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The Microsoft MCSA course (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) is right for anyone wanting to become a network engineer. So if you’re already experienced but need to formalise your skills with a good qualification, or you are just getting into the industry, you will be able to find a course to fulfil your needs. Each category should have a different training track, so pay attention to check you’re being offered the best one prior to spending your money. Look for a training company that talks with you so they learn what you hope to do, and will give you direction on what you want to do, long before they select your course.

Can job security honestly exist anywhere now? Here in the UK, with businesses changing their mind on a day-to-day basis, it seems increasingly unlikely. Where there are growing skills deficits and growing demand though, we generally reveal a fresh type of market-security; driven by conditions of continuous growth, businesses are struggling to hire enough staff.

Taking the computing market for example, the 2006 e-Skills study brought to light a national skills shortage in the United Kingdom of around 26 percent. To explain it in a different way, this highlights that Great Britain can only find three properly accredited workers for every 4 jobs in existence now. This single idea in itself highlights why the UK requires many more people to get into the Information Technology market. It would be hard to imagine if a better time or market conditions will exist for getting certified in this quickly growing and blossoming market.

If the IT industry provides such an array of tremendous job opportunities for us - what sort of questions should we be raising and which aspects carry the most importance?

A proficient and professional advisor (in contrast with a salesperson) will want to thoroughly discuss your current situation. This is paramount to establishing the point at which you need to start your studies. With some work-based experience or qualifications, you could discover that your appropriate starting-point is very different to someone completely new. It’s wise to consider some basic PC skills training first. Starting there can make your learning curve a a little easier.

We need to make this very clear: You absolutely must have proper 24×7 instructor and mentor support. We can tell you that you’ll strongly regret it if you don’t follow this rule rigidly. Don’t accept training that only supports students with a call-centre messaging system after 6-9pm in the evening and during weekends. Training companies will defend this with all kinds of excuses. The simple fact of the matter is - you want support at the appropriate time - not as-and-when it’s suitable for their staff.

The best trainers utilise several support facilities across multiple time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to seamlessly link them all together, irrespective of the time you login, help is just seconds away, avoiding all the delays and problems. Don’t compromise where support is concerned. Most students who throw in the towel, just need the right support system.

Often, trainers provide a big box of books. This can be very boring and not ideal for taking things in. Where possible, if we can study while utilising as many senses as possible, our results will often be quite spectacular.

Learning is now available via DVD-ROM discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Using video-streaming, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how something is done, followed by your chance to practice - in a virtual lab environment. Any company that you’re considering must be pushed to demo a few samples of their training materials. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and a variety of interactive modules.

Some companies only have access to purely on-line training; and although this is okay the majority of the time, think what will happen if you lose your internet access or you get intermittent problems and speed issues. It’s much safer to rely on DVD or CD discs that will solve that problem.

What is the reason why qualifications from colleges and universities are being replaced by more qualifications from the commercial sector? Corporate based study (as it’s known in the industry) is far more effective and specialised. Industry has become aware that this level of specialised understanding is what’s needed to service the demands of an acceleratingly technical commercial environment. Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA are the key players in this arena. Essentially, the learning just focuses on what’s actually required. It’s not quite as straightforward as that, but principally the objective has to be to master the precisely demanded skill-sets (with some necessary background) - without overdoing the detail in everything else (as degree courses are known to do).

Just like the advert used to say: ‘It does what it says on the tin’. Companies need only to know what they need doing, and then match up the appropriate exam numbers as a requirement. That way they can be sure they’re interviewing applicants who can do the job.

Authorised exam simulation and preparation packages are a must - and must be supplied by your training supplier. Due to the fact that a lot of examining boards for IT are from the USA, you must be prepared for the way exams are phrased. It isn’t good enough merely understanding random questions - they have to be in the same format as the actual exams. Simulations and practice exams can be very useful as a resource to you - so when it comes to taking the real deal, you will be much more relaxed.

The sometimes daunting task of landing your first IT job is often eased by some training providers because they offer a Job Placement Assistance facility. Ultimately it isn’t so complicated as you might think to land employment - as long as you’re correctly trained and certified; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.

Bring your CV up to date as soon as possible however - you should get plenty of help from your training provider on this. Don’t wait until you’ve graduated or passed any exams. Quite frequently, you will be offered your initial job while you’re still a student (occasionally right at the beginning). If you haven’t updated your CV to say what you’re studying - or it’s not getting in front of interviewers, then you don’t stand a chance! Generally, a specialist independent regional employment agency (who will get paid commission to place you) is going to give you a better service than a sector of a centralised training facility. Also of course they should be familiar with the local area and commercial needs.

A good number of students, apparently, are prepared to study their hearts out (for years sometimes), only to give up at the first hurdle when attempting to secure their first job. Market yourself… Make an effort to get in front of employers. Don’t expect a job to just fall into your lap.

If you want Cisco training, a CCNA is in all probability what you’ll need. The Cisco training is designed for people who need to know all about routers. Routers are what connect networks of computers to other computer networks via the internet or dedicated lines.

As routers are connected to networks, it is important to know how networks function, or you will have difficulties with the training and not be able to understand the work. Find a training programme that includes basic networking skills (CompTIA is ideal) before you start the CCNA.

The CCNA qualification is more than adequate; don’t be cajoled into attempting your CCNP. Once you’ve got a few years experience behind you, you’ll find out whether CCNP is something you want to do. If you decide to become more qualified, you’ll have the knowledge you need to tackle the CCNP - because it’s far from a walk in the park - and mustn’t be entered into casually.

How can we arrive at the right decisions then? With all these possibilities, it’s important to know where to search - and what it is we should be looking for.

Trainees hoping to start an Information Technology career often have no idea of which route they should take, let alone which market to get qualified in. How likely is it for us to understand the day-to-day realities of any IT job when it’s an alien environment to us? We normally haven’t met someone who does that actual job anyway. To work through this, there should be a discussion of several core topics:

* Your personality type and interests - which work-related things you like and dislike.

* Are you aiming to reach a key objective - for example, becoming self-employed someday?

* How highly do you rate salary - is an increase your main motivator, or is enjoying your job a lot higher on the scale of your priorities?

* Understanding what typical career types and markets are - and what makes them different.

* You will need to appreciate the differences between the myriad of training options.

At the end of the day, the best way of investigating all this is via a meeting with a professional that through years of experience will provide solid advice.

Proper support should never be taken lightly - locate a good company that provides 24×7 direct access, as anything else will annoy you and definitely hold up your pace and restrict your intake. Be wary of any training providers who use ‘out-of-hours’ messaging systems - with your call-back scheduled for normal office hours. This is useless when you’re stuck and want support there and then.

