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If we didn’t have a constant influx of qualified network and computer support workers, commerce in the United Kingdom (as elsewhere) would inevitably be brought to its knees. There is an ever growing requirement for technicians to support both users and the systems they work with. The nation’s requirement for better skilled and qualified individuals grows, as human beings become consistently more dependent upon computers in these modern times.

How are we supposed to make a good choice then? With so many opportunities, we’ll need to know where to be looking – and what it is we should be investigating.

An all too common mistake that many potential students make is to concentrate on the course itself, and not focus on where they want to get to. Schools are stacked to the hilt with unaware students who chose a course based on what sounded good – instead of what would yield the job they want. It’s possible, in some situations, to thoroughly enjoy one year of training but end up spending 10 or 20 years in a career that does nothing for you, as a consequence of not performing some quality research when it was needed – at the start.

You also need to know how you feel about earning potential and career progression, and if you’re ambitious or not. You should understand what the role will demand of you, which exams they want you to have and how to develop your experience. All students are advised to talk with an experienced industry professional before following a particular study programme. This gives some measure of assurance that it contains the commercially required skills for the career path that has been chosen.

Consider only study courses that’ll lead to industry accepted accreditations. There are way too many trainers suggesting their own ‘in-house’ certificates that are essentially useless when you start your job-search. You’ll discover that only industry recognised accreditation from the likes of Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe and Cisco will have any meaning to employers.

Students who consider this area of study are often very practical, and aren’t really suited to the classroom environment, and slogging through piles of books. If you identify with this, opt for more involving, interactive learning materials, with on-screen demonstrations and labs. Research over recent years has constantly confirmed that connecting physically with our study, is far more likely to produce long-lasting memories.

Locate a program where you’ll get a host of CD and DVD based materials – you’ll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, followed by the chance to use virtual lab’s to practice your new skills. It’s imperative to see examples of the study materials provided by the company you’re considering. You’ll want to see that they include instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab’s.

Purely on-line training should be avoided. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where available, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want – it’s not wise to be held hostage to your broadband being ‘up’ 100 percent of the time.

Student support is absolutely essential – locate a good company that includes 24×7 access, as anything less will not satisfy and will also impede your ability to learn. Always avoid certification programs which can only support students with a message system when it’s outside of usual working hours. Colleges will try to talk you round from this line of reasoning. The simple fact of the matter is – you want to be supported when you need the help – not at times when they find it cheaper to provide it.

Be on the lookout for training schools that incorporate three or four individual support centres across multiple time-zones. Each one should be integrated to provide a single interface and also access round-the-clock, when you need it, with no hassle. Always pick a training company that gives this level of learning support. Only true 24×7 round-the-clock live support delivers what is required.

One crafty way that course providers make extra profits is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course and then including an ‘Exam Guarantee’. It looks impressive, until you think it through:

They’ve allowed costings for it one way or another. One thing’s for sure – it isn’t free – they’ve simply charged more for the whole training package. Students who take each progressive exam, funding them as they go are in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt. They’re thoughtful of the cost and revise more thoroughly to ensure they are ready.

Don’t pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you’re ready, and hang on to your cash. In addition, it’s then your choice where to sit the exam – so you can choose somewhere closer to home. Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on examination fees when you don’t need to? A lot of profit is made because training colleges are getting money in early for exam fees – and then cashing in when they’re not all taken. The majority of organisations will require you to sit pre-tests and not allow you to re-take an exam until you’ve proven conclusively that you can pass – so an ‘Exam Guarantee’ comes with many clauses in reality.

Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on ‘Exam Guarantees’ is short-sighted – when consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will get you through.

Commercial qualifications are now, most definitely, starting to replace the older academic routes into the IT industry – but why is this happening? Vendor-based training (as it’s known in the industry) is far more specialised and product-specific. The IT sector has acknowledged that this level of specialised understanding is necessary to handle an acceleratingly technical workplace. CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA are the dominant players. Of course, a necessary portion of background detail must be taught, but essential specialised knowledge in the particular job function gives a vendor trained person a massive advantage.

What if you were an employer – and your company needed a person with some very particular skills. What should you do: Wade your way through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, struggling to grasp what they’ve learned and which commercial skills they have, or select a specialised number of commercial certifications that precisely match your needs, and make your short-list from that. You can then focus on how someone will fit into the team at interview – instead of having to work out if they can do the job.

Sometimes, individuals don’t comprehend what information technology is about. It’s thrilling, changing, and puts you at the fore-front of developments in technology affecting everyones lives in the 21st century. We’ve only just begun to get a feel for how technology will influence everything we do. The internet will profoundly transform how we view and interrelate with the entire world over the years to come.

If making decent money is around the top on your scale of wants, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that the average salary of a typical IT worker is considerably more than with the rest of the economy. Demand for well trained and qualified IT technicians is certain for quite some time to come, due to the continuous expansion in the marketplace and the massive deficiency that we still have.

CompTIA A+ computer training comprises of 4 specialised sectors – you’ll need exam certification in two of these areas to be A+ competent. This is why, most training providers limit their course to 2 of the four areas. Our opinion is this will under prepare you – sure, you can pass an exam, but knowledge of every section will give you a distinct advantage in industry, where gaps in your knowledge will expose weaknesses. This is why you require information in all 4 specialities.

As well as being taught how to build PC’s and fix them, trainees involved in this training will have instruction on how to work in antistatic conditions, along with remote access, fault finding and diagnostics. If your ambition is taking care of computer networks, add the very comprehensive Network+ to the CompTIA A+ training you’re doing. Taking this course as well will prepare you to apply for more interesting jobs. Other ones that might be interesting to you are the Microsoft networking qualifications (MCP, MCSA and MCSE).

How do we reach an educated decision then? With all these possibilities, we’ll need to know where to be looking – and what to be digging for.

A capable and professional consultant (in contrast with a salesperson) will cover in some detail your current experience level and abilities. This is paramount to establishing the point at which you need to start your studies. Where you have a strong background, or maybe some live experience (possibly even some previous certification?) then it’s more than likely your starting level will be quite dissimilar from a trainee who has no experience. Opening with a user skills course first is often the best way to get into your IT programme, depending on your current skill level.

