CeMAP Tutorial on Level Term Assurance
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“Exploring the Global Dimension” Free Workshops
Window on the World (WOW)
Enfield Community Learning Service is offering 2 of our learners an opportunity to
participate in an international workshop in Enfield along with 20 other adult
learners from Europe.
The theme of the workshop is the global dimension and will raise awareness of
global issues focusing on the Millennium Development Goals, the
interdependent nature of the world, the connections between different countries
and peoples, sustainable development, trade, social justice, diversity, how
these things impact on their daily lives and ways in which they can contribute to
a more sustainable world.
The workshop will also help participants improve their intercultural awareness
and develop skills in active citizenship.
Date of the Workshop: 11-15 June 2012, Venue: Theobalds Park Conference Centre,
Cheshunt, Hertfordshire
Target group: Unemployed adults who would not normally have the opportunity to meet
and learn together with their European counterparts.
If you are interested in applying to attend the workshop, please contact Martin on
02084432888 for more information.
What to Look for in a Mortgage Advisor
The purchase of a 
home represents, by far, the largest single investment that most of us make during our lifetimes. Most of us, similarly, require a mortgage loan in order to make that purchase, and the importance of accurate, impartial mortgage advice cannot, therefore, be underestimated. Individual mortgage brokers, or the companies that they represent, must be authorised by – and therefore bound by the rules and regulations of – the Financial Services Authority (FSA). They must, for example, provide you with so-called `Keyfacts` documents, which clearly illustrate the main points of any service or product that they may offer you.
Types of Mortgage Advisors
Independent mortgage advisors are divided into two categories, `Independent Mortgage Advisor`and Tied Mortgage Advisor`. These descriptions are, unfortunately, rather similar so, for clarification, the former offers independent advice on the whole of the market, including protection insurance; this can be useful if you need advice on other products relevant to your property purchase. A Tied Mortgage Advisor, on the other hand, offers advice on mortgage products but is limited in the number of lenders, and products that they can offer. Any such affiliations should be made clear to you in the `Keyfacts` document relating to mortgage services, so make sure that you are aware of the range of products on offer.
Mortgage advice, inevitably, costs money, but there a number of different ways in which you can pay a mortgage advisor, or broker. for example, most will offer you option of paying him, or her, by fee, rather than commission, in order to avoid bias on his, or her, part towards one mortgage product over another. Commission – a fee paid by a lender in return for selling a specific product – is, of course, another alternative, and a combination of part fee, part fee commission, may also be possible.
Qualifications & Experience
Mortgage advisors should be suitably qualified, in the eyes of the FSA, which means that they should have undertaken recognised qualifications, such as the `Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice` (CeMAP® ) and the `Certificate and Diploma in Financial Planning`, from the `Chartered Insurance Institute` (CII), before being allowed to offer advice. If you need to check the qualifications or a mortgage advisor – and the advice that he, or she, is authorised to offer – the FSA operate a consumer telephone helpline.
In addition to `paper` qualifications, experience in the industry – for example, counselling, or advising, individual consumers on their own, specific, financial needs – is also important. Don`t be afraid to ask an advisor for whom, or for how long, he, or she, has worked in the industry, and how his, or her, experience relates to his, or her, current job. Any mortgage advisor worth their salt will happily discuss these details with you, as well as leading you through the myriad of fixed rate, variable rate and flexible mortgage products available.
Public Informal Adult Community Learning consultation findings published
The views of thousands of people on the future for informal adult and community learning have been published in a NIACE report of a public consultation, commissioned as part of a wider government consultation on further education.
6,306 individuals and 227 groups from diverse backgrounds across England responded to the consultation. They said that:
• people want to learn a wide range of different topics and most prefer to learn in a class with a paid tutor;
• most people who can afford to pay are willing to pay fees if they think they are fair and affordable;
• most people agree with using fees to cross-subsidise learning, so that people with higher incomes pay more and those with low incomes pay low fees or nothing;
• over a quarter of people who replied are keen to help organise learning activities in their local area or workplace or to get involved as learning champions; and
• most people who replied believe that local people should be involved in making decisions, but disagree with ‘tokenism’ – they want a real voice and influence in decisions about the learning in their area.