The most successful trainers incorporate three or four individual support centres from around the world. They use an online interactive interface to seamlessly link them all together, any time of the day or night, help is at hand, without any contact issues or hassle. Don’t compromise with the quality of your support. Most would-be IT professionals that can’t get going properly, are in that situation because they didn’t get the support necessary for them.

Many trainers provide piles of reference manuals and workbooks. This can be very boring and isn’t the best way to go about remembering. Memory is vastly improved with an involvement of all our senses - experts have been clear on this for years now.

Locate a program where you’ll receive a library of CD and DVD based materials - you’ll be learning from instructor videos and demo’s, followed by the chance to hone your abilities through virtual lab’s. Always insist on a training material demonstration from any training college. You should ask for slide-shows, instructor-led videos and lab’s for you to practice your skills in.

Seek out CD or DVD ROM based materials whenever you can. You’re then protected from internet connection failure and issues with signal quality.

It’s quite a normal occurrence for students not to check on something of absolutely vital importance - the way their training provider segments the training materials, and into what particular chunks. Trainees may consider it sensible (with a typical time scale of 1-3 years for a full commercial certification,) for many training providers to send out one section at a time, as you pass each element. Although: Many students find that the trainer’s standard order of study is not what they would prefer. You may find that a slightly different order suits them better. Could it cause problems if you don’t get everything done within their exact timetable?

To be honest, the perfect answer is to have their ideal ‘order’ of training laid out, but get all the study materials at the start. Everything is then in your possession in the event you don’t complete everything inside of their required time-scales.

Including examination fees upfront then including an exam guarantee is common for a number of training colleges. But look at the facts:

Obviously it isn’t free - you’re still paying for it - the price has simply been included in the whole thing. Trainees who enter their exams one by one, funding them as they go are much better placed to get through first time. They’re conscious of their spending and take the necessary steps to be ready for the task.

Look for the very best offer you can when you’re ready, and hang on to your cash. You’ll also be able to choose where to do your exams - which means you can stay local. Considerable numbers of so-called credible training companies secure big margins through getting in the money for exams at the start of the course then hoping you won’t see them all through. The majority of companies will insist that you take mock exams first and with-hold subsequent exam entries from you until you’ve proven conclusively that you can pass - which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.

Exams taken at local centres are approximately 112 pounds in the UK. Why pay exorbitant charges for ‘Exam Guarantees’ (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when the best course materials, the right level of support and exam preparation systems and a dose of commitment and effort are what’s required.

One useful service offered by some training providers is job placement assistance. It’s intention is to help you get your first commercial position. The fact of the matter is it’s not as hard as some people make out to land employment - once you’re trained and certified; because there’s still a great need for IT skills in the UK today.

However, what is relevant is to have advice and support about your CV and interviews though; also we would encourage everybody to bring their CV up to date the day they start training - don’t delay until you’ve graduated or passed any exams. It’s possible that you won’t have even passed your first exam when you will get your initial junior support position; however this is not possible unless your CV is with employers. You can usually expect better results from a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service than you’ll get from a training course provider’s national service, as they’ll know the local area and commercial needs better.

Certainly ensure you don’t put hundreds of hours of effort into your studies, then call a halt and expect somebody else to land you a job. Get off your backside and get on with the job. Put as much focus into securing the right position as it took to get qualified.

Working on the leading edge of new technology is as thrilling as it comes. You personally play your part in defining the world to come. We’re only just starting to see just how technology will influence everything we do. Computers and the Internet will massively change how we view and interact with the world as a whole over the coming years.

Wages in the IT sector aren’t to be ignored moreover - the income on average in the United Kingdom for a typical person working in IT is significantly more than in the rest of the economy. Chances are that you’ll receive a whole lot more than you’d typically expect to bring in elsewhere. As the IT industry keeps increasing nationally and internationally, it’s predictable that the need for appropriately qualified IT professionals will remain buoyant for the significant future.

Considering an MCSE? Then it’s likely that you’re probably in 1 of 2 situations: You’re already a professional and you need to formalise your skill set with the Microsoft qualification. In contrast you could be completely new to the computer world, and research demonstrates that there’s a growing demand for qualified people.

As you discover more about training providers, don’t use those that compromise their offerings by failing to provide the latest version from Microsoft. Ultimately, this will frustrate and cost the student a great deal more due to the fact that they’ve been educated in an outdated MCSE program which inevitably will have to be up-dated almost immediately. Computer training companies must be completely focused on establishing the best direction for their clients. Directing study is as much about guiding people on establishing where to go, as it is giving them help to reach their destination.

When did you last consider your job security? For most people, this issue only becomes a talking point when something goes wrong. But really, the painful truth is that true job security is a thing of the past, for most of us. We’re able though to hit upon security at market-level, by digging for areas that have high demand, together with shortages of trained staff.

Reviewing the Information Technology (IT) business, a key e-Skills investigation demonstrated a 26 percent deficit in trained staff. Put directly, we only have the national capacity to fill just three out of every 4 jobs in Information Technology (IT). This one notion in itself reveals why the UK urgently requires considerably more trainees to get into the IT sector. While the market is expanding at such a quick pace, it’s unlikely there’s any better sector worth considering for a new career.

How are we supposed to make an educated decision then? With so much reward available, it’s imperative to understand where to search - and what to be investigating.

Of course: the training course or a certification is not the ultimate goal; the particular job that you’re getting the training for is. Far too many training organisations put too much weight in the actual accreditation. It’s an awful thing, but thousands of new students commence training that sounds fabulous in the sales literature, but which delivers a career that is of no interest. Try talking to typical college leavers for examples.

You must also consider how you feel about earning potential and career progression, plus your level of ambition. It makes sense to understand what the role will demand of you, what particular accreditations are needed and how you’ll gain real-world experience. Seek help from an industry professional who ‘gets’ the commercial realities of the area you’re interested in, and will be able to provide ‘A typical day in the life of’ outline of of what you’ll be doing with each working day. It makes good sense to discover if this is the right course of action for you before you embark on your training program. After all, what is the reason in beginning your training only to realise you’ve made a huge mistake.

Traditional teaching in classrooms, utilising reference manuals and books, is often a huge slog for most of us. If you’re nodding as you read this, find training programs which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts. Where we can get all of our senses involved in our learning, our results will often be quite spectacular.

Programs are now found on CD and DVD discs, where everything is taught on your PC. Utilising the latest video technology, you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how something is done, and then have a go at it yourself - in an interactive lab. Every company that you look at should willingly take you through samples of the materials provided for study. You’re looking for evidence of tutorial videos and demonstrations and a variety of interactive modules.

