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A fraction of the working population in Great Britain are pleased and contented with their working life. Of course, most will take no action. The fact that you’re reading this at least tells us that you’re considering or may be ready for a change.

Before embarking on a course, look for some advice – find an industry expert; someone who’ll give you career advice based on what works best for you, and offer only the courses which will get you there:

* Do you enjoy a busy working environment? Perhaps you like being a team player? Or you may prefer task-orientated work that only you know how to deal with?

* Building and Banking are not coping well at the moment, so which sector would give you the most options?

* When you’ve done all your re-training, are you hoping your new skills will give you the ability to serve you till you retire?

* Do you have the assurance that retraining in your chosen sector can help you find employment, and will have the ability to keep you in work up to retirement age?

We request you to really explore the IT industry – there are more positions than workers to do them, because it’s one of the few choices of career where the market sector is on the grow. In contrast to the beliefs of some, it isn’t just geeks looking at screens every day (if you like the sound of that though, they do exist.) Most positions are filled by ordinary men and women who enjoy better than average salaries.

It’s so important to understand this key point: It’s essential to obtain proper 24×7 round-the-clock support from professional instructors. We can tell you that you’ll strongly regret it if you don’t adhere to this. Avoid, like the plague, any organisations who use messaging services ‘out-of-hours’ – with your call-back scheduled for the next ‘working’ day. This is no use if you’re stuck and want support there and then.

Keep your eyes open for providers that have multiple support offices around the globe in several time-zones. Each one should be integrated to offer a simple interface as well as round-the-clock access, when you need it, with no hassle. Don’t under any circumstances take anything less. Online 24×7 support is really your only option when it comes to computer-based courses. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; often though, we’re out at work while the support is live.

Coming across job security in the current climate is problematic. Companies frequently drop us from the workforce at the drop of a hat – as and when it suits them. Whereas a fast growing sector, with huge staffing demands (as there is a growing shortfall of commercially certified workers), provides a market for lasting job security.

Taking a look at the IT sector, the most recent e-Skills investigation brought to light an over 26 percent shortage in trained professionals. Put directly, we can only fill just three out of every 4 jobs in IT. Fully taught and commercially certified new workers are thus at a resounding premium, and it looks like they will be for a long time. Quite simply, acquiring professional IT skills throughout the coming years is most likely the finest choice of careers you could make.

Your training program should always include the latest Microsoft (or any other key organisation’s) authorised exam preparation packages. Don’t fall foul of depending on unofficial exam preparation questions. Their phraseology is sometimes startlingly different – and sometimes this can be a real headache once in the actual exam. Ensure that you have some simulated exam questions in order to check your knowledge at all times. Practice or ‘mock’ exams will help to boost your attitude – so you’re much more at ease with the real thing.

The age-old way of teaching, utilising reference manuals and books, is often a huge slog for most of us. If this describes you, find training programs that are on-screen and interactive. If we’re able to study while utilising as many senses as possible, then the results are usually dramatically better.

Fully interactive motion videos featuring instructor demo’s and practice lab’s will turn you off book-based study for ever more. And they’re a lot more fun to do. Any company that you’re considering must be pushed to demo some simple examples of their courseware. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and interactive areas to practice in.

Opt for physical media such as CD or DVD ROM’s whenever you can. You’re then protected from broadband outages, failure and signal quality issues etc.

An area that’s often missed by new students thinking about a course is the concept of ‘training segmentation’. Essentially, this is the method used to break up the program for timed release to you, which completely controls what you end up with. Individual deliveries for each training module one stage at a time, as you pass each exam is the usual method of releasing your program. This sounds sensible, but you might like to consider this: What happens when you don’t complete every section? And what if the order provided doesn’t meet your requirements? Through no fault of your own, you might take a little longer and not get all the study materials as a result.

To be straight, the very best answer is to have their ideal ‘order’ of training laid out, but get everything up-front. It’s then all yours should you not complete it inside of their required time-scales.

What can a student looking for training tracks certified by Microsoft expect to come across? Undoubtedly, training organisations ought to have a selection of course choices that meet the requirements of training tracks certified by Microsoft. You’ll want to consider all the options with a person who understands the commercial demands for IT staff, and can influence your choice of the most fruitful career to suit your abilities and character. Once you’ve decided on the area you want to get into, your next search is for a suitable training program customised to your needs. Your course material should be second to none.

