepared to put in some hard work and commitment!! The NITLC (or any other training provider) are not there to give you a kick up the backside if you can't be bothered. What they will do though is help and assist you all they can, but it is up to YOU to do the work and remain committed to it. It's a two way relationship, which I found really useful and rewarding when with the NITLC.
I find it rather an unfair (and pointless) review below from someone who took out a course NINE YEARS AGO!!! We all know that this is a very long time, even more so IT and the technologies in this modern world. What certainly may have been a valid complaint then, it is hopelessly out of date now. Why on earth wait NINE YEARS to complain?? Even more, the course the student was on expired seven years ago in 2006. It is so out of date, the complaint cannot be taken seriously in my eyes (regardless of my view on the NITLC), plus the reply from the NITLC seems just and reasonable. Even now I find students enrolling on the same course as me on different materials than I did even three years ago. This, to me, is testament that the NITLC keeps up to date with today's IT environment and are ever evolving their courses to meet the current standards.
Anyway for my story and, again similar to Michael below, enrolling with the NITLC has been one of my better judgements in life. I have no background in IT whatsoever, nor was I particularly brilliant at school. One thing I did excel in was drawing/designing and after school I sought out a career in architecture. However, due to redundancy with the depression in 2008 and jobs for my skill level (stil so even today) are nowhere to be found, so I decided on a change of career. I had actually enrolled with another training provider in Sept 2008 and unfortunately, they went into administration (and in the end liquidated) in Jan 2010. Although I fought tooth and nail I didn't get one penny back in a course where, despite my efforts I had achieved nothing in.
I contacted NITLC after doing some research into other course providers (I did the Web Design Development course, by the way) and after some consultation I enrolled with them late February 2010. They even threw in a extra module for me, as my previous trainer had required every student, regardless of course choice, do the CompTIA+ certification. The NITLC, empathetic to my case allowed me to continue on the module and within two months of enrolling I had achieved both A+ qualifications. Something I never even got near after a year with the now defunct provider. The first of the exams I sat immediately on attending one of the NITLC workshops, which was nothing short of excellent, not just in terms of delivery but also in content and the whole relaxed, calming and enjoyable ambience.
Furthermore, NITLC put me on a far better course in terms of 'recognised' qualifications (I was doing a CIW course before, but with NITLC I would be achieving Microsoft and Adobe certifications) for a much better and lower (I found that a surprise) price than the previous company.
I paid the course fully upfront and I can say that the experiences of the negative reviews below is a far cry to what I became familiar with whilst with the NITLC. I found the support from them second to none, whether it was a course related query or something that was disrupting my studies the NITLC were always sympathetic and full of advice and support every step of the way. I developed health problems whilst studying my course with NITLC and found the tutors and other staff extremely supportive of my situation. I kept the team informed on my health and I was given extensions to the original time-scale, to help me finish the course. I can't speak for others, but I always kept NITLC informed and as long as they could see I was making a good effort to keep at the studies, they were very supportive. It is not as if I sat my back-side for months and then panicked when I had no time left to finish the course, I was making progress, just at a slower rate. If the NITLC (or anyone for that matter) do not know you are having difficulties in any way, how can they offer advice and support.
The support on course related queries was also excellent. Tutors were timely (mostly, there were times when they were busy/short-staffed but I never had to wait an outrageous time for a reply - plus there is the student forum boards where help can found from other students - a great resource that I used many times (tutors also participate) and was one of the factors I chose NITLC, no other provider had this resource at the time) and the tutors were also extremely helpful and knowledgeable. There is not a great number of tutors but I found this not to be a problem/issue. When attending the workshops (which I highly recommend doing!), you feel like a friend/colleague when you meet the tutors and this rapport is carried through when telephoning or emailing the tutors. They get to know you and your personality & work ethic etc rather than just another pupil who pays their wages and dish out general responses. The tutors responses were tailored to not just my particular issue but also how the tutor knew I would take the advice on board and therefore they always helped me solve my issues/problems, the reply also got me thinking, often prompting me to investigate further, often onto other associated articles, expanding on not just my knowledge but also added to my skill-set.
The NITLC also helped me in finding a job. Now I will say at this point that NO ONE, absolutely no one or training provider can guarantee you a job and I would be extremely dubious of any one that said they can 'promise you' a job at the end of their training/course. Especially today with the current economical climate. We all know finding a job today is difficult in any sector. I was only part way through the course at this point, but my employers knew this and would allow me to continue my course/training. Unfortunately, it did not work out, partly due to my health issues and partly due to other circumstances that was in no relevant to the NITLC. I have since continued with my studies with the full support and advice from the tutors and their student services.
I withdrew from the course a couple of months ago after I had completed all but the final part of the course (ASP.NET) as it became apparent that my only real future would be through the freelance/self employed route (this was in discussion with my doctor). After consultation with friends, former colleagues and the tutors I decided that there was no point in continuing the course, based purely on my own situation. Although I did have the option provided by the NITLC to continue, I felt I had learned all I could from the course and believe the skills and knowledge gained whilst with the NITLC has given me a great base on which to start to my new career.
As you can probably guess the comments below about the NITLC just wanting your money and not caring about you does not wash with me at all, as it obviously contradicts everything I have written and experienced with the NITLC. This is a genuine review from a genuine former student.
Thanks to the NITLC, I had established a solid foundation on which to start out on my own and learn other technologies, because let's face it, in the IT profession, we never stop learning. As touched on at the start of my review, technology is fast paced these days and ever evolving, stand still and you will be left behind.
21 June 2013
Unprompted review