Avoiding training that is delivered purely online is generally a good idea. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where offered, so that you have access at all times - ISP quality varies, so you don’t want to be totally reliant on a good broadband connection all the time.

One area often overlooked by trainees considering a training program is that of ‘training segmentation’. This basically means the breakdown of the materials for delivery to you, which can make a dramatic difference to how you end up. A release of your materials stage by stage, according to your own speed is how things will normally arrive. This sounds logical, but you might like to consider this: Often, the staged breakdown insisted on by the company won’t suit you. You may find it a stretch to finalise all the elements within the time limits imposed?

To avoid any potential future issues, it’s not unusual for students to have all their training materials (which they’ve now paid for) delivered immediately, and not in stages. It’s then your own choice in which order and at what speed you want to work.

A lot of training providers only give support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; most won’t answer after 8-9pm at the latest and frequently never at the weekends. You’ll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and phone support is usually just a call-centre who will chat nicely with you for 5 minutes to ask what the issue is and then simply send an email to an instructor - who’ll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, at a time suitable for them. This is no good if you’re sitting there confused over an issue and have a one hour time-slot in which to study.

The most successful trainers utilise several support facilities from around the world. By utilising an interactive interface to seamlessly link them all together, at any time you choose, help is at hand, avoiding all the delays and problems. Find an educator that gives this level of learning support. Only true 24×7 round-the-clock live support provides the necessary backup.

It’s essential to have an authorised exam preparation system as part of your training package. Due to the fact that a lot of examining boards for IT are American, it’s essential to understand how exam questions will be phrased and formatted. It’s not sufficient merely understanding random questions - it’s essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format. Mock exams can be enormously valuable for confidence building - then when the time comes for you to take your actual exams, you won’t be worried.

The sometimes daunting task of landing your first role in IT can be eased because some trainers offer a Job Placement Assistance facility. In reality it isn’t a complex operation to get a job - as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications; employers in this country need your skills.

Help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews is sometimes offered (if it isn’t, consult one of our sites). It’s essential that you update that dusty old CV immediately - not after you’ve qualified! Getting your CV considered is more than not being known. Many junior positions are got by people who are still at an early stage in their studies. If it’s important to you to find work near your home, then it’s quite likely that a local (but specialised) recruitment consultancy could be of more use than the trainer’s recruitment division, due to the fact that they’re going to have insider knowledge of local employment needs.

A big aggravation of various training providers is how hard people are prepared to study to pass exams, but how un-prepared that student is to get the role they have qualified for. Don’t give up when the best is yet to come.

Network and computer support workers are more and more sought after in Great Britain, as organisations have come to depend on their technical advice and capacity to solve problems. Because our society becomes more and more reliant on our PC’s, we simultaneously inevitably become increasingly dependent on the technically knowledgeable IT networkers, who maintain those systems.

At times individuals don’t comprehend what IT means. It’s ground-breaking, exciting, and means you’re doing your bit in the gigantic wave of technology that will change our world over the next few decades. Society largely thinks that the increase in technology we’ve been going through is lowering its pace. This couldn’t be more wrong. Terrific advances are ahead of us, and most especially the internet will be the biggest thing to affect the way we live.

Always remember that typical remuneration in the IT market over Britain as a whole is significantly better than in the rest of the economy, therefore you will probably earn considerably more as a trained IT professional, than you would in most typical jobs. It seems there’s a lot more room for IT jobs development throughout this country. The market continues to grow quickly, and with the skills shortage of over 26 percent that we’re experiencing, it’s highly unlikely that things will be any different for the significant future.

So, which sort of questions should we be asking if we want to arrive at the understanding we need? Since there seems to be some fairly outstanding possibilities for everyone to investigate.

An all too common mistake that potential students often succumb to is to concentrate on the course itself, and take their eye off the end result they want to achieve. Universities are full of direction-less students who took a course because it seemed fun - rather than what would get them an enjoyable career or job. Don’t be one of those unfortunate people who select a program that seems ‘fun’ or ‘interesting’ - and get to the final hurdle of an accreditation for an unrewarding career path.

Be honest with yourself about how much you want to earn and what level of ambition fits you. Sometimes, this affects what qualifications you will need and what industry will expect from you in return. Seek out help from a skilled professional that ‘gets’ the commercial realities of the area you’re interested in, and who can offer ‘A typical day in the life of’ understanding of of what you’ll be doing on a day-to-day basis. It makes good sense to ensure you’re on the right track before you embark on your training program. What’s the point in kicking off your training only to realise you’ve made a huge mistake.

We’d hazard a guess that you’re quite practically minded - a ‘hands-on’ person. Usually, the world of book-reading and classrooms would be considered as a last resort, but it’s not really your thing. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if book-based learning really isn’t your style. Memory is vastly improved when we use multiple senses - educational experts have expounded on this for years now.

Modern training can now be done at home via easy-to-use DVD or CD ROM’s. Real-world classes from the instructors will mean you’ll learn your subject via their teaching and demonstrations. Then it’s time to test your knowledge by practicing and interacting with the software. It’s imperative to see examples of the study materials provided by any company that you may want to train through. You’ll want to see that they include video, demonstrations and various interactive elements.

Purely on-line training should be avoided. Ideally, you should opt for CD and DVD ROM courseware where possible, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you - you don’t want to be reliant on a good broadband connection all the time.

There is no way of over emphasising this: Always get full 24×7 instructor support. We can tell you that you’ll strongly regret it if you don’t. Try and find training where you can access help at any time you choose (irrespective of whether it’s the wee hours on Sunday morning!) You’ll need direct-access to qualified mentors and tutors, and not a call-centre that will take messages so you’re constantly waiting for a call-back - probably during office hours.

The very best programs utilise an online access round-the-clock package involving many support centres over many time-zones. You’ll have an easy to use environment which switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres any time of the day or night: Support when you need it. Unless you insist on 24×7 support, you’ll end up kicking yourself. You may avoid using the support late in the night, but what about weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.

Many people question why academic qualifications are being overtaken by more commercial certifications? Industry now recognises that to cover the necessary commercial skill-sets, the right accreditation from companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA is closer to the mark commercially - at a far reduced cost both money and time wise. Patently, a certain quantity of associated information must be taught, but core specifics in the particular job function gives a commercially educated person a distinct advantage.

Just as the old advertisement said: ‘It does what it says on the tin’. Companies need only to know what areas need to be serviced, and then request applicants with the correct exam numbers. Then they know that anyone who applies can do the necessary work.

One interesting way that course providers make a lot more is by charging for exams up-front and offering an exam guarantee. This sounds impressive, but let’s just examine it more closely:

They’ve allowed costings for it one way or another. One thing’s for sure - it isn’t free - it’s just been rolled into the price of the whole package. It’s well known in the industry that if a student pays for each examination, one after the other, there’s a much better chance they’ll qualify each time - because they’re aware of the cost and their application will be greater.

