My First IT Certification! Part 11: CompTIA A+

Safety, the Environment, and Professionalism

The two videos that concluded the first disk of the CompTIA A+ training were on Safety and Environmental Issues and on Communication and Professionalism. These were the only two videos in this training so far that were not technical in nature, but instead focused on issues that are important to all of us, whether we work as IT professionals or not.

I especially enjoyed the interesting information on protecting the environment, since that topic has been on my mind lately as I recently participated in Blog Action Day! I know this is a recurring comment for me, but I really wish I would have known this stuff a long time ago.

I can’t get all the used toner cartridges that I’ve thrown away out of my head! They are polluting our environment as we speak — all because of me! And I feel a little dumb for not making the connection that if proper disposal of electronics is necessary, then used toner cartridges shouldn’t be just thrown away with the garbage.

Guilt trip aside, I learned a lot from these last two videos and I guess it’s better late than never.

Another cool topic that was covered was the information on cleaning your computer. I know this might sound trivial, but cleaning your computer can prevent lots of problems. And something that I was totally clueless about: maintaining the right humidity level is also very important. Too much or too little humidity can be problematic. Who knew?

The final video on Communication and Professionalism was a good wrap up for the first part of the course. It provided some excellent tips on how to communicate effectively, how to be professional, and how to exceed the expectations of the computer users we are assisting.

Some of the stuff was common sense, like: respect your customers’ privacy and don’t look through their things while you’re helping them. But other tips were really useful and extremely important, and I’m glad that they are included in this certification. It’s a chance to see what can make a good technician into a great technician.

To sum up, here are the objectives that were covered in video 12 & 13:

• 7.1 Describe the aspects and importance of safety and environmental issues
• 7.2 Identify potential hazards and implement proper safety procedures including ESD precautions and procedures, safe work environment and equipment handling
• 7.3 Identify proper disposal procedures for batteries, display devices and chemical solvents and cans
• 8.1 Use good communication skills including listening and tact/discretion, when communicating with customers and colleagues
• 8.2 Use job-related professional behavior including notation of privacy, confidentiality and respect for the customer and customer’s property

More Related Posts

1. My First IT Certification! Part 3: CompTIA A+
2. CompTIA Network+ Certification: Why I think It Is Important
3. My First IT Certification! Part 6: CompTIA A+
4. My First IT Certification! Part 5: CompTIA A+
5. CompTIA Network+: Certification Exam Results!