Review of Informal Adult and Community Learning – Download full report
courtesy of
Elina Kumpina
Curriculum and Quality Co-ordinator
Enfield Community Learning Service
Enfield Council
1st Floor Marsh House
500 Montagu Road
Edmonton
N9 0UR
More help for those struggling with IFS DipFA Assignments
You’ve been busy going about your normal business. Times are tough enough at work and like everyone else it’s all hands the pump to keep things ticking along.
Suddenly you remember that one thing you’ve been pushing to the back of your to-do list for weeks now. Your DipFA AFA coursework!
Oh yes. It’s imminent and can no longer be pushed aside with only 6 weeks till the submission deadline.
How does one get started? Where will you find the time to do all the research required let alone begin to write the 2000+ word essay. The panic really starts to set in!!
Fortunately, salvation is at hand.
Futuretrend have just launched a new coursework assignment service. If you are struggling with your DiPFA AFA Coursework assignment and don’t have time to attend classroom training then this distance learning altenative may help.
Please find out more by visiting the website http://www.dipfa-training.co.uk/ or by going straight through to the page http://www.dipfa-training.co.uk/AFAcourseworkReview.html
New courses:WordPress + PHP, HTML5, Systems Design, Business Analysis Training
2012 is going to be a full on year as we launch a number of new courses.
Look out for our new and improved WordPress + PHP course starting soon.
It’s not the run of the mill WordPress course as we add PHP basics to it.; Learning a little PHP goes a long way with WordPress.
With the demise of Flash, HTML5 is aspiring to be the new “kid” on the block . As there is a trending away from Flash type design (not helped by Adobe’s discontinuing their mobile browser plugin support) and equal richness can be found in HTML5/CSS3; we are looking to be able to deliver this from March 2012.
We are also developing Systems Design and Business Analysis Training courses which a lot of folks that have studied Software Testing/Project Management with us have been asking about.
So exciting times here at Futuretrend. Watch this space for launch dates and news on more courses.
10 Popular Plugins and Shareware for Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a leading vector image editing application, made even better because of its plug-in platform, which allows illustrators to customize the program according to their 
needs. Currently there are plug-ins that fit almost any requirement you might have. The following are 10 very popular plug-ins used by graphic designers.
1. Art Files made for Mac - This is a collection of files that makes keeping track of documents, linked images and fonts easy, allowing users to “Point and Click” to select objects. This plug-in supports Illustrator versions 8, 9 and 10 for Mac computers.
2. Artlandia LivePresets -This plug-in works for both Mac and Windows users. It allows you to insert patterns and symbols that can be edited. Any artwork you link updates interactively.
3. FlexoStepX - This is a quicker way of repeating the steps and fixing mistakes in label packaging artwork.
4. Hot Door Perspective- Allows users to make realistic compositions with oblique,
FoldUP! 3D - Making dimensional design in Illustrator a whole lot easier!
isometric objects placed over an adjustable background grid.
5. FoldUP! 3D- This plug-in allows an illustrator to test packaging designs digitally, eliminating the need to create a 3 dimensional test prototype.
6. Live Pen - Gives you interesting typography and calligraphy options. This plugin is only available for Illustrator CS, CS2 and CS3.
7. LogoSource -This is a collection of tracing and guide tools that help you edit scanned images.
8. Vector Scribe-This tool helps you create and edit curve handles. It improves on illustrators measuring abilities.
Edit and create vector artwork faster, smarter and dynamically
9. Path Styler Pro – This plug-in uses paths to make beleveled images that don’t need to be softened.
10. Virtual Mirror Vector Studio – These are 8 tools that include shape editing, texturing, and color editing abilities.
So we’ve had a look at a good number of popular plugins used by designers working with Adobe Illustrator. Most importantly though its essential to learn the various Illustrator features & how they work. Futuretrend’s Adobe Illustrator training courses provides a good option to help you get started in your quest. Just like you have to learn how to change gears, push on the gas pedal, control the steering, switch on the AC & the fan, etc. in a car, you have to invest some time in learning how features work in Illustrator works before you start experimenting with plugins that can add some serious 00mph! to your work.
3 things you need to do to clinch your first Software Testing job
How many bugs have you found today?
A software test analyst reviews software functionality and documents the testing of that software. Essentialy, a tester will read through specifications of an application and create test conditions to check that it works as specified.
As no particular programming knowledge is required there are very few barriers to entry and therefore it has become a very competitive field. In 2012, landing a job as a software tester will require you to completely stand-out amongst other applicants. By following a few practical tips, you can easily get that interview you need to move you to next base.