Look for the very best offer you can when you take the exam, and save having to find the money early. In addition, it’s then your choice where to take your exam - so you can choose somewhere closer to home. Paying upfront for exams (and interest charges if you’re borrowing money) is a false economy. Resist being talked into filling the training company’s account with additional funds only to please their Bank Manager! Some will be pinning their hopes on the fact that you won’t get round to taking them - so they don’t need to pay for them. It’s also worth noting that ‘Exam Guarantees’ often aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. The majority of organisations won’t be prepared to pay for re-takes until you’ve completely satisfied them that you’re ready this time.

Average exam fees were approximately 112 pounds in the last 12 months via VUE or Pro-metric centres in the UK. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra for ‘Exam Guarantees’, when it’s no secret that the best guarantee is consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software.

The perhaps intimidating chore of landing your first role in IT is often eased by training colleges, through a Job Placement Assistance facility. The need for this feature can be bigged up out of proportion though - it isn’t unusual for their marketing department to make it sound harder than it is. Ultimately, the massive skills shortage in Great Britain is the reason you’ll find a job.

Get your CV updated straight-away though - look to your training company for advice on how to do this. Don’t delay till you’ve finished your exams. You may not have got to the stage where you’ve passed your first exam when you land your first junior support position; yet this can’t and won’t happen unless your CV is with employers. The most reliable organisations to get you a new position are most often specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. As they’re keen to place you to receive their commission, they’re perhaps more focused on results.

Many students, apparently, put a great deal of effort into their studies (sometimes for years), only to give up at the first hurdle when looking for a good job. Market yourself… Work hard to put yourself out there. A job isn’t just going to bump into you.

There are a total of 4 specialist training sectors in the overall A+ programme, but you’re just required to achieve pass marks in 2 for competency in A+. Be aware though that limiting yourself to 2 of the study sections might well not equip you for a job. Try to cover all four - employers will notice the difference.

CompTIA A+ in isolation will set you up to fix and maintain stand-alone PC’s and MAC’s; ones which are usually not part of a network - which means the home or small business market. If your ambition is maintaining networks, you’ll need to add Network+ to your A+ course. This qualification will enable you to command a more senior job role. You may also want to consider the Microsoft networking qualifications (MCP, MCSA and MCSE).

Being aware of all the debate about computing technology currently, how can we understand what precisely to look for?

There are an excess of work available in Information Technology. Finding the particular one in this uncertainty can be very difficult. Because without any commercial background in Information Technology, how can most of us be expected to know what any job actually involves? Often, the key to unlocking this issue correctly comes from a full discussion of several different topics:

* Personality factors plus what interests you - which work-centred jobs you like and dislike.

* What is the time-frame for retraining?

* Does salary have a higher place on your wish list than other requirements.

* Always think in-depth about the energy needed to attain their desired level.

* You need to take in what is different for each individual training area.

When all is said and done, the best way of investigating all this is through a good talk with a professional who understands the market well enough to lead you to the correct decision.

One thing you must always insist on is full 24×7 support with expert mentors and instructors. Far too often we see trainers who only seem to want to help while they’re in the office (9am till 6pm, Monday till Friday usually) and nothing at the weekends. Look for training where you can access help at any time of the day or night (irrespective of whether it’s the wee hours on Sunday morning!) Make sure it’s always 24×7 direct access to mentors and instructors, and not a call-centre that will take messages so you’re parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back during office hours.

Keep looking and you’ll come across professional companies who provide their students direct-access support at all times - no matter what time of day it is. Never settle for anything less. Direct-access 24×7 support is the only kind to make the grade when it comes to technical learning. It’s possible you don’t intend to study late evenings; usually though, we’re working during the provided support period.

If you’re like many of the students we talk to then you’re a practical sort of person - a ‘hands-on’ type. Usually, the world of book-reading and classrooms is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but it doesn’t suit your way of doing things. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if books just don’t do it for you. Recent studies into the way we learn shows that we remember much more when we use all our senses, and we get practically involved in what we’re studying.

Interactive audio-visual materials with demonstrations and practice sessions will beat books every time. And you’ll find them fun and interesting. It’s wise to view examples of the courseware provided before you make your decision. Always insist on instructor-led video demonstrations and interactive audio-visual sections with practice modules.

It is generally unwise to select online only courseware. Because of the variable quality and reliability of all internet service providers, make sure you get actual CD or DVD ROM’s.

A lot of training academies are still using one of the most out-dated training concepts - classroom lessons. Often sold as a benefit, following a chat with most students who’ve had to attend a couple, don’t be surprised to be lectured on several if not all of these issues:

* Lots of round journeys - normally 100’s of miles or more.

* Monday to Friday access for classes is usual, and getting two to three days out of work can be difficult for many working people.

* Most of us end up feeling 4 weeks off each year is barely enough. Spend at least half of this for educational classes and see how much more difficult it makes things.

* ‘In-Centre’ workshop days fill up quickly and often end up larger than is ideal.

* Tension is sometimes created in many classes where most students want to move at a pace comfortable for them.

* Calculate the increasing cost of all the petrol, fares, accommodation, parking and food and you could be in for a major shock. Students talk of increased costs ranging from hundreds to over a thousand pounds. Work it out - and understand where they’re coming from.

* Most attendees want their training to remain private and therefore avoiding all repercussions in their job.

* It’s very common for students to hide the fact that they want to raise a question - purely due to the reason that they’re with their peers.

* For those of us who need to on occasion live away for part of the week, imagine the increased difficulty in getting to the needed workshops, as time is now more scarce than ever.

An altogether more elegant solution rests with watching a pre-made class - with instructor-led learning available at any time of day. Study can happen anywhere that suits. If your PC is a laptop, why not catch a little sunshine in your garden as you study. Any difficulties and get onto the live 24×7 support. Repeat any of the classes at any time you need to brush up - memory is aided by repetition. And note-taking becomes a thing of the past - everything’s laid on. Could it be more straightforward: Time and money is saved and travelling is avoided altogether; and of course you have a far more comfortable training atmosphere.

Being a part of the information technology industry is one of the more thrilling and changing industries that you could be a part of. To be working on the cutting-edge of technology puts you at the fore-front of developments that will affect us all over the next generation. Society largely thinks that the revolution in technology we’ve had over recent years is slowing down. All indicators point in the opposite direction. There are huge changes to come, and most especially the internet will be the most effective tool in our lives.