Many training companies offer a Job Placement Assistance program, to help you into your first commercial role. But don’t place too much emphasis on it – it isn’t unusual for training companies to overplay it. The fact of the matter is, the still growing need for IT personnel in the United Kingdom is why employers will be interested in you.

Help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews should be offered (if not, see one of our sites for help). Make sure you update that dusty old CV immediately – not after you’ve qualified! Various junior support roles have been bagged by trainees who’re still on their course and have still to get qualified. This will at the very least get you on your way. Generally, a specialist independent regional recruitment consultant or service (who will get paid commission to place you) will perform better than any sector of a centralised training facility. It also stands to reason that they’ll be familiar with local industry and the area better.

To bottom line it, as long as you focus the same level of energy into finding your first IT position as into studying, you’re not going to hit many challenges. A number of people inexplicably put hundreds of hours into their training course and do nothing more once certified and would appear to think that businesses will just discover them.

You should only consider learning programs which progress to commercially acknowledged exams. There’s an endless list of trainers offering their own ‘in-house’ certificates which will prove unusable in the real world. From the perspective of an employer, only the big-boys such as Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco or CompTIA (to give some examples) provide enough commercial weight. Nothing else hits the mark.

Don’t forget: a training program or a certification is not what you’re looking for; the career that you want to end up in is. A lot of colleges seem to put too much weight in the qualification itself. You may train for one year and then end up doing the job for 20 years. Don’t make the error of finding what seems like a program of interest to you and then put 10-20 years into a job you don’t like!

Spend some time thinking about earning potential and how ambitious you are. This will influence what particular certifications will be required and what industry will expect from you in return. Seek guidance and advice from an experienced advisor, even if you have to pay – it’s much safer and cheaper to discover early on if your choices are appropriate, instead of discovering after 2 years that the job you’ve chosen is not for you and have to return to the start of another program.

It’s essential to have accredited simulation materials and an exam preparation system as part of your course package. Due to the fact that many IT examination boards tend to be American, you’ll need to be used to the correct phraseology. It’s no use merely answering any old technical questions – it’s essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format. Ensure that you ask for exam preparation tools so you’ll be able to verify your comprehension along the way. Simulated or practice exams add to your knowledge bank – so you won’t be quite so nervous at the actual exam.

Many training providers only give support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later; It’s rare to find someone who offers late evening or full weekend cover. Many only provide email support (too slow), and phone support is often to a call-centre that will make some notes and then email an advisor – who’ll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, at a suitable time to them. This is not a lot of use if you’re stuck and can’t continue and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.

If you look properly, you’ll find professional companies which give students online support 24×7 – including evenings, nights and weekends. Never ever take second best where support is concerned. Many trainees who fall by the wayside, are in that situation because of a lack of support.

If you want Cisco training, the chances are you’re looking for a CCNA. The Cisco training is the way to go for those who wish to get to grips with routers and switches. Routers are what connect networks of computers to other sets of computer networks over dedicated lines or the internet.

The sort of jobs available with this knowledge mean you’ll most probably work for national or international companies that have various different locations but still need contact. The other possibility is joining an internet service provider. Jobs requiring these skills are plentiful and well remunerated.

The CCNA qualification is all you need at this stage – you’re not ready for your CCNP straight away. Once you’ve got a few years experience behind you, you’ll know if this next level is for you. If you decide to become more qualified, you’ll have significantly improved your chances of success – as your experience will help you greatly.

Commencing with the understanding that it’s good to home-in on the market that sounds most inviting first, before we can even ponder which career development program ticks the right boxes, how do we know the right direction? Flicking through a list of odd-sounding and meaningless job titles is just a waste of time. Most of us have no concept what our own family members do for a living – so we’re in the dark as to the subtleties of any specific IT role. The key to answering this question properly flows from an in-depth talk over several different topics:

* What nature of person you think yourself to be – what tasks do you get enjoyment from, and don’t forget – what don’t you like doing.

* Why you’re looking at starting in IT – maybe you’d like to triumph over a particular goal such as working for yourself maybe.

* Where do you stand on salary vs job satisfaction?

* Considering the huge variation that the IT industry encompasses, it’s obvious you’ll need to be able to understand how they differ.