Make sure that all your exams are commercially valid and current – forget courses which end up with a useless in-house certificate or plaque. If your certification doesn’t come from a conglomerate such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco, then chances are it won’t be commercially viable – as it’ll be an unknown commodity.

Proper support should never be taken lightly – ensure you track down something providing 24×7 full access, as anything less will frustrate you and could put a damper on the speed you move through things. Look for training where you can receive help at all hours of the day and night (no matter if it’s in the middle of the night on a weekend!) Make sure it’s always direct-access to qualified mentors and tutors, 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.

If you look properly, you’ll find professional training packages who offer direct-access online support at all times – including evenings, nights and weekends. If you opt for less than online 24×7 support, you’ll regret it very quickly. You may avoid using the support late in the night, but consider weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.

Those that are drawn to this type of work are usually quite practically-minded, and aren’t really suited to the classroom environment, and endless reading of dry academic textbooks. If you’re thinking this sounds like you, use multimedia, interactive learning, with on-screen demonstrations and labs. Where possible, if we can get all of our senses involved in our learning, then we normally see dramatically better results.

Study programs now come on CD and DVD discs, where everything is taught on your PC. Video streaming means you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how it’s all done, and then have a go at it yourself – via the interactive virtual lab’s. Any company that you’re considering should willingly take you through samples of their training materials. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and many interactive sections.

Avoid training that is purely online. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where obtainable, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you – ISP quality varies, so you don’t want to be totally reliant on your internet connection always being ‘up’ and available.

A sneaky way that training providers make extra profits is through up-front charges for exams and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. It looks like a good deal, but is it really:

Of course it’s not free – you’re still footing the bill for it – the price has simply been included in the whole thing. It’s everybody’s ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Entering examinations in order and funding them one at a time puts you in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt – you take it seriously and are aware of the costs involved.

Find the best exam deal or offer available when you take the exam, and keep hold of your own money. You’ll then be able to select where you sit the exam – meaning you can choose a local testing centre. Considerable numbers of unscrupulous training colleges secure a great deal of profit by getting in the money for all the exam fees up-front and hoping either that you won’t take them, or it will be a long time before you do. Remember, with most ‘Exam Guarantees’ – they control when and how often you are allowed to have another go. You will have to demonstrate an excellent pass-rate before they’ll approve a re-take.

Due to typical VUE and Prometric tests coming in at approximately 112 pounds in Great Britain, it’s common sense to fund them one by one. Not to fork out thousands extra in up-front costs. Commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

A question; why ought we to be looking at commercial qualifications rather than more traditional academic qualifications obtained from schools and Further Education colleges? Industry is of the opinion that to cover the necessary commercial skill-sets, proper accreditation from such organisations as Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA often is more effective in the commercial field – for much less time and money. Of course, a reasonable degree of background knowledge needs to be learned, but precise specialised knowledge in the areas needed gives a vendor trained student a huge edge.

The crux of the matter is this: Authorised IT qualifications give employers exactly what they’re looking for – the title says it all: as an example – I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Infrastructure’. Therefore companies can identify just what their needs are and what certifications are required to fulfil that.

Finding job security in the current climate is very rare. Companies frequently drop us out of the workplace at a moment’s notice – as and when it suits them. Whereas a quickly growing market-place, where there just aren’t enough staff to go round (through a growing shortfall of properly qualified staff), provides a market for true job security.

The computer industry skills shortage throughout the UK is standing at roughly 26 percent, as noted by the latest e-Skills study. To explain it in a different way, this clearly demonstrates that the country can only locate 3 certified professionals for every 4 jobs that exist today. Highly taught and commercially grounded new workers are consequently at a resounding premium, and it seems it will continue to be so for many years to come. In actuality, seeking in-depth commercial IT training during the next year or two is very likely the best choice of careers you could make.

If your dream is to become a great web designer qualified appropriately for the current working environment, you’ll need to study Adobe Dreamweaver. For applications in the commercial world you should have an in-depth understanding of the full Adobe Web Creative Suite. This will include (though it’s not limited to) Flash and Action Script. If your goal is to become an Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) or an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) these skills will be absolutely essential.

The construction of a website is only the beginning of what’s needed – in order to maintain content, create traffic, and work with dynamic database-driven sites, you’ll be required to have other programming skills, for example PHP, HTML, and MySQL. In addition, you should gain a practical knowledge of E-Commerce and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).

Being at the forefront of progressive developments in new technology really is electrifying. You become one of a team of people impacting progress around the world. It’s a common misapprehension that the increase in technology we’ve been going through is easing off. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have yet to experience incredible advances, and the internet in particular will be the most effective tool in our lives.

Wages in the IT sector aren’t to be ignored also – the income on average in Great Britain for an average IT worker is noticeably more than remuneration packages in other sectors. Odds are you’ll make a whole lot more than you would in most other jobs. The need for appropriately qualified IT professionals is assured for many years to come, due to the ongoing expansion in the technology industry and the massive skills gap that we still have.

Understanding the right job option is very difficult – so which sectors are important to investigate and what questions do we need to be raising?

It’s important to understand: a training program or the accreditation is not the ultimate goal; the particular job that you’re getting the training for is. Many trainers unfortunately place too much importance on the qualification itself. It’s a sad testimony to the sales skills of many companies, but a large percentage of students commence training that sounds magnificent from the sales literature, but which provides a job that is of no interest at all. Talk to many college graduates and you’ll see where we’re coming from.

Be honest with yourself about how much you want to earn and whether you’re an ambitious person or not. This can often control what precise qualifications you will need and what you can expect to give industry in return. Seek help from an experienced advisor that appreciates the market you’re interested in, and is able to give you ‘A day in the life of’ understanding of what you’ll actually be doing during your working week. It just makes sense to ensure you’re on the right track well before you jump into the study-program. There’s really no reason in starting your training and then find you’ve gone the wrong way entirely.