If making decent money is high on your wish list, you’ll be happy to know that the income on average of a typical IT worker is significantly greater than with most other jobs or industries. There is a great national need for trained and qualified IT technicians. It follows that as growth in the industry shows little sign of contracting, it seems this pattern will continue for the significant future.

If you’re looking for an MCSA training course, be aware that training varies from company to company; some are easier than others. You will find a variety of courses, whether you’re a beginner, or an IT professional looking to gain acknowledged certifications. If you want to get into the world of IT for the 1st time, you will possibly have to pick up some skills before tackling the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exams needed to become MCSA qualified. Search for a training organisation that will design a course to suit your needs - you should be able to discuss this with an advisor to determine your best course of action.

Understanding a sensible career choice is hard enough - so what research do we need to do and what sort of questions should we be posing?

An all too common mistake that we encounter all too often is to look for the actual course to take, and not focus on the desired end-result. Training academies are stacked to the hilt with students that chose an ‘interesting’ course - instead of the program that would surely get them an enjoyable career or job. It’s an awful thing, but a large percentage of students commence training that sounds amazing from the marketing materials, but which provides the end-result of a job that is of no interest. Speak to a selection of university graduates for a real eye-opener.

It’s a good idea to understand what expectations industry may have of you. Which accreditations you’ll be required to have and how to gain experience. It’s definitely worth spending time setting guidelines as to how far you wish to build your skill-set as it will often force you to choose a particular set of qualifications. Obtain help from a skilled professional that has commercial knowledge of your chosen market-place, and will be able to provide ‘A typical day in the life of’ understanding of what duties you’ll be performing on a day-to-day basis. It’d be sensible to know if this change is right for you well before your course begins. There’s little point in kicking off your training only to discover you’re on the wrong course.

Make sure that all your accreditations are commercially valid and current - don’t even consider studies which end up with a useless in-house certificate or plaque. All the major IT organisations such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or Adobe have widely approved skills courses. These big-hitters will make your CV stand-out.

People attracted to this sort of work are often very practical, and don’t always take well to classrooms, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If you’re thinking this sounds like you, try the newer style of interactive study, where everything is presented via full motion video. Research over recent years has repeatedly shown that connecting physically with our study, is proven to produce longer-lasting and deeper memory retention.

Find a course where you’re provided with an array of CD and DVD ROM’s - you’ll be learning from instructor videos and demo’s, with the facility to hone your abilities through virtual lab’s. Be sure to get a demonstration of the study materials from the school that you’re considering. You should ask for expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and interactive labs where you get to practice.

It’s usually bad advice to opt for on-line only training. With highly variable reliability and quality from your average broadband company, it makes sense to have CD or DVD ROM based materials.

There is no way of over emphasising this: Always get full 24×7 professional support from mentors and instructors. You will have so many problems later if you don’t heed this. Never purchase study programmes that only provide support to students with an out-sourced call-centre message system after office-staff have gone home. Companies will always try to hide the importance of this issue. The simple fact of the matter is - support is required when it’s required - not as-and-when it’s suitable for their staff.

We recommend looking for providers that use several support centres across multiple time-zones. Each one should be integrated to give a single entry point and also 24×7 access, when it’s convenient for you, with the minimum of hassle. Don’t accept second best when it comes to your support. The majority of would-be IT professionals who drop-out or fail, are in that situation because of a lack of support.

Adding in the cost of exam fees with the course fee then including an exam guarantee is common for a good many training companies. But look at the facts:

Patently it isn’t free - you’re still coughing up for it - it’s just been included in your package price. Students who go in for their examinations when it’s appropriate, funding them one at a time are much better placed to get through first time. They’re conscious of what they’ve paid and take the necessary steps to be ready for the task.

Why pay the training course provider early for exams? Find the best exam deal or offer at the time, instead of paying any mark-up - and do it locally - instead of miles away at the college’s beck and call. Buying a course that includes payments for examination fees (which also includes interest if you’ve taken out a loan) is a false economy. It’s not your job to boost the training company’s account with your hard-earned cash simply to help their cash-flow! There are those who hope that you don’t even take them all - so they don’t need to pay for them. Also, many exam guarantees are worthless. The majority of organisations will not pay for re-takes until you’re able to demonstrate an excellent mock pass rate.

Exams taken at VUE and Prometric centres are in the region of 112 pounds in the UK. Students should be very wary of forking out hundreds of pounds extra in ‘Exam Guarantee’ costs (often hidden in the cost) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.

We’re regularly asked to explain why qualifications from colleges and universities are being overtaken by more qualifications from the commercial sector? The IT sector is now aware that to learn the appropriate commercial skills, proper accreditation supplied for example by Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe is closer to the mark commercially - for considerably less. They do this by focusing on the particular skills that are needed (alongside a proportionate degree of background knowledge,) as opposed to covering masses of the background non-specific minutiae that degree courses often do (because the syllabus is so wide).

Think about if you were the employer - and your company needed a person with some very particular skills. What is easier: Go through reams of different degrees and college qualifications from several applicants, asking for course details and what workplace skills they’ve acquired, or select a specialised number of commercial certifications that perfectly fit your needs, and then choose your interviewees based around that. Your interviews are then about personal suitability - instead of long discussions on technical suitability.

Massive developments are washing over technology over the next generation - and it becomes more and more thrilling each day. We’ve only just begun to see just how technology is going to shape our lives. The internet will profoundly alter the way we view and interrelate with the entire world over the coming years.

If making decent money is up there on your goal sheet, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that the usual remuneration for the majority of IT staff is much more than with other market sectors. It would appear there’s no easing up for IT development across Britain. The industry continues to grow quickly, and we don’t have anywhere near enough qualified skilled IT professionals to fill current job vacancies, so it’s not likely that things will be any different for a good while yet.

Well done! Discovering this piece suggests you’re thinking about your future, and if you’re considering retraining you’ve even now progressed more than most others. It’s a frightening thought that just one in ten of us would say we are satisfied and happy at work - yet the vast majority of us will take no corrective action. We encourage you to break free and move forward - think about how you could enjoy Monday mornings.

On the subject of training, it’s important to first define what you want and don’t want from the job you would like to get. Ensure that the grass actually is greener before you put a lot of energy into taking a new turn. So much better to look at the destination you’re hoping for, to avoid disappointment:

* Would you like lots of contact with people? If so, do you like working with the same people or is meeting new people important to you? Or would you rather work alone with a task?

* What’s important that you get from the industry your job is in? - We all know that things have changed, look at building and banking for instance.

* After re-training, how long a career do you hope for, and will the market sector give you the confidence that will happen?

* Do you expect your new knowledge base to give you the chance to get a good job, and be gainfully employed until you choose to stop?