* You’ll also need to think hard about what kind of effort and commitment you’ll put into the accreditation program.

For the majority of us, getting to the bottom of all these ideas will require meeting with an experienced pro who can investigate each area with you. And not just the certifications – but the commercial requirements and expectations besides.

Don’t listen to any salesperson that just tells you what course you should do without an in-depth conversation to gain understanding of your current abilities and also your experience level. They should be able to select from a wide-enough stable of training programs from which they could give you a program that suits you.. In some circumstances, the training inception point for a person experienced in some areas is substantially different to someone just starting out. If this is your initial stab at studying to take an IT exam then it may be wise to start out with some basic PC skills training first.

Some trainers will only provide support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; very few go late in the evening or at weekends. Look for training with help available at any time you choose (irrespective of whether it’s the wee hours on Sunday morning!) You want 24×7 direct access to mentors and instructors, and not a call-centre that will take messages so you’re constantly waiting for a call-back when it’s convenient for them.

World-class organisations provide an online access 24×7 service involving many support centres throughout multiple time-zones. You will have an easy to use interface which switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres no matter what time of day it is: Support when you need it. Look for a company that cares. Only true live 24×7 support provides the necessary backup.

At times folks don’t catch on to what IT is all about. It is electrifying, revolutionary, and means you’re a part of the huge progress of technology that will change our world over the next few decades. We’re barely starting to get a handle on how all this will mould and change our lives. How we interrelate with the rest of the world will be massively affected by computers and the web.

And don’t forget salaries also – the usual income in Great Britain for the usual IT worker is a lot higher than average salaries nationally. Chances are that you’ll earn a whole lot more than you could reasonably hope to get in other industries. With the IT marketplace growing at an unprecedented rate, it’s likely that the search for certified IT specialists will continue to boom for decades to come.

Only consider learning programs that’ll lead to industry accepted exams. There’s a plethora of trainers offering their own ‘in-house’ certificates that are essentially useless in the real world. From the viewpoint of an employer, only the big-boys such as Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA or Adobe (to give some examples) will get you into the interview seat. Nothing else will cut the mustard.

Because you’re looking at information about Microsoft MCSE’s, the chances are you’re in one of the following categories: You could be considering a radical change of career to the IT sector, and you’ve discovered a massive need for qualified people. Alternatively maybe you’re an IT professional already – and you need to formalise your skill-set with the Microsoft qualification.

As you discover more about training colleges, steer clear of any who cut costs by not providing the latest level of Microsoft development. Over time, this will end up costing the student a great deal more because they’ve been learning from an old version of MCSE which will need updating very quickly. Don’t be pushed into a course for MCSE without a proper consultation. Find a training provider who will spend time helping and advising you on the most suitable training path for your requirements.

You have to be sure that all your certifications are current and also valid commercially – don’t even consider courses which lead to some in-house certificate (which is as useless as if you’d printed it yourself). Only properly recognised accreditation from the likes of Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco and Adobe will have any meaning to employers.

Remember: a course itself or an accreditation is not the ultimate goal; the particular job that you want to end up in is. Many trainers unfortunately place too much importance on the actual accreditation. It’s unfortunate, but a great many students begin programs that seem amazing from the prospectus, but which delivers a career that doesn’t satisfy. Just ask several college students and you’ll see where we’re coming from.

You must also consider your feelings on career progression and earning potential, and how ambitious you are. It’s vital to know what (if any) sacrifices you’ll need to make for a particular role, which qualifications are required and where you’ll pick-up experience from. Look for help from an experienced industry professional that understands the sector you wish to join, and is able to give you ‘A 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 well before your course begins. What’s the point in starting to train only to discover you’re on the wrong course.

Many trainees are under the impression that the school and FE college path is the right way even now. So why then are qualifications from the commercial sector slowly and steadily replacing it? Industry now acknowledges that to cover the necessary commercial skill-sets, proper accreditation from such organisations as Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe is closer to the mark commercially – for considerably less. Essentially, the learning just focuses on what’s actually required. It’s slightly more broad than that, but the principle objective is to concentrate on the fundamentally important skill-sets (including a degree of required background) – without going into too much detail in all sorts of other things (as academia often does).

Just like the advert used to say: ‘It does what it says on the tin’. Employers simply need to know what they need doing, and then advertise for someone with the specific certification. They’ll know then that all applicants can do what they need.