A lot of trainers will only offer support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly. Never accept certification programs which can only support you through a call-centre messaging service when it’s outside of usual working hours. Training schools will defend this with all kinds of excuses. The simple fact of the matter is – you want support at the appropriate time – not when it suits them.

The very best training providers use multiple support centres active in different time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to join them all seamlessly, at any time you choose, help is just a click away, with no hassle or contact issues. Never make the mistake of compromise where support is concerned. Many students that drop-out or fail, would have had a different experience if they’d got the right support package in the first place.

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. Recent studies into the way we learn shows that memory is aided when we involve as many senses as possible, and we get practically involved in what we’re studying.

The latest audio-visual interactive programs with demonstrations and practice sessions beat books hands-down. And they’re a lot more fun to do. Each company you’re contemplating should be able to show you a few examples of their training materials. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and many interactive sections.

Purely on-line training should be avoided. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where possible, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want – you don’t want to be reliant on your broadband being ‘up’ 100 percent of the time.

The way a programme is physically sent to you isn’t always given the appropriate level of importance. How is the courseware broken down? And in what sequence and do you have a say in when you’ll get each part? Most companies will sell you a program spread over 1-3 years, and courier the materials in pieces as you complete each exam. On the surface this seems reasonable – until you consider the following: What if there are reasons why you can’t finish each and every exam? What if you don’t find their order of learning is ideal for you? Because of nothing that’s your fault, you mightn’t complete everything fast enough and consequently not get all your materials.

To be straight, the very best answer is to have a copy of their prescribed order of study, but make sure you have all of your learning modules right from the beginning. Everything is then in your possession if you don’t manage to finish within their ideal time-table.

Consider the facts below very carefully if you’ve been persuaded that that over-used sales technique about a guarantee for your exam looks like a reason to buy:

They’ve allowed costings for it by some means. You can be assured it’s not a freebie – they’ve just worked it into the package price. People who take each progressive exam, funding them as they go are much more likely to pass. They are thoughtful of their investment and prepare more appropriately to be up to the task.

Doesn’t it make more sense to find the best exam deal or offer when you’re ready, instead of paying a premium to a college, and to do it locally – rather than in some remote centre? Huge profits are secured by many training colleges that incorporate exam fees into the cost of the course. Many students don’t take them for one reason or another and so the company is quids-in. Believe it or not, providers exist that rely on that fact – as that’s where a lot of their profit comes from. Pay heed to the fact that, with ‘Exam Guarantees’ from most places – the company decides when you can do your re-takes. They’ll only allow a re-take once completely satisfied.

With the average price of Pro-metric and VUE tests costing in the region of 112 pounds in this country, it makes sense to pay as you go. Why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra at the beginning of your training? Commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

Some training providers have a handy Job Placement Assistance service, to help you into your first commercial role. The honest truth is that it isn’t a complex operation to get your first job – assuming you’re well trained and qualified; employers in this country need your skills.

You would ideally have help with your CV and interview techniques though; and we’d recommend all students to work on polishing up their CV right at the beginning of their training – don’t put it off till you’ve finished your exams. It’s not uncommon to find that junior support roles have been bagged by students who’re still on their course and haven’t even passed a single exam yet. At least this will get your CV into the ‘possible’ pile and not the ‘no’ pile. The top companies to help you land that job are normally specialist locally based employment services. Because they get paid commission to place you, they have more incentive to get on with it.

In a nutshell, if you put as much hard work into landing a job as into studying, you’re not likely to experience problems. Some people curiously invest a great deal of time on their learning program and just give up once they’ve passed their exams and would appear to think that businesses will just discover them.

Good for you! As you’re reading this article you’re probably toying with the idea of getting re-qualified for a new job – that puts you way ahead of the crowd. Less of us than you’d think are content with our jobs, but most complain but just stay there. You could join a select group who actually do something about it.

We recommend you seek advice first – talk to a knowledgeable person; an advisor who can discover your ideal job, and analyse the career tracks that will suit you:

* Do you operate better working alone or perhaps being around others is more important to you?

* What’s important that you get from the area of industry you choose? – We all know that things have changed, look at building and banking for instance.

* Should this be the last time you’ll have to retrain?

* Are you worried with regard to your possibilities of finding new employment, and keeping a job right up to retirement?

We ask you to consider the computer industry – there are more roles than people to do them, because it’s a rare career choice where the market sector is expanding. Contrary to what some people would have you think, it isn’t a bunch of techie geeks gazing at their computer screens the whole day (though naturally some jobs are like that.) The majority of jobs are taken by people like you and me who enjoy better than average salaries.

It’s abundantly clear: There’s absolutely no personal job security anywhere now; there can only be market or business security – companies can just remove anyone whenever it fits the business’ business requirements. Wherever we find growing skills deficits coupled with high demand areas though, we often reveal a fresh type of security in the marketplace; driven by a continual growth, organisations are struggling to hire the number of people required.

The computing Industry skills-gap around the country is standing at over twenty six percent, as shown by the 2006 e-Skills analysis. Alternatively, you could say, this shows that the UK can only find three qualified staff for every four jobs that exist now. This alarming notion underpins the urgent need for more technically accredited computer professionals in the UK. With the market expanding at such a rate, is there any other area of industry worth considering as a retraining vehicle.

Which kind of questions should we ask so as to take in the understanding required? Because it’s evident there are many fairly superb prospects for us all to look at.

Considering the amount of options that are available, is it any wonder that most potential career changers don’t really understand the best career path they could be successful with. Working through a list of IT job-titles is next to useless. The vast majority of us don’t even know what the neighbours do for a living – so we have no hope of understanding the intricacies of any specific IT role. Deliberation over these different factors is imperative if you need to get to a solution that suits you:

* The type of personality you have and interests – which work-centred jobs you enjoy or dislike.

* For what reasons you’re getting involved with IT – is it to achieve a long-held goal such as firing your boss and working for yourself maybe.

* How important is salary to you – is it the most important thing, or is job satisfaction higher up on the priority-scale?

* Often, trainees don’t consider the level of commitment demanded to gain all the necessary accreditation.