Consider the IT sector, that’s our recommendation - it’s one of the only sectors of industry still growing in this country and overseas. Another benefit is that remuneration packages are much better than most.

Reaching the most fitting career development option is very difficult - so where do we need to look and what are the questions we should be seeking the answers to?

An advisor that doesn’t ask you a lot of questions - it’s likely they’re just trying to sell you something. If they’re pushing towards a particular product before looking at your personality and whether you have any commercial experience, then you know it’s true. Don’t forget, if you’ve had any relevant qualifications that are related, then you can sometimes expect to begin at a different level to a student who’s starting from scratch. It’s usual to start with some basic user skills first. This can set the scene for your on-going studies and make your learning curve a bit more manageable.

Those that are drawn to this type of work are often very practical, and don’t always take well to classrooms, and endless reading of dry academic textbooks. If this could be you, opt for more involving, interactive learning materials, where you can learn everything on-screen. Years of research and study has constantly demonstrated that getting into our studies physically, will more likely produce memories that are deeper and longer-lasting.

Study programs now come on CD and DVD discs, so you can study at your own computer. Video streaming means you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how something is done, and then have a go at it yourself - in an interactive lab. It’s very important to see some example materials from the company you’re considering. Be sure that they contain video, demonstrations and various interactive elements.

Avoid training that is purely online. Always choose CD or DVD based study materials where possible, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you - it’s not wise to be held hostage to your internet connection always being ‘up’ and available.

One of the most important things to insist on has to be 24×7 round-the-clock support with expert mentors and instructors. Far too often we see trainers who only provide support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later (but not weekends usually). Look for training with proper support available at any time of the day or night (no matter if it’s in the middle of the night on a weekend!) You’ll need access directly to professional tutors, and not simply some messaging service that means you’re constantly waiting for a call-back during office hours.

Top training providers opt for an online round-the-clock service pulling in several support offices from around the world. You’ll have a single, easy-to-use interface which switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres any time of the day or night: Support on demand. Find a company that gives this level of learning support. As only true live 24×7 support provides the necessary backup.

If you’re considering a training academy that still provides workshops as a necessary part of their training, then take note of these difficulties met by many students:

* All the travelling required - lots of visits and often hundreds of miles each time.

* Access to classes; frequently Mon-Fri and two or three days in a row. You then have the difficulty of the work-leave.

* And let’s not ignore lost vacation time. Usually we’re lucky to have 20 days holiday per year. If at least half is sacrificed to learning, then we aren’t going to be doing much vacationing.

* Classes sometimes reach their maximum intake very quickly, leaving us with a less-than-ideal slot.

* Often, tension develops in the classroom where most students want to move at a pace comfortable for them.

* The growing costs associated with travel - travelling to the training college and of course over-night bed and breakfast can mount up over several visits. If you only assumed 5-10 centre-days at a cost of 35 pounds for one night’s accommodation, plus forty pounds for petrol and 15.00 for food, that becomes a minimum of four to nine hundred pounds of hidden costs that we now have to fund.

* All of us want some privacy. We don’t want to risk giving up any potential advancement that we’re owed because of our studies.

* Asking questions in a class full of students sometimes makes us feel awkward. Ever avoided asking a question just because you were worried it might make you look silly?

* Usually, days in-centre are virtually impossible to attend, when you work away for part of your week or month.

Surely it makes so much more sense to study at a time that’s convenient for you - not the school - and make use of instructor-led videos with interactive lab’s. Whenever you get stuck, utilise the 24×7 Support (that should’ve been packaged with any technical type of training.) Don’t forget, if you have a laptop, you can study just about anywhere. Lessons and modules can be repeated as often as you want - doing something over will help you remember it. And no worrying about keeping up with note-taking either - it’s already ready to go. Essentially: You save time, hassle, money and steer clear of polluting our environment.

There are colossal changes about to hit technology in the near future - and the industry becomes more ground-breaking every year. We’ve barely started to scrape the surface of how technology will affect our lives in the future. The internet will significantly revolutionise the way we regard and interact with the rest of the world over the coming decades.

Incomes in IT are not a problem also - the average salary in the United Kingdom for an average IT worker is significantly better than remuneration packages in other sectors. It’s likely that you’ll earn a much greater package than you could reasonably hope to get in other industries. It’s evident that we have a considerable national need for certified IT specialists. And as the industry constantly develops, it seems there will be for a good while yet.

Almost exclusively, Adobe Dreamweaver is the first base for all web designers. It is probably the most used web-development environment in the world. The whole Adobe Web Creative Suite should additionally be understood in-depth. Doing this will familiarise you in Action Script and Flash, (and more), and could lead on to the Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) or an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) qualification.

The building of the website is just the start of the skill set required though - to create traffic, maintain its content, and work on dynamic sites that are database driven, you’ll need to bolt on more programming skills, such as HTML and PHP, and database engines like MySQL. In addition, you should gain a good understanding of E-Commerce and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).

Being aware of so much talk on the area of Information Technology (IT) at present, how are we supposed to understand what in particular to look for?

Trainees eager to start a career in computers and technology normally don’t know what direction they should take, or even which area to get certified in. Therefore, if you’ve got no know-how of the IT market, how could you possibly know what some particular IT person actually does day-to-day? Let alone decide on what training route is the most likely for your success. The key to answering this question correctly comes from a thorough discussion of a variety of topics:

* Personality factors and interests - what kind of work-oriented areas please or frustrate you.

* Is it your desire to realise a closely held goal - like being your own boss as quickly as possible?

* How important is salary to you - is it of prime importance, or does job satisfaction rate a little higher on the scale of your priorities?

* Because there are so many markets to choose from in computing - it’s wise to get some key facts on what separates them.

* Taking a serious look into the effort, commitment and time you can give.

Ultimately, your only chance of covering these is via a long chat with an experienced advisor who knows the industry well enough to give you the information required.

Usually, trainers will provide a bunch of books and manuals. It’s not a very interesting way to learn and not really conducive to achieving retention. We see a huge improvement in memory retention when all our senses are brought into the mix - learning experts have been saying this for many years.

Learning is now available on CD and DVD discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Through video streaming, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how to do something, and then have a go at it yourself - with interactive lab sessions. You must ensure that you see the type of training provided by each company you’re contemplating. Be sure that they contain video demo’s and interactive elements such as practice lab’s.

Some companies only have access to just online versions of their training packages; while you can get away with this much of the time, think what will happen if your access to the internet is broken or you get intermittent problems and speed issues. It is usually safer to have physical CD or DVD discs which don’t suffer from these broadband issues.