CV
Software Testing isn't for dummies
One of the first things you need to focus on is your CV, as this is your advertising medium. It is your opportunity to demonstrate your capability as the best person for the job. Moreso, you need to prove that you understand what an employer is looking for. Your services as a Software Tester are an essential element to a company’s reputation and as such they need to know how reliable, responsible and serious you are.
So firstly, don’t just go and copy any old bog-standard CV template that you find. Many of them are really appalling! Your formatting is very important here so be certain to use nothing less than 11 pt and either Arial or Sans-serif font.
Secondly, always include a covering letter. I cannot stress how important this is. Here you can focus on what the employer wants and prepare a list of your skills that matches that job requirement. Highlight these skills within your CV. State your objectives clearly but keep it all short, only one to two sentences. Be sure that any skills you have in software testing are emphasised. Avoid writing your life story and irrelevant interests in your CV. I once read on a CV sent to me “I have a dog called Muggles and just as parents love children and children love parents, I love my dog and my dog loves me” Seriously? If you are applying for a dog-walking position fine but on what planet would this be of interest to anyone in IT?
I could write a whole book on CV do’s and don’ts but this isn’t the forum for that. My final point on the matter is don’t turn yourself into a bullet-point Billy or Belinda (every one does that!) I really want to read your timeline as a tester; don’t just tell me what you did, tell me why you did it and what the result was.
Get Experience
Ensure software does what it says on the tin
If you don’t have relevant software testing experience, then get some by all means possible. This is invaluable; so try amd get some specific practical training working on dummy or real live projects. There are many of these available on the Internet. Look for software programs like inventory management software to work on. Download the software and documentation and follow the testing process. Get your work evaluated by other software testing professionals.
If you require a training course to hone your skills then ensure that you will be working on practical exercises just as you would if you were at work. Better still if you can find an internship/work experience scenario Even if’s unpaid take it! Some people will give their left arm for the opportunity!
Certification
OK I’ve left this last deliberately - that’s because it’s the least important of the three
(imho). Employers these days will not even consider applicants that only have a theoretical overview ISQTB qualified or not. As laudable as that may be (becoming certified), what they will need you to demonstrate is knowledge of real world Testing scenarios and solutions.
So why become certified ? To understand testing methodologies and processes. More importantly, to get your nose past the glorified gate keepers aka recruitment consultants. Yes, those agencies will throw in the kitchen sink along with all sorts of qualifications and skills that they deem to be essential for you to have before applying to their testing role. Most of them really don’t have a clue as to what their client is looking for but are continuously regurgitating the same old job template they’ve been using for the last 5 years.
So get your certification by all means but don’t rest on that as the other two are far more important. Good luck !
Femi Lana is the Managing Director of Futuretrend Technologies Ltd who run training courses for aspiring software testers via CareerTesters.com
Happy New Year !
Have a Happy and Rewarding 2012!
Seasonal Greetings
Studying CeMAP solo? Here are some questions you need to ask yourself
So you’ve started out on a new career path and if you get through this first hurdle (CeMAP) then it would be the beginning of a bright future as a mortgage advisor. Yes, times may be hard at the moment but it’s a sector that will see brighter days again. After all, we are a nation of homeowners aren’t we? The desire for owning property is never going away and once the lending criteria eases up or the economy gets better….you’ll be the one smiling.
Lots of cemap books to study
However, CeMAP qualification stands in your way and you’ve got to crack this first. It would really be too embarrassing to tell your family, friends, and colleagues that you failed your CeMAP certification exam.
If you add up your investment in time, money and emotion, it doesn’t make sense to take the exam with any lingering doubts. You need to take the exam with confidence and be ready to pass!
Be honest and ask yourself these questions.
Have you really put in enough study time?
When you were studying did you really “get it” or were you just turning pages?
Do you know your weakest area in the CeMAP syllabus?
Are you consistently scoring over 70% in each unit?
Do you know the answers to the questions before you even see the answers?
Are you guessing at the right answer a lot?
Do you know how it feels to take the actual CeMAP exam?
Are you willing to keep on paying extra to retake the exam?
Are you confident that you will pass on your first try?
If you answered NO to at least one of the questions above, then you may need some help to get you over the line. It can be very frustrating studying CeMAP on your own. The subject matter is not the most riveting. It helps when you have experienced CeMAP tutors that can help you make imaginative connections to the material. It’s even better when you have a study group for motivation, support and of course to share your success with!