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

To bypass the barrage of jargon, and discover the best route for you, have an informal chat with an advisor with years of experience; someone that appreciates and can explain the commercial realities and of course all the qualifications.

Many trainers provide piles of reference manuals and workbooks. Learning like this is dull and repetitive and not really conducive to achieving retention. Long-term memory is enhanced when multiple senses are involved – educational experts have expounded on this for decades now.

Start a study-program in which you’ll receive a selection of CD or DVD ROM’s – you’ll learn by watching video tutorials and demonstrations, and be able to use virtual lab’s to practice your new skills. Don’t take any chances and look at some examples of the kind of training materials you’ll be using before you purchase a course. The minimum you should expect would be instructor demonstrations, video tutorials and audio-visual elements backed up by interactive lab’s.

Purely on-line training should be avoided. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where offered, so that you have access at all times – ISP quality varies, so you don’t want to be totally reliant on your internet connection always being ‘up’ and available.

Many students come unstuck over a single training area which is often not even considered: The breakdown of the course materials before being couriered to your address. Delivery by courier of each element stage by stage, as you complete each module is how things will normally arrive. This sounds sensible, but you must understand the following: What if for some reason you don’t get to the end of each and every exam? Maybe the prescribed order won’t suit you? Due to no fault of yours, you may not meet the required timescales and not receive all the modules you’ve paid for.

In all honesty, the best solution is to have their ideal ‘order’ of training laid out, but make sure you have all of your learning modules right from the beginning. You’re then in possession of everything if you don’t manage to finish within their ideal time-table.

At the top of your shopping list for a training program should be proper direct-access 24×7 support through professional mentors and instructors. Far too often we see trainers who will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend. Never purchase study programmes that only provide support to 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 – you need support when you need support – not at their convenience.

The very best training providers use multiple support centres across multiple time-zones. Online access provides the interactive interface to provide a seamless experience, any time of the day or night, there is always help at hand, avoiding all the delays and problems. Search out a training company that offers this level of study support. Only true 24×7 round-the-clock live support provides the necessary backup.

You’ll come across courses which guarantee examination passes – this always means exams have to be paid for upfront, at the start of your training. Before you get carried away with this so-called guarantee, think about this:

In this day and age, we tend to be a little bit more aware of sales ploys – and the majority of us ought to realise that of course it is something we’re paying for – they’re not just being charitable and doling out freebies! If it’s important to you to pass in one, then you should pay for each exam as you go, prioritise it appropriately and apply yourself as required.

Find the best exam deal or offer available at the time, and save having to find the money early. You also get more choice of where you do your exams – meaning you can choose a local testing centre. Paying upfront for exams (which also includes interest if you’ve taken out a loan) is madness. It’s not your job to boost the training company’s account with additional funds only to please their Bank Manager! There are those who hope that you won’t get round to taking them – then they’ll keep the extra money. Pay heed to the fact that, with the majority of Exam Guarantees – they control when and how often you are allowed to do a re-take. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company’s say so.

Due to typical VUE and Prometric exams costing in the region of 112 pounds in this country, it’s common sense to fund them one by one. It’s not in the student’s interests to fork out hundreds or thousands of pounds for exams when enrolling on a course. Consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.

Every program under consideration really needs to work up to a properly recognised qualification at the end – and not a worthless ‘in-house’ diploma – fit only for filing away and forgetting. All the major commercial players such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco all have internationally acknowledged proficiency programs. Huge conglomerates such as these will make sure you’re employable.

If you’re thinking about a future in network support then the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator course is an ideal qualification for you. Whether you’re about to join the IT industry or have previous knowledge but no certificate, there’s a variety of options to suit your requirements. Each category should have a different training track, so pay attention to check you’re being offered the best one prior to getting going. Look for a training provider that talks with you so they get to know what you’d like to do, and will work with you to sort out what you’ll be doing, before they start talking about courses.

Wouldn’t it be great to know for sure that our careers are secure and our future is protected, however, the truth for the majority of jobs throughout England currently seems to be that there is no security anymore. It’s possible though to hit upon security at the market sector level, by digging for areas of high demand, together with shortages of trained 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.

Without a doubt, the computer sector offers superb prospects. However, to properly investigate, what are the questions we should be asking, and which are the most important considerations?

An advisor that doesn’t ask you a lot of questions – the likelihood is they’re just trying to sell you something. If they wade straight in with a specific product before getting to know your background and whether you have any commercial experience, then it’s very likely to be the case. Where you have a strong background, or sometimes a little work-based experience (some industry qualifications maybe?) then obviously the level you’ll need to start at will be different from a student that is completely new to the industry. It’s wise to consider user-skills and software training first. This can often make the transition to higher-level learning a much more gentle.

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 heed this. Don’t buy training courses that only support students with a call-centre messaging system after office-staff have gone home. Training schools will always try to hide the importance of this issue. The bottom line is – you want support at the appropriate time – not at their convenience.

The very best training providers utilise several support facilities across multiple time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, irrespective of the time you login, help is just seconds away, avoiding all the delays and problems. Don’t accept second best with the quality of your support. The majority of trainees that give up, would have had a different experience if they’d got the right support package in the first place.

Those that are drawn to this type of work often have a very practical outlook on work, and don’t really enjoy classrooms, and slogging through piles of books. If this is putting you off studying, opt for more involving, interactive learning materials, where everything is presented via full motion video. Recent studies into the way we learn shows that we remember much more when we use all our senses, and we take action to use what we’ve learned.

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.

Avoid training that is purely online. Always choose CD or DVD based study materials where offered, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you – and not be totally reliant on a quality and continuous internet connection.

We’re often asked why academic qualifications are being replaced by more commercial certifications? Industry now acknowledges that for an understanding of the relevant skills, proper accreditation from companies such as Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA is closer to the mark commercially – for considerably less. They do this by honing in on the skill-sets required (together with a proportionate degree of related knowledge,) as opposed to trawling through all the background ‘extras’ that computer Science Degrees often do – to fill a three or four year course.

The bottom line is: Commercial IT certifications provide exactly what an employer needs – the title is a complete giveaway: for example, I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Designing Security for a Windows 2003 Network’. Consequently an employer can look at the particular needs they have and which qualifications are required to fulfil that.