Training support for students is an absolute must – look for a package offering 24×7 direct access to instructors, as anything less will not satisfy and will also hamper your progress. Many only provide email support (too slow), 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 will attempt to call you within 24-48 hrs, when it’s convenient to them. This is no good if you’re lost and confused and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.

As long as you look hard, you will find the top providers who recommend and use online support 24×7 – at any time of day or night. Don’t ever make the mistake of taking second best with the quality of your support. The vast majority of would-be IT professionals who drop-out or fail, 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 are often very practical, and won’t enjoy sitting at a desk in class, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If this is putting you off studying, try the newer style of interactive study, where you can learn everything on-screen. If we can get all of our senses involved in our learning, then we normally see dramatically better results.

Courses are now available via DVD-ROM discs, where everything is taught on your PC. Using video-streaming, you can watch instructors demonstrating how to do something, with some practice time to follow – via the interactive virtual lab’s. You really need to look at the type of training provided by the company you’re considering. You’ll want to see that they include full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab’s to practice the skills in.

Choose CD or DVD ROM based materials every time. Thus avoiding all the issues associated with the variability of broadband quality and service.

With hundreds of computer study programs available, it can be difficult to know which ones best. Select one that matches up with your personality and your level of ability, and that’s needed in the working environment. Why not try Microsoft User Skills packages, or become a specialist IT professional. Technologically advanced courses will set you on the right track to achieve your goals.

By using modern training methods and getting rid of wasteful procedures, there’s a new style of training provider supplying a better brand of teaching and assistance for considerably less than the more out-dated colleges.

Most training providers will only offer office hours or extended office hours support; It’s rare to find someone who offers late evening or full weekend cover. Don’t accept certification programs which can only support you with an out-sourced call-centre message system outside of normal office hours. Training companies will always try to hide the importance of this issue. Essentially – you want to be supported when you need the help – not at their convenience.

The best trainers have many support offices across multiple time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to provide a seamless experience, at any time you choose, help is just a click away, without any contact issues or hassle. Always pick a training company that gives this level of learning support. As only 24×7 round-the-clock live support delivers what is required.

Many training companies have a handy Job Placement Assistance program, to help you into your first commercial role. Because of the growing shortage of skills in Britain even when times are hard, it’s not too important to make too much of this option though. It isn’t such a complex operation to get a job once you’re trained and certified.

However, what is relevant is to have help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews though; and we’d encourage any student to update their CV right at the beginning of their training – don’t put it off for when you’re ready to start work. It’s possible that you won’t have even qualified when you will get your initial junior support role; yet this is not possible if your CV isn’t in front of employers. Actually, a specialist locally based employment agency – who make their money when they’ve found you a job – is going to give you a better service than a recruitment division from a training organisation. In addition, they will no doubt be familiar with the area and local employers better.

Various trainees, it seems, invest a great deal of time on their training course (sometimes for years), only to do nothing special when looking for the right position. Introduce yourself… Make an effort to get yourself known. Don’t think a job’s just going to jump out in front of you.

It’s usual for students to get confused with a single training area usually not even thought about: The breakdown of the course materials before being couriered to your address. The majority of training companies will set up some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and deliver each piece one-by-one as you finish each section. Sounds reasonable? Well consider these facts: What could you expect if you didn’t actually complete each section at the required speed? Often the prescribed exam order won’t fit you as well as some other order of studying might.

To provide the maximum security and flexibility, many trainees now want to request that all their modules (now paid for) are posted to them in one go, with nothing held back. It’s then your own choice at what speed and in which order you want to work.

One interesting way that course providers make a lot more is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course and offering an exam guarantee. It looks impressive, but let’s just examine it more closely:

Clearly it isn’t free – you’re still paying for it – it’s just been included in your package price. Students who take exams one at a time, funding them as they go are far more likely to pass first time. They are conscious of their spending and take the necessary steps to make sure they’re ready.

Go for the best offer you can find when you take the exam, and keep hold of your own money. In addition, it’s then your choice where to do your exams – meaning you can choose a local testing centre. Huge profits are made by many companies who incorporate exam fees into the cost of the course. Many students don’t take them for one reason or another but the company keeps the money. Surprising as it sounds, providers exist who rely on that fact – as that’s where a lot of their profit comes from. Also, exam guarantees often have very little value. The majority of companies won’t be prepared to pay for re-takes until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won’t fail again.