Many students come unstuck over a single courseware aspect which is often not even considered: The method used to ’segment’ the courseware before being couriered to your address. Individual deliveries for each training module stage by stage, as you complete each module is the normal way of receiving your courseware. While sounding logical, you must understand the following: What would happen if you didn’t finish every module within the time limits imposed? Often the staged order won’t be as easy as another different route may.

In all honesty, the very best answer is to have a copy of their prescribed order of study, but to receive all the materials up-front. You’re then in possession of everything in the event you don’t complete everything as fast as they’d like.

We can’t make a big enough deal out of this point: You absolutely must have proper 24×7 instructor support. You’ll severely regret it if you don’t heed this. Never accept training courses that only support you with a call-centre messaging system after office-staff have gone home. Training companies will always try to hide the importance of this issue. But, no matter how they put it - support is needed when it’s needed - not at their convenience.

The most successful trainers use multiple support centres across multiple time-zones. An online system provides an interactive interface to provide a seamless experience, any time of the day or night, help is just a click away, with no hassle or contact issues. Never settle for less than you need and deserve. Support round-the-clock is the only viable option when it comes to IT courses. Perhaps you don’t intend to study during the evenings; but for the majority of us however, we’re out at work at the time when most support is available.

You have to be sure that all your qualifications are commercially valid and current - you’re wasting your time with courses which end up with a useless in-house certificate or plaque. From the viewpoint of an employer, only the major heavyweights like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA (for instance) will get you into the interview seat. Anything less won’t make the grade.

One crafty way that training companies make a big mark-up is by charging for exams up-front then giving it ‘Exam Guarantee’ status. This sounds impressive, until you think it through:

Everyone knows they’re still footing the bill for it - it’s obviously been inserted into the overall price charged by the training provider. Certainly, it’s not a freebie - don’t think these companies are so generous with their money! If it’s important to you to qualify first ‘go’, evidence suggests you must pay for one exam at a time, give it the necessary attention and give the task sufficient application.

Take your exams at a local pro-metric testing centre and find the best exam deal or offer available then. What’s the point in paying early for examinations when you don’t need to? A great deal of money is made because training colleges are charging upfront for all their exams - and hoping either that you won’t take them, or it will be a long time before you do. Many training companies will insist that you take mock exams first and hold you back from re-takes until you’ve proven conclusively that you can pass - so an ‘Exam Guarantee’ comes with many clauses in reality.

VUE and Prometric examinations are in the region of 112 pounds in this country. Why pay exorbitant charges for ‘Exam Guarantees’ (often hidden in the cost) - when the best course materials, the right level of support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

How can job security truly exist anywhere now? Here in the UK, with industry changing its mind at alarming speeds, we’d question whether it does. In actuality, security now only emerges in a fast rising marketplace, fuelled by a shortage of trained workers. It’s this shortage that creates the right conditions for a secure marketplace - a more attractive situation all round.

The computer industry skills shortage across the UK is standing at approx twenty six percent, according to the 2006 e-Skills investigation. To put it another way, this highlights that the country is only able to source 3 certified professionals for every four jobs in existence today. This alarming concept underpins the urgent need for more properly accredited IT professionals across the United Kingdom. In reality, seeking in-depth commercial IT training during the years to come is almost definitely the greatest career choice you could ever make.

What might someone searching for training tracks certified by Microsoft expect to find today? Patently, training companies should be offering a number of course choices that meet the requirements of Microsoft authorised training routes. You might like to have a chat about jobs with an industry expert - and if you’re not sure, then take counsel on what kind of IT job would suit you most, based on your personality and ability level. Having selected the career path you want, an appropriate course has to be picked that’s goes with your skills and abilities. You should expect to be offered a bespoke package for you.

So, what questions do we need to pose if we’d like to take onboard the understanding we need? After all, it looks like there are some rather excellent prospects for everyone to think about.

Many companies only look at the plaque to hang on your wall, and forget why you’re doing this - which is of course employment. Your focus should start with the end in mind - don’t make the vehicle more important than the destination. You could be training for only a year and end up doing the job for 20 years. Ensure you avoid the fatal error of choosing what sounds like an ‘interesting’ training program and then put 10-20 years into a job you hate!

You must also consider your feelings on career development, earning potential, and if you’re ambitious or not. It makes sense to understand what industry expects from you, which qualifications are required and how you’ll gain real-world experience. It’s good advice for all students to speak with an experienced industry advisor before they embark on a learning programme. This is essential to ensure it has the required elements for the career that is sought.

A lot of commercial training providers will only offer office hours or extended office hours support; very few go late in the evening or at weekends. some companies only provide email support (slow), and telephone support is usually to a call-centre which will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team - who’ll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, when it’s convenient to them. This is all next to useless if you’re lost and confused and only have a specific time you can study.

Keep looking and you’ll come across professional companies who provide their students direct-access online support 24×7 - including evenings, nights and weekends. If you opt for less than direct-access 24×7 support, you’ll regret it. It may be that you don’t use it during late nights, but what about weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.

Those that are drawn to this type of work are often very practical, and don’t really enjoy classrooms, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If this could be you, opt for more involving, interactive learning materials, where learning is video-based. If we’re able to involve all our senses in the learning process, our results will often be quite spectacular.

Locate a program where you’ll get a host of CD or DVD ROM’s - you’ll begin by watching videos of instructors demonstrating the skills, and then have the opportunity to practice your skills in interactive lab’s. Every company that you look at should willingly take you through a few samples of their courseware. You should hope for instructor-led videos and interactive areas to practice in.

You should avoid purely online training. Always choose CD or DVD based study materials where available, enabling them to be used at your convenience - you don’t want to be reliant on a quality and continuous internet connection.

In amongst the top nominees for the biggest issue to be got round in IT training is usually having to turn up to ‘In Centre’ days or workshops. Most training schools extol the virtues of the plus points of attending, it’s almost certain though that you’ll find them a major problem because of:

* Frequent round trips - usually 100’s of miles or more.

* Mon-Fri access with classes is typically the case, and getting two to three days out of work can be difficult for many working people.

* Don’t disregard the lost holiday days. We typically get twenty days annual leave. If over 50 percent is used in classes, then there’s very little left over for us.

* Classes often become quickly full, giving us the only option of the ‘2nd best’ solution.

* Tension is sometimes created in classes because most students want to move at a pace comfortable for them.

* Many trainees speak about the high (and unexpected) costs associated with all the travelling back and forth to the venue whilst paying for accommodation and food can get very expensive.

* Is it worth any chance of getting overlooked for a lift up the ladder or income boosts while you’re training.

* Who amongst us hasn’t avoided posing that question we were dying to ask, just because we wanted to look smarter?

* When your work takes you away from home, you have the added problem that classes sometimes become very hard to attend - unfortunately however, the fees were paid along with everything else at the start.

