Most training companies will only offer office hours or extended office hours support; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly.

Email support is too slow, and telephone support is usually to a call-centre that will chat nicely with you for 5 minutes to ask what the issue is and then simply send an email to an instructor – who’ll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, at a time suitable for them. This is no good if you’re lost and confused and only have a specific time you can study.

We recommend that you search for training schools that utilise many support facilities from around the world. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to provide a single interface and 24×7 access, when you want it, with the minimum of hassle.

Search out a training company that gives this level of learning support. As only live 24×7 round-the-clock support truly delivers for technical programs.

One fatal mistake that potential students often succumb to is to concentrate on the course itself, and not focus on where they want to get to. Training academies are brimming over with students that chose an ‘interesting’ course – instead of the program that would surely get them an enjoyable career or job.

It’s common, in some situations, to thoroughly enjoy one year of training but end up spending 10 or 20 years in a tiresome job role, simply because you did it without some quality research when you should’ve – at the outset.

Make sure you investigate your feelings on earning potential and career progression, and how ambitious you are. It’s vital to know what the role will demand of you, what particular exams are needed and how you’ll gain real-world experience.

Talk to someone that understands the work you’re contemplating, and who can give you a detailed description of what you’re going to be doing in that job. Contemplating this well before you start on any learning course will prevent a lot of wasted time and effort.

So, why is it better to gain commercial certification as opposed to traditional academic qualifications gained through schools, colleges or universities?

As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, the IT sector has been required to move to the specialised training only available through the vendors themselves – that is companies such as Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe. This frequently provides reductions in both cost and time.

Many degrees, for example, become confusing because of a great deal of loosely associated study – and much too wide a syllabus. This holds a student back from getting enough specific knowledge about the core essentials.

As long as an employer is aware what areas they need covered, then they simply need to advertise for someone with a specific qualification. Commercial syllabuses all have to conform to the same requirements and do not vary between trainers (in the way that degree courses can).

Getting into your first IT role is often made easier with a Job Placement Assistance facility. Ultimately it isn’t so complicated as you might think to get employment – once you’re trained and certified; employers in this country need your skills.

However, what is relevant is to have help with your CV and interview techniques though; and we’d recommend all students to bring their CV up to date the day they start training – don’t put it off till you’ve finished your exams.

You’ll often find that you’ll secure your first role while still studying (even when you’ve just left first base). If your CV doesn’t show your latest training profile (and it’s not being looked at by employers) then you won’t even be considered!

The top companies to help get you placed are most often specialist locally based employment services. As they will get paid by the employer when they’ve placed you, they have more incentive to get on with it.

In a nutshell, as long as you put the same commitment into landing your first job as into training, you won’t find it too challenging. Some people inexplicably invest a great deal of time on their training and studies and do nothing more once qualified and appear to be under the impression that jobs will come to them.

(C) S. Edwards 2009. Try Click HERE or Computer Course.

During your research, you’ll come across colleges that compromise their offerings by failing to use the current Microsoft version. Don’t use this type of college as it will create challenges for you in the exam. If you are studying the wrong syllabus, it will make it very difficult to pass.

Be aware of training companies that are just trying to sell you something. Always remember that buying a course for an MCSE is much like purchasing a vehicle. They’re very diverse; some are comfortable and reliable, whilst some will be a big disappointment. A conscientious organisation will spend time understanding your needs to be sure the course will work for you. If a company has a creditable product, you’ll be able to see a sample of what you’re getting prior to the sale.

Each programme of learning should always lead to a properly recognised certification at the end – and not a worthless ‘in-house’ printed certificate to hang in your hallway.

Unless the accreditation comes from a company like Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA or Adobe, then chances are it won’t be commercially viable – as it’ll be an unknown commodity.

Don’t forget: a actual training or a certification is not what you’re looking for; a job that you want to end up in is. Far too many training organisations over-emphasise the course or the qualification.

It’s a sad fact, but a great many students commence training that sounds wonderful in the marketing materials, but which gets us a career that doesn’t fulfil at all. Just ask several college leavers for a real eye-opener.