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.

One feature offered by some training providers is a Job Placement Assistance program. This is designed to help you find your first job in the industry. Because of the great shortage of skills in the United Kingdom today, there’s no need to get too caught up in this feature though. It really won’t be that difficult to get employment as long as you’re correctly trained and certified.

Ideally you should have CV and Interview advice and support though; also we would encourage any student to update their CV right at the beginning of their training – don’t procrastinate and leave it for when you’re ready to start work. Having the possibility of an interview is more than not being known. Many junior jobs are bagged by people (who’ve only just left first base.) The most efficient companies to help you land that job are most often local IT focused employment agencies. Because they make their money when they’ve found you a job, they have the necessary incentive to try that bit harder.

A regular frustration of various training course providers is how much students are prepared to study to become certified, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the position they’ve qualified for. Don’t falter at the last fence.

What might someone searching for Microsoft certified training expect to come across? Undoubtedly, companies ought to have a variety of routes that match the needs of training tracks certified by Microsoft. In addition, you may like to have a discussion on the jobs available to you when you’ve finished studying, and the kind of person that work might be right for. Many people like to discuss what they might be good at. Training courses should be designed to suit your ability level and skills. Hence, having worked out the most appropriate area of work for you, you’ll then need to look at what is the relevant route that will get you into that job.

Clearly, the UK Information Technology (IT) industry shows superb possibilities. However, to properly investigate, what kind of questions should we be asking, and what elements are the most important?

We can see an excess of jobs and positions available in the IT industry. Finding the particular one in this uncertainty can be very difficult. Scanning a list of IT job-titles is just a waste of time. Most of us have no concept what our good friends do at work – so we’re in the dark as to the ins and outs of a particular IT career. Ultimately, any kind of right resolution only comes through a systematic study of many shifting key points:

* Your personal interests and hobbies – these can reveal the things will provide a happy working life.

* What time-frame are you looking at for the training process?

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

* Many students don’t properly consider the amount of work expected to achieve their goals.

* The level of commitment and effort you’ll set aside for the training program.

The best way to avoid the industry jargon, and find what’ll really work for you, have a good talk with an industry expert and advisor; an individual that understands the commercial reality as well as the certifications.

Proper support should never be taken lightly – find a program that includes 24×7 access, as anything else will annoy you and definitely put a damper on the speed you move through things. Be wary of any training providers who use ‘out-of-hours’ messaging systems – with your call-back scheduled for typical office hours. This is no use if you’re stuck and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.

World-class organisations opt for an online 24 hours-a-day facility pulling in several support offices over many time-zones. You’ll have an easy to use interface that accesses the most appropriate office at any time of day or night: Support when you need it. Unless you insist on 24×7 support, you’ll regret it. It may be that you don’t use it late at night, but consider weekends, early mornings or late evenings.

Trainees looking at this market can be very practical by nature, and don’t really enjoy classrooms, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If this could be you, try the newer style of interactive study, where everything is presented via full motion video. Learning psychology studies show that much more of what we learn in remembered when we use all our senses, and we get practically involved in what we’re studying.

Study programs now come in the form of CD and DVD ROM’s, where everything is taught on your PC. Video streaming means you can watch instructors demonstrating how to do something, and then practice yourself – with interactive lab sessions. Any company that you’re considering must be able to demonstrate samples of their training materials. You’re looking for evidence of tutorial videos and demonstrations and a wide selection of interactive elements.

Choose physical media such as CD or DVD ROM’s every time. Thus avoiding all the issues associated with internet connection failure and issues with signal quality.

Often, students don’t think to check on a painfully important area – the way the company breaks up the physical training materials, and into how many bits. Often, you’ll join a programme taking 1-3 years and receive one element at a time until graduation. This sounds logical on one level, until you consider this: What happens when you don’t complete every section? What if you don’t find their order of learning is ideal for you? Through no fault of your own, you mightn’t complete everything fast enough and therefore not end up with all the modules.

The ideal circumstances are to get every piece of your study pack sent to you immediately; the whole caboodle! Thus avoiding any future problems that could impede your progress.

Review the facts below and pay great regard to them if you’re inclined to think that over-used sales technique about examination guarantees seems like a good idea:

Everybody’s aware that they’re still footing the bill for it – obviously it has already been included in the full cost of the package supplied by the college. It’s absolutely not free (it’s just marketing companies think we’ll fall for anything they say!) For those who want to pass first time, then you should fund each exam as you take it, give it the priority it deserves and give the task sufficient application.

Take your exams as locally as possible and look for the very best offer you can at the time. Considerable numbers of questionable training companies net huge profits through asking for exams at the start of the course and hoping either that you won’t take them, or it will be a long time before you do. It’s also worth noting that exam guarantees often have very little value. The majority of companies won’t pay for you to re-take until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won’t fail again.

Exams taken at VUE and Prometric centres are in the region of 112 pounds in the United Kingdom today. Why spend so much more on ‘Exam Guarantee’ fees (often hidden in the cost) – when the best course materials, the right level of support and consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.

One feature provided by many trainers is a programme of Job Placement assistance. This is designed to help you get your first commercial position. Because of the massive need for more IT skills in the UK today, it’s not too important to make too much of this option though. It’s actually not as hard as some people make out to secure the right work once you’re properly qualified.

Whatever you do, avoid waiting until you have passed your final exams before bringing your CV up to date. As soon as you start studying, list what you’re working on and get promoting! Many junior support roles have been offered to trainees who are in the process of training and have still to get qualified. At the very least this will get your CV into the ‘possible’ pile and not the ‘no’ pile. If you don’t want to travel too far to work, then you’ll often find that a local IT focused recruitment consultancy could work much better for you than a centralised service, as they’re going to have insider knowledge of what’s available near you.

To bottom line it, if you put the same amount of effort into finding your first job as into training, you won’t have any problems. A number of people bizarrely conscientiously work through their course materials and then just stop once they’ve got certified and seem to expect employers to find them.

