Daton Beckford | IT Student Testimonial

We catch up with Learning People student, Daton Beckford, who successfully changed his career from bus driver to I.T. professional.  

Daton studied and passed the CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ courses and is currently working towards his CompTIA Security+ certification.  

 

Tell us why you enquired with Learning People…

I was looking to change my career and transition into IT. I assumed I would have to go to University for this, but knew it would be expensive and time consuming, so I did some research and the first company I found made me feel very pressured to enrol. Someone then mentioned Learning People on Facebook so I had a look at your website and I was really impressed. 

 

Were there any specific skills you were looking to gain or develop by enrolling with Learning People?

I knew I needed a certification to get into IT, but I didn’t know which one. I was interested in cyber security but had no idea where to start. 

 

Was there a particular reason you chose to enrol with Learning People, and did you speak to any other educators or training providers?

The conversation I had with Learning People was a lot more in-depth and detailed compared to other learning providers. You were able to answer all of my questions and reassure me about any concerns that I had at the time.  

Prior to that, I’d spoken to different providers who didn’t answer my questions properly and it felt like they just wanted to take my money. 

 

Tell us what the career consultation phone call was like for you.

Very thorough. Learning People broke down all the different certifications and how they work. It left me feeling very impressed by what Learning People had to offer and how everything works, so it was a no-brainer that I had to enrol.  

 

Tell us about your experience of learning online using the Skillsoft platform and the practice labs.

Initially, I found it quite tough as I’d never learnt online before. The content was great and I loved using the practice labs. There were times when I didn’t want to watch or read anything, so I went into a practice lab and I was able to get enjoyment and understanding of how a certain issue or process works, and why it’s happening.   

 

Did you utilise any of the course mentoring – if so, how did it help you?

Yes, I did utilise course mentoring. Whenever I felt stuck they would always answer my questions in detail and provide helpful references in the books and videos available. My mentors were instrumental in helping me understand. They also gave me deadlines and healthy pressure to help me reach goals and enhance my knowledge.  

How did you get on with the practice exams/test preparation?

I found the tests quite challenging but understood they were helping me work towards a higher standard. I found it helpful that the practice exams told me where I needed to improve and what to focus on to ensure I would pass the real exam.  

 

Did you attend any of our online Live Classrooms for your courses?

I joined the Network+ classes that were really good. The tutor went through all the exam objectives and also made a video to help me understand an area of networking I was finding difficult. It helped me pass the exam. 

 

Tell us about your experience of working with our Career Services team, and what did you find most useful?

They were brilliant. My career advisor Marisha really helped me and assisted me with setting up my LinkedIn and CV. She always helped me prepare for interviews. But what was really good was how much she cared about me getting a job. It was a real human touch. 

 

How did enrolling with Learning People affect your career (new job / promotion etc)?

Personally, for me, it’s been a life changer.  

 

Tell us about your new job/promotion.

I now work for Mjog by Livi as a First Line Support Technician. We work with more than 4,000 medical practices that use automated SMS, Email and Voice patient messaging.   

 

What has been the best part of your Learning People experience?

Using the practice labs. It really felt like things were making sense when I used them.  

 

What advice would you give to somebody who is thinking about enrolling with Learning People?

If you’re eager and prepared to work hard to change your life, I would definitely recommend Learning People. You just need to be committed to studying and changing your career, and if you are,  just go for it.  

 

Start learning today

If are feeling inspired and want to transition into IT like Daton, simply get in touch with one of our I.T. career consultants.  Experience world class career education and support from the experts in tech today.