ITS Cabling Training
I spent the last 6 weeks completing a 175 hour BICSI Training Course in ITS Cabling offered by Brooklyn Networks (if you want to know what this is, google things like structured Cabling or Backbone Cabling).
The course covered different types of Cables & Connectors (UTP, Coax, Optical Fiber, ScTP, RJ-45s, Wall Outlets, Cat5e & Cat6), as well as things like Electrical Theory, Fireproofing, Safety (we got our OSHA 10 certiication), Pulling Cable, Telephony, Testing & Troubleshooting, Cable Support Structures, etc, etc.
It had a great balance between the theoretical/reading & actual time spent in the Lab - Wiring & Terminating Blocks, making Connectors, Following Plans, Simulated Jobs, Pulling Cable, etc.
It also had a portion on resume preparation & job searching and related skills.
My next step in that direction is getting my A+ certification, and eventually acquiring Network+ and probably CCNA or whatever seems next most useful after that.
So anyway, after putting my life on hold for a bit (Class was M-F 8:30-4:30 PLUS 3 hours of homework every night), I'm now headed out on Tour for 2.5 weeks, working as a Roadie for a band called Security Project. I'll be posting pictures to facebook/instagram/twitter & writing about my experiences here (in addition to the usual "How To" Articles).
Excited for this adventure!