Technology and IT is one of the most electrifying and revolutionary industries that you can get into right now. Being up close and personal with technology is to be a part of the massive changes that will impact the whole world for generations to come. Computer technology and communication through the web will spectacularly shape the direction of our lives in the future; overwhelmingly so.

The typical IT employee across the UK has been shown to earn a lot more than his or her counterpart in other market sectors. Standard IT incomes are amongst the highest in the country. It seems there is no end in sight for IT increases throughout this country. The sector continues to grow quickly, and with the skills shortage of over 26 percent that we’re experiencing, it’s highly unlikely that this will change significantly for decades to come.

The CCNA qualification is your entry level for Cisco training. With it, you’ll learn how to handle maintaining and installing routers. Basically, the internet comprises of vast numbers of routers, and big organisations that have different locations rely on them to allow their networks to keep in touch.

It’s important to have an understanding of computer networks and how they operate and function, because networks are linked to routers. If not, it’s likely you’ll run into difficulties. Why not first take a course in basic networking skills (CompTIA Network+ as an example – maybe with the A+ as well) before getting going with CCNA. Some companies will design a bespoke package for you.

The appropriate skill-set and understanding ahead of getting going on the Cisco CCNA is essential. Therefore, discuss the requirements expected of you with someone who can fill you in on any gaps you may have.

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 hopeful to kick off an IT career often don’t know what direction they should take, let alone what area to get certified in. After all, if you have no experience in the IT market, how are you equipped to know what some particular IT person spends their day doing? Let alone arrive at which certification program provides the best chances for your success. Reflection on several factors is imperative when you need to dig down a solution that suits you:

* The type of personality you have and what you’re interested in – what kind of work-oriented areas you like and dislike.

* Are you looking to reach a specific goal – for example, being your own boss in the near future?

* 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?

* Some students don’t fully understand the level of commitment needed to achieve their goals.

* The level of commitment and effort you’ll have available to spend on obtaining your certification.

To bypass all the jargon and confusion, and uncover the best route for you, have a good talk with an industry expert and advisor; a person who appreciates and can explain the commercial realities whilst covering all the qualifications.

Training support for students is an absolute must – locate a good company offering 24×7 direct access to instructors, as anything less will not satisfy and will also impede your ability to learn. Never buy certification programs which can only support students through a call-centre messaging system when it’s outside of usual working hours. Companies will try to talk you round from this line of reasoning. The bottom line is – support is required when it’s required – not at their convenience.

We recommend looking for providers that have multiple support offices active in different time-zones. These should be integrated to offer a simple interface and also 24 hours-a-day access, when you want it, with no hassle. Never settle for less than you need and deserve. Direct-access 24×7 support is the only way to go for IT learning. Maybe late-evening study is not your thing; but for most of us, we’re out at work at the time when most support is available.

Most trainers typically provide a shelf full of reference manuals. It’s not a very interesting way to learn and not really conducive to remembering. Our ability to remember is increased when we use multiple senses – this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for many years.

Find a course where you’re provided with an array of CD and DVD based materials – you’ll begin by watching videos of instructors demonstrating the skills, with the facility to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions. Any company that you’re considering should be able to show you some samples of their courseware. You should hope for instructor-led videos and interactive areas to practice in.

It’s unwise to select online only courseware. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from the ISP (internet service provider) market, ensure that you have access to actual CD or DVD ROM’s.

The way a programme is physically sent to you can often be overlooked. In what way are your training elements sectioned? What is the specific order and how fast does each element come? Normally, you will join a program requiring 1-3 years study and receive one element at a time until graduation. This sounds logical on one level, until you consider this: With thought, many trainees understand that their providers typical path to completion isn’t the easiest way for them. It’s often the case that it’s more expedient to use an alternative order of study. Could it cause problems if you don’t get everything done in the allotted time?

The ideal solution is to have all the training materials posted to your home before you even start; every single thing! Then, nothing can hinder your capability of finishing.

A sneaky way that training companies make more money is by charging for exams up-front and then including an ‘Exam Guarantee’. It looks impressive, until you think it through:

These days, we’re a bit more aware of hype – and the majority of us ought to know that for sure it is actually an additional cost to us (it’s not a freebie because they like us so much!) Evidence shows that if a student pays for their own exams, when they’re ready to take them and not before, they will be much more likely to qualify each time – since they’re aware of their investment in themselves and their application will be greater.

Why pay a training course provider in advance for exam fees? Find the best exam deal or offer at the appropriate time, rather than pay marked up fees – and do it in a local testing centre – not at somewhere of their bidding. A lot of so-called credible training colleges net a great deal of profit by charging for examinations upfront and cashing in if they’re not all taken. The majority of organisations will require you to sit pre-tests and with-hold subsequent exam entries from you until you’ve completely proven that you’re likely to pass – which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.

Due to typical VUE and Prometric examinations coming in at around 112 pounds in the UK, it’s common sense to fund them one by one. Not to fork out thousands extra in up-front costs. Commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

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.

Advice and support about getting interviews and your CV is sometimes offered (if not, see one of our sites for help). Be sure to you update that dusty old CV straight away – don’t leave it till you pass the exams! A good number of junior support jobs have been offered to trainees who are still learning and have still to get qualified. This will at least get your CV into the ‘possible’ pile and not the ‘no’ pile. Generally, you’ll receive quicker results from a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service than any course provider’s centralised service, because they will be more familiar with the area and local employers.

Just make sure you don’t put hundreds of hours of effort into your studies, then call a halt and expect somebody else to find you a job. Stop procrastinating and get on with the job. Put the same focus into getting your new role as it took to pass the exams.

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.

And it’s worth remembering that on average, the income of a person in the world of IT in Great Britain is a lot greater than in the rest of the economy, therefore you’ll most likely receive significantly more once qualified in IT, than you could reasonably hope to achieve elsewhere. The search for certified IT specialists is assured for the significant future, thanks to the ongoing expansion in the technology industry and the massive shortage still present.