Exam fees averaged around the 112 pounds mark last year via VUE or Pro-metric centres in the UK. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra for ‘an Exam Guarantee’, when common sense dictates that what’s really needed is a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools.

We’re often asked why traditional degrees are now falling behind more qualifications from the commercial sector? With 3 and 4 year academic degree costs becoming a tall order for many, alongside the industry’s general opinion that corporate based study often has more relevance in the commercial field, there has been a dramatic increase in CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA certified training programmes that supply key solutions to a student at a much reduced cost in terms of money and time. Of course, a reasonable portion of relevant additional knowledge needs to be taught, but core specifics in the particular job function gives a commercially educated person a distinct advantage.

The bottom line is: Recognised IT certifications provide exactly what an employer needs – everything they need to know is in the title: for example, I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Infrastructure’. Consequently an employer can look at their needs and what certifications are required to perform the job.

Without a steady stream of trained computer and network support staff, commerce throughout the country (as elsewhere) would be likely to be drawn to a standstill. There is an ever growing demand for technicians to support both the users themselves and their networks. The world’s need for such qualified and commercially astute individuals is growing at an impressive rate, as industry becomes progressively more dependent upon technology.

A sneaky way that course providers make extra profits is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course then giving it ‘Exam Guarantee’ status. It looks impressive, but is it really:

You’ll be charged for it ultimately. It’s definitely not free – they’ve simply charged more for the whole training package. We all want to pass first time. Taking your exams progressively one at a time and paying as you go makes it far more likely you’ll pass first time – you take it seriously and are aware of the costs involved.

Isn’t it in your interests to go for the best offer when you take the exam, not to pay the fees marked up by the training company, and also to sit exams more locally – rather than possibly hours away from your area? A great deal of money is made by many companies that incorporate exam fees into the cost of the course. Many students don’t take them for one reason or another and so they pocket the rest. Amazingly, there are companies around that actually bank on it – as that’s very profitable 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’re able to demonstrate an excellent mock pass rate.

Splashing out often many hundreds of pounds extra on an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is naive – when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is actually the key to your success.

Many trainers have a handy Job Placement Assistance program, to help you get your first job. The need for this feature can be bigged up out of proportion though – it’s quite easy for companies marketing departments to overstate it’s need. In reality, the still growing need for IT personnel in the UK is why employers will be interested in you.

CV and Interview advice and support is sometimes offered (if it isn’t, consult one of our sites). It’s essential that you work on your old CV immediately – don’t wait until you’ve finished your exams! Many junior support jobs have been bagged by trainees who are still studying and haven’t got any qualifications yet. This will at least get your CV into the ‘possible’ pile and not the ‘no’ pile. Actually, a specialist locally based employment service (who will get paid by the employer when they’ve placed you) should get better results than any sector of a centralised training facility. Also of course they should know the local area and commercial needs.

Many trainees, it seems, put a great deal of effort into their studies (sometimes for years), and then just stop instead of finding a good job. Promote yourself… Work hard to get yourself known. Good jobs don’t just knock on your door.

The best type of training program should have accredited exam preparation systems. Make sure that the simulated exams are not just posing the correct questions on the correct subjects, but are also posing them in the way the real exams will pose them. This completely unsettles people if the questions are phrased in unfamiliar formats. A way to build self-confidence is if you verify your knowledge by doing quizzes and simulated exams to prepare you for taking the real deal.

Only consider retraining courses which lead to commercially recognised certifications. There are way too many minor schools offering ‘in-house’ certificates which aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on in today’s commercial market. All the major IT organisations such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco each have widely approved proficiency courses. Major-league companies like these will make sure you’re employable.

Commercial certification is now, undoubtedly, starting to replace the older academic routes into the IT industry – why then is this happening? Industry is now aware that for mastery of skill sets for commercial use, proper accreditation from such organisations as Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA often is more effective in the commercial field – and a fraction of the cost and time. Clearly, a reasonable quantity of associated information has to be learned, but precise specifics in the required areas gives a vendor trained person a distinct advantage.