The most elegant solution is to watch a filmed lesson - providing direct instruction at a time that’s convenient to you alone. Whenever you experience difficulties, utilise the 24×7 Support (that should’ve been packaged with any technical type of training.) You should remember, if you have a notebook PC, you could study in breaks at work. It really doesn’t matter how frequently you would like to re-take a quiz or test, video tutors can never get frustrated with you! Also, with this method, you can say goodbye to note-taking. Everything is already there for immediate use. What could be simpler: A lot of money is saved and you avoid all the travelling; and you have a far more peaceful training atmosphere.

How can job security really exist anywhere now? In a marketplace like the UK, where business constantly changes its mind on a whim, there doesn’t seem much chance. In actuality, security now only emerges via a swiftly escalating marketplace, fuelled by a lack of trained workers. These circumstances create the appropriate setting for a secure market - definitely a more pleasing situation.

The IT skills shortfall across the United Kingdom is standing at over 26 percent, as noted by the latest e-Skills study. Therefore, for every 4 jobs existing around IT, employers can only locate trained staff for three of the four. Accomplishing full commercial IT exams is as a result a ‘Fast Track’ to achieve a long-lasting as well as worthwhile livelihood. Without a doubt, this really is the very best time for retraining into IT.

If you’re going through this material it’s possible that either you want to get into networking and you fancy taking your MCSE, or you are a knowledgeable person and it’s apparent that the next stage is the MCSE certification.

As you find out about training providers, avoid those that compromise their offerings by failing to provide the current Microsoft version. Over time, this will cost the student a great deal more as they will have been learning from an outdated MCSE course which will have to be revised pretty much straight away. Training colleges should be committed to discovering the ultimate program for their students. Directing learning is equally about guiding people on establishing where to go, as well as helping them get there.

How can we go about making an educated choice then? With so many opportunities, it’s essential to be guided as to where to look - and what it is we should be searching for.

Students hopeful to build a career in IT normally aren’t sure which route to consider, let alone which sector to build their qualifications around. As with no commercial skills in computing, how can most of us understand what any job actually involves? Contemplation on several factors is required when you want to dig down a solution that suits you:

* The type of personality you have and interests - which working tasks please or frustrate you.

* Are you looking to accomplish a closely held objective - for example, being your own boss sometime soon?

* Is salary further up on your wish list than other factors.

* Always think in-depth about the time expected to attain their desired level.

* You have to understand the differences across each individual training area.

To cut through all the jargon and confusion, and uncover what’ll really work for you, have a good talk with an experienced professional; a person who will cover the commercial realities and truth as well as each qualification.

All programs you’re considering really needs to work up to a properly recognised certification at the finale - and not some unimportant ‘in-house’ plaque for your wall. From the perspective of an employer, only the top companies like Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco (for example) give enough bang for your buck. Anything less just doesn’t cut the mustard.

Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always comprehensive 24×7 direct-access support with dedicated instructors and mentors. So many companies we come across will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend. Avoid those companies who use ‘out-of-hours’ messaging systems - with the call-back coming in during standard office hours. It’s not a lot of help when you’ve got study issues and need help now.

The best trainers have many support offices around the globe in several time-zones. An online system provides an interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, any time of the day or night, help is just seconds away, without any problems or delays. Never make the mistake of compromise where support is concerned. The majority of trainees who can’t get going properly, just need the right support system.

It’s likely that you’re quite practically minded - a ‘hands-on’ individual. Usually, the painful task of reading endless manuals can be just about bared when essential, but it’s not ideal. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if book-based learning really isn’t your style. Research has constantly confirmed that an ‘involved’ approach to study, where we utilise all our senses, is much more conducive to long-term memory.

Top of the range study programs now offer interactive CD and DVD ROM’s. Real-world classes from the instructors will mean you’ll find things easier to remember via their teaching and demonstrations. Then you test your knowledge by using practice-lab’s. It’s wise to view some of the typical study materials provided before you sign on the dotted line. What you want are videoed instructor demonstrations and interactive audio-visual sections with practice modules.

It’s unwise to opt for on-line only training. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from your average broadband company, ensure that you have access to CD or DVD ROM based materials.

You’ll come across courses which guarantee examination passes - inevitably that means paying for the exams when you pay for the rest of your course. But before you get taken in by guaranteed exams, think about this:

You’ll pay for it ultimately. You can be assured it’s not a freebie - it’s just been rolled into the price of the whole package. For those who want to qualify first ‘go’, you must pay for each exam as you go, give it the necessary attention and be ready for the task.

Don’t you think it’s more sensible to hold on to your money and pay for the exam at the appropriate time, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance to a training college, and also to sit exams more locally - rather than in some remote centre? Buying a course that includes payments for examination fees (plus interest - if you’re financing your study) is bad financial management. Don’t line companies bank accounts with extra money of yours just to give them a good cash-flow! There are those who hope that you don’t even take them all - so they don’t need to pay for them. You should fully understand that re-takes with organisations who offer an ‘Exam Guarantee’ are monitored with tight restrictions. They will insist that you take pre-tests first so you can prove to them you have a good chance of passing.

Exam fees averaged approximately 112 pounds in the last 12 months when taken at Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra to get ‘Exam Guarantees’, when it’s no secret that the responsible approach is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.

We’re regularly asked to explain why academic qualifications are less in demand than the more commercial qualifications? Industry now acknowledges that for mastery of skill sets for commercial use, official accreditation from companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA most often has much more specialised relevance - and a fraction of the cost and time. In a nutshell, only required knowledge is taught. It isn’t quite as lean as that might sound, but the principle remains that students need to cover the precise skills needed (along with a certain amount of crucial background) - without trying to cram in everything else - in the way that academic establishments often do.

Put yourself in the employer’s position - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What is easier: Pore through a mass of different academic qualifications from various applicants, trying to establish what they know and what workplace skills they’ve acquired, or choose a specific set of accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and draw up from that who you want to speak to. You’ll then be able to concentrate on getting a feel for the person at interview - instead of long discussions on technical suitability.

Locating job security in the current climate is problematic. Companies can throw us out of the workforce with very little notice - as and when it suits them. However, a sector experiencing fast growth, with huge staffing demands (due to a massive shortage of trained staff), provides a market for true job security.

Using the computing business as an example, the most recent e-Skills survey highlighted a skills shortage around the United Kingdom of around 26 percent. Showing that for each 4 job positions that exist around the computer industry, we have only 3 certified professionals to fill that need. This single reality alone reveals why the country requires a lot more people to join the IT industry. In actuality, acquiring professional IT skills during the coming years is almost definitely the best choice of careers you could make.