To become a proficient web designer with relevant qualifications for today’s employment market, your must-have certification is Adobe Dreamweaver. For applications in the commercial world it’s important to have a full understanding of the full Adobe Web Creative Suite. This means also (but is by no means restricted to) Flash and Action Script. Should you desire to become an Adobe Certified Professional or an Adobe Certified Expert you’ll find these skills are vital.

Creating websites is only the beginning of the necessary skill-set for today’s web technicians. It’s a good idea to look for a course that includes important features like HTML, PHP, MySQL, Search Engine Optimisation and E-Commerce in order to know how to maintain content, create traffic and work with database driven sites.

Huge changes are coming via technology in the near future – and it becomes more and more thrilling each day. We’re barely beginning to understand how this will truly impact our way of life. How we interrelate with the rest of the world will be massively affected by computers and the web.

The money in IT isn’t to be sniffed at also – the usual income over this country as a whole for the usual man or woman in IT is noticeably more than in other market sectors. It’s likely that you’ll receive a much better deal than you would in most other jobs. Because the IT market sector is still growing nationally and internationally, the chances are that demand for professionally qualified and skilled IT workers will flourish for quite some time to come.

Picking up on all this discussion about computer technology nowadays, how is it possible to understand what exactly to look for?

Beware of putting too much emphasis, as many people do, on the accreditation program. Training for training’s sake is generally pointless; this is about employment. Stay focused on what it is you want to achieve. You may train for one year and then end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Ensure you avoid the fatal error of finding what seems like an ‘interesting’ training program and then spend decades in something you don’t even enjoy!

Stay tuned-in to what it is you’re trying to achieve, and build your study action-plan from that – don’t do it the other way round. Keep on track and ensure that you’re training for an end-result you’ll enjoy for years to come. Seek guidance and advice from a professional advisor, even if you have to pay a small fee – it’s usually much cheaper and safer to discover early on whether a chosen track will suit, rather than realise following two years of study that the job you’ve chosen is not for you and have to return to the start of another program.

We can guess that you probably enjoy fairly practical work – a ‘hands-on’ type. If you’re anything like us, the painful task of reading endless manuals is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but it’s not really your thing. Consider interactive, multimedia study if you’d really rather not use books. Many years of research has consistently demonstrated that becoming involved with our studies, to utilise all our senses, will more likely produce memories that are deeper and longer-lasting.

Fully interactive motion videos with demonstrations and practice sessions will turn you off book-based study for ever more. And you’ll actually enjoy doing them. It’s imperative to see examples of the study materials provided by your chosen company. Be sure that they contain video, demonstrations and various interactive elements.

Some companies only have access to purely on-line training; sometimes you can get away with this – but, consider how you’ll deal with it when you don’t have access to the internet or you only get very a very slow connection sometimes. It’s much safer to rely on actual CD or DVD ROMs that don’t suffer from these broadband issues.

If you forget everything else – then just remember this: You absolutely must have proper 24×7 instructor support. Later, you’ll kick yourself if you don’t follow this rule rigidly. Be wary of any training providers which use call-centres ‘out-of-hours’ – where you’ll get called back during standard office hours. This is useless when you’re stuck and need an answer now.

The very best training providers incorporate three or four individual support centres across multiple time-zones. They use an online interactive interface to join them all seamlessly, irrespective of the time you login, help is just a click away, with no hassle or contact issues. Never make do with a lower level of service. Direct-access 24×7 support is really your only option with IT courses. Maybe late-evening study is not your thing; but for the majority of us however, we’re at work while the support is live.

Commercial qualifications are now, very visibly, already replacing the traditional routes into the IT sector – why then is this the case? With 3 and 4 year academic degree costs climbing ever higher, and the IT sector’s general opinion that vendor-based training often has more relevance in the commercial field, there has been a great increase in Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA authorised training routes that provide key skills to an employee at a fraction of the cost and time involved. University courses, for instance, can often get caught up in a great deal of background study – and a syllabus that’s too generalised. Students are then prevented from getting enough core and in-depth understanding on a specific area.

Put yourself in the employer’s position – and you required somebody who had very specific skills. Which is the most straightforward: Trawl through a mass of different academic qualifications from various applicants, asking for course details and which commercial skills have been attained, or select a specialised number of commercial certifications that perfectly fit your needs, and then choose your interviewees based around that. The interview is then more about the person and how they’ll fit in – instead of having to work out if they can do the job.

It’s not uncommon for companies to offer inclusive exam guarantees – this always means exams have to be paid for upfront, at the very beginning of your studies. However, prior to embracing the chance of a guarantee, think about this:

In this day and age, we tend to be a little more ‘marketing-savvy’ – and most of us realise that of course we’re actually paying for it – they’re not just being charitable and doling out freebies! Those who go in for their examinations when it’s appropriate, paying for them just before taking them are much more likely to pass. They’re mindful of what they’ve paid and so are more inclined to ensure they are ready.

Take your exams at a local pro-metric testing centre and find the best deal for you at the time. A surprising number of questionable training course providers net a great deal of profit through asking for examinations upfront and banking on the fact that many won’t be taken. It’s worth noting, in the majority of cases of ‘exam guarantees’ – the company decides when you can do your re-takes. They’ll only allow a re-take once completely satisfied.

With the average price of Pro-metric and VUE tests in the United Kingdom costing around 112 pounds, it’s common sense to fund them one by one. Why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra at the beginning of your training? Study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.

One feature that many training companies provide is a programme of Job Placement assistance. The service is put in place to steer you into your first IT role. The need for this feature can be bigged up out of proportion though – it isn’t unusual for training companies to overplay it. The fact of the matter is, the massive skills shortage in Britain is what will enable you to get a job.

Having said that, it’s important to have CV and Interview advice and support though; additionally, we would recommend any student to update their CV as soon as they start a course – don’t procrastinate and leave it for when you’re ready to start work. It’s possible that you won’t have even taken your exams when you will be offered your first junior support role; yet this is not possible unless your CV is with employers. If you’d like to get employment in your home town, then you may well find that a specialist independent regional recruitment consultant or service can generally be of more use than the trainer’s recruitment division, because they’re going to have insider knowledge of what’s available near you.