Put yourself in the employer’s position – and your company needed a person with some very particular skills. What should you do: Pore through reams of different degrees and college qualifications from hopeful applicants, trying to establish what they know and what workplace skills they’ve acquired, or choose a specific set of accreditations that precisely match your needs, and then select who you want to interview from that. Your interviews are then about personal suitability – instead of having to work out if they can do the job.

CompTIA A+ computer training comprises of 4 specialised sectors – you’ll have to qualify in 2 different areas to be A+ competent. Because of this, many training establishments only offer two of the four in the syllabus. To us, this isn’t enough – yes you’ll have qualified, but knowing about the others will give you a distinct advantage in industry, where you’ll need a more comprehensive understanding. This is why you should train in all 4 specialities.

Courses in A+ computer training are about fault finding and diagnosing – both remote access and hands-on, in addition to building computers and repairing them and operating in antistatic conditions. It could be a good idea to consider adding Network+ training to your A+ as you’ll then be in a position to look after networks of computers, which is where the bigger salaries are.

Considering how a program is ‘delivered’ to you is often missed by many students. How many stages do they break the program into? And in what order and at what speed is it delivered? Individual deliveries for each training module stage by stage, as you complete each module is the typical way that your program will arrive. This sounds logical, but you should consider these factors: Often, the staged breakdown offered by the provider doesn’t suit. What if you find it hard to complete all the modules at the speed required?

To avoid any potential future issues, many trainees now want to request that all their modules (now paid for) are delivered immediately, and not in stages. It’s then up to you how fast or slow and in what order you want to finish things.

Only consider learning courses which will move onto industry accepted qualifications. There are far too many trainers promoting their own ‘in-house’ certificates which will prove unusable in today’s commercial market. You’ll find that only recognised certification from companies such as Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco and CompTIA will be useful to a future employer.

Incorporating examination fees up-front and offering an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is popular with a number of training colleges. However, let’s consider what’s really going on:

Everybody’s aware that they’re still footing the bill for it – it’s not so hard to see that it’s been inserted into the gross price invoiced by the training company. It’s certainly not free – and it’s insulting that we’re supposed to think it is! Should you seriously need to qualify first ‘go’, then the most successful route is to pay for one exam at a time, prioritise it appropriately and give the task sufficient application.

Go for the best offer you can find at the time, and keep hold of your own money. In addition, it’s then your choice where to sit the exam – so you can find somewhere local. Buying a course that includes payments for examinations (and interest charges if you’re borrowing money) is madness. It’s not your job to boost the training company’s account with additional funds only to please their Bank Manager! Many will hope you won’t get round to taking them – but they won’t refund the cash. The majority of organisations will insist that you take mock exams first and prohibit you from re-taking an exam 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 tests in the United Kingdom costing around 112 pounds, by far the best option is to pay for them as you take them. There’s no sense in throwing away maybe a thousand pounds extra at the start of your studies. Study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.

We can guess that you’re a practical sort of person – a ‘hands-on’ personality type. Usually, the painful task of reading endless manuals is something you’ll make yourself do if you have to, but it’s not ideal. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if books just don’t do it for you. Memory is vastly improved when we use multiple senses – educational experts have expounded on this for decades now.

The latest audio-visual interactive programs involving demonstration and virtual lab’s will turn you off book-based study for ever more. And they’re far more fun. Don’t take any chances and look at a small selection of training examples before you purchase a course. You should expect instructor demonstrations, video tutorials and interactive modules with audio-visual elements.

Select actual CD or DVD ROM’s whenever you can. This then avoids all the potential pitfalls with the variability of broadband quality and service.

Looking around, we find a glut of work available in computing. Arriving at the correct choice out of this complexity can be very difficult. What are the chances of us grasping the tasks faced daily in an IT career when it’s an alien environment to us? Often we don’t know someone who does that actual job anyway. To come through this, a discussion is necessary, covering several different aspects:

* Which type of individual you think yourself to be – what tasks do you get enjoyment from, and conversely – what don’t you like doing.

* Do you hope to achieve a specific goal – for example, working for yourself as quickly as possible?

* The income needs you may have?

* Always think in-depth about the work involved to gain all the necessary accreditation.

* It’s wise to spend some time thinking about any sacrifices you’ll need to make, as well as what commitment and time that you will set aside for your training.

Ultimately, your only chance of understanding everything necessary is through a long chat with an advisor or professional who has enough background to provide solid advice.