GetCertfied offers opportunities to matriculants

GetCertified managing director Arnold Graaff says there is a huge demand for software developers and forecasts predict a growth in demand for especially web developers. "Employers are not only impressed by course certificates - they also want to see that you can solve a business problem with your skills, and they want to see how you do it."

"You will be surprised at how many students come here and complain about the big brand colleges that charge astronomical fees and offer no project assistance to their students. After completing a year of studying, they feel like they have nothing to show and they have no confidence either," he explains.

GetCertified offers a weekly open support evening, at no extra cost to its students, where they can ask questions about their specific course and project. Furthermore, GetCertified is part of a group of companies that also owns a recruitment agency, Compuways. Unlike other training companies, GetCertified strives to find a job for all its unemployed students.

Courses are practical

"We encourage students to follow our methodology which results in an international certification and a proper project to show to potential employers. Our mission is to assist students to pass their international exams. We achieve this by delivering our courses with a strong practical flair, instead of focusing only on exam questions and answers," says Graaff.

He says the benefit of practicality is twofold whereby the student can immediately use these practical skills in the workplace and secondly, they can prepare easier for exams. "A bare necessity is a matric certificate with at least a pass in mathematics. We always recommend you should do an aptitude test and send us the results."

GetCertified recommends that complete beginners should start at the 'Complete Introduction to Programming' which can be done over five days full-time. Alternatively, one can do part-time training courses which run over five Saturdays (six hour sessions) or two nights per week five weeks (three-hour evening classes).

Graaff says practical skills and abilities are critical. "First of all a programmer needs to know his tools. If you know the building blocks and tools, you can proceed to build the house. We teach you the theory and how to apply it during our courses. We also teach you how to approach and solve a business problem using these tools and skills."

Highly qualified lecturers

After the second course, students must hand in a practical project to demonstrate their abilities in knowing the tools and ability to design and build the house. GetCertified issue two certificates - an attendance certificate as well as a practical certificate.

"Training always gave me satisfaction. I love empowering people - there is nothing more satisfying than seeing someone's eyes light up when mastering a new skill. Trainers need to be technically capable, patient, observant and passionate about their subject."

"These are the characteristics I look for when I employ lecturers. All our lecturers have a tertiary qualification in IT and a successful track record in lecturing. Although many students' main aim is to just get international certification, employers realise that alone it is not enough to be employed. The best way to understand a certification question is to practise everything as far as possible practically. This is why we try to include as much as possible practical exercises and projects in our courses. We do not want to deliver graduates that can pass an international exam and is not sure how to put things into practise," he concludes.