To bottom line it, as long as you put the same commitment into finding a job as into training, you won’t find it too challenging. Some people inexplicably put hundreds of hours into their learning program and do nothing more once they’ve passed their exams and seem to expect employers to find them.

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.

It’s abundantly clear: There’s no such thing as individual job security now; there can only be industry and business security – companies can just remove anyone whenever it fits the company’s business needs. Where there are growing skills shortages and increasing demand though, we often discover a newly emerging type of security in the marketplace; as fuelled by conditions of continuous growth, organisations find it hard to locate the staff required.

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.

Picking up on all the discussion on the area of IT these days, how is it possible to know what precisely to look for?

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.

Stay focused on what it is you’re trying to achieve, and create a learning-plan from that – don’t do it back-to-front. Stay on target and study for a career that will keep you happy for many years. We recommend that students always seek guidance and advice from a skilled professional before settling on some particular training path, so there’s little doubt that the specific package will give the skill-set required for your career choice.

The classroom style of learning we remember from school, with books and manuals, is usually pretty hard going. If this describes you, dig around for more practical courses which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts. Where we can get all of our senses involved in our learning, then we often see hugely increased memory retention as a result.

Find a course where you’ll get a host of CD or DVD ROM’s – you’ll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, with the facility to hone your abilities through virtual lab’s. It’s imperative to see some example materials from your chosen company. Be sure that they contain instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab’s.

Avoid training that is purely online. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where possible, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want – and not be totally reliant on your broadband being ‘up’ 100 percent of the time.

Considering how a program is ‘delivered’ to you is often missed by many students. How is the courseware broken down? And in what sequence and at what speed is it delivered? Training companies will normally offer a 2 or 3 year study programme, and send out each piece as you pass each exam. This sounds reasonable until you consider the following: Often, the staged breakdown insisted on by the company won’t suit you. And what if you don’t finish all the sections inside their defined time-scales?

To be honest, the best solution is to get an idea of what they recommend as an ideal study order, but get everything up-front. Meaning you’ve got it all should you not complete it at their required pace.

Some trainers only give support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly. You’ll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and so-called telephone support is normally just routed to a call-centre that will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team – who will then call back sometime over the next 24hrs, when it suits them. This is no good if you’re stuck with a particular problem and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.

The best training colleges tend to use an internet-based 24×7 facility utilising a variety of support centres throughout multiple time-zones. You’ll have an environment that accesses the most appropriate office any time of the day or night: Support when it’s needed. If you fail to get yourself direct-access round-the-clock support, you’ll regret it very quickly. You might not want to use the service during late nights, but you’re bound to use weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.

Accredited exam preparation and simulation materials are a must – and should definitely be obtained from your training supplier. Students regularly can get thrown by going through practice questions that aren’t recognised by authorised sources. It’s not uncommon that the way questions are phrased can be completely unlike un-authorised versions and you should be prepared for this. ‘Mock’ or practice exams will prove invaluable for confidence building – so much so, that at the real thing, you will be much more relaxed.

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.

CV and Interview advice and support is sometimes offered (if it isn’t, consult one of our sites). Ensure you polish up your CV today – not after you’ve qualified! It’s not uncommon to find that junior support roles are offered to people who are still learning and haven’t even passed a single exam yet. At the very least this will get you on your way. The most efficient companies to get you a new position are generally specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. Because they only get paid when they place you, they have the necessary incentive to try that bit harder.

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.

If it weren’t for a steady stream of trained network and computer support workers, commercial enterprise in the United Kingdom (as elsewhere) could well run into problems. Consequently, there’s an on-going demand for technically able people to support both the users themselves and their networks. With the increasingly complex nature of technology, greater numbers of IT professionals are needed to look after the various different areas we’ve become dependent on.

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.

A average IT man or woman over this country as a whole can demonstrate that they receive significantly more than employees on a par in another industry. Typical wages are around the top of national league tables. The requirement for certified IT specialists is assured for the significant future, because of the substantial expansion in the marketplace and the very large deficiency still in existence.

If the IT industry offers some unique career possibilities for us – then which questions should we ask and what elements are most important?

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.

Spend some time thinking about what you want to earn and whether you’re an ambitious person or not. Often, this changes which certifications you will need and how much effort you’ll have to give in return. As a precursor to beginning a learning program, it makes sense to discuss the exact market requirements with an experienced industry professional, to ensure the learning path covers all the bases.

If you’re like many of the students we talk to then you probably enjoy fairly practical work – the ‘hands-on’ individual. If you’re anything like us, the world of book-reading and classrooms would be considered as a last resort, but you’d hate it. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if learning from books is not your thing. Research has consistently shown that connecting physically with our study, is proven to produce longer-lasting and deeper memory retention.

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.

Avoiding training that is delivered purely online is generally a good idea. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where available, so that you have access at all times – and not be totally reliant on a good broadband connection all the time.

A lot of trainers only give support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later; very few go late in the evening or at weekends. Avoid, like the plague, any organisations which use ‘out-of-hours’ messaging systems – with the call-back coming in during standard office hours. This is no use if you’re stuck and need help now.

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.

Qualifications from the commercial sector are now, undoubtedly, already replacing the older academic routes into the industry – but why is this happening? With 3 and 4 year academic degree costs increasing year on year, plus the industry’s general opinion that key company training is often far more commercially relevant, there has been a large rise in CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA certified training routes that create knowledgeable employees for considerably less. Academic courses, for example, clog up the training with too much background study – and much too wide a syllabus. Students are then held back from getting enough core and in-depth understanding on a specific area.

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 crafty way that colleges make a lot more is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. This sounds impressive, but is it really:

They’ve allowed costings for it somehow. You can be assured it’s not a freebie – they’ve just worked it into the package price. Students who enter their exams one by one, paying as they go are in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt. They’re thoughtful of the cost and prepare more appropriately to be up to the task.

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.

Many training companies offer a Job Placement Assistance service, to help you get your first job. Because of the massive skills shortage in the United Kingdom at the moment, there isn’t a great need to make too much of this option though. It isn’t such a complex operation to find the right work once you’re properly qualified.

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.