Spend some time thinking about the income level you aspire to and the level of your ambition. This can often control what qualifications will be expected and how much effort you’ll have to give in return.

Chat with an experienced industry professional that has a background in the industry you’re considering, and is able to give you a detailed description of what you’re going to be doing in that job. Getting to the bottom of all this before beginning a retraining path makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?

Lately, do you find yourself questioning the security of your job? For most people, we only think of this after we get some bad news. Unfortunately, the painful truth is that true job security is a thing of the past, for all but the most lucky of us.

We can however hit upon security at market-level, by looking for areas in high demand, together with shortages of trained staff.

Recently, a national e-Skills analysis showed that 26 percent of computing and IT jobs are unfilled mainly due to a lack of trained staff. Quite simply, we can only fill just three out of 4 positions in IT.

This disturbing idea reveals the urgent need for more appropriately trained computer professionals around Great Britain.

We can’t imagine if a better time or market settings will exist for getting trained into this quickly increasing and blossoming market.

Always expect authorised exam simulation and preparation programs included in the package you choose.

Sometimes people can get thrown by trying to prepare themselves with questions that don’t come from official boards. It’s not uncommon that the way questions are phrased is startlingly different and it’s vital that you know this.

For many reasons, it’s very crucial to make sure you are completely prepared for your actual certification exam prior to doing it. Rehearsing ‘mock’ tests helps build your confidence and saves you time and money on unsuccessful attempts at exams.

(C) Jason Kendall. Navigate to LearningLolly.com for intelligent ideas. MCSE Training or www.learninglolly.com.

Should you be contemplating entering the world of computers for the 1st time, it’s likely you’ll need to improve your skill-set before having a go at the 4 Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exams needed to achieve MCSA certification. Look for a company that’s able to design a course to suit your needs – it should be possible for you to talk this through with an advisor to work out your optimum route.

Massive developments are coming via technology in the near future – and it becomes more and more thrilling each day.

We’re at the dawn of beginning to get to grips with how all this will mould and change our lives. The way we interrelate with the rest of the world will be massively affected by technology and the internet.

If making decent money is high on your goal sheet, then you’ll appreciate the fact that the usual remuneration for most men and women in IT is much more than salaries in most other jobs or industries.

The need for well trained and qualified IT technicians is guaranteed for many years to come, because of the substantial expansion in this sector and the massive skills gap that we still have.

It’s essential to have an authorised exam preparation system included in your course.

Because most IT examining boards are from the USA, you need to become familiar with their phraseology. It’s no use merely answering any old technical questions – they need to be in the proper exam format.

Be sure to ask for exam preparation tools in order to test your understanding at all times. Simulated or practice exams help to build your confidence – so the actual exam is much easier.

Trainees looking at this market are usually quite practically-minded, and aren’t really suited to the classroom environment, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If you identify with this, use multimedia, interactive learning, with on-screen demonstrations and labs.

Long-term memory is enhanced when we use multiple senses – experts have been clear on this for years now.

The latest audio-visual interactive programs with demonstrations and practice sessions beat books hands-down. And you’ll actually enjoy doing them.

It’s imperative to see the type of training provided by your chosen company. Be sure that they contain full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab’s to practice the skills in.

You’ll find that many companies will only provide online training only; and although this is okay the majority of the time, imagine the problems if internet access is lost or you get a slow connection speed. It’s much safer to rely on DVD or CD discs that removes the issue entirely.

Most of us would love to think that our jobs are safe and the future is protected, but the likely scenario for most jobs around the UK today seems to be that the marketplace is far from secure.

We can however discover market-level security, by searching for high demand areas, together with work-skill shortages.

A rather worrying UK e-Skills study showed that over 26 percent of all available IT positions are unfilled mainly due to a huge deficit of appropriately certified professionals. So, out of each 4 positions available across IT, employers are only able to find trained staff for three of them.

Achieving in-depth commercial IT accreditation is consequently a quick route to achieve a life-long as well as satisfying occupation.

In reality, acquiring professional IT skills over the coming years is likely the best career move you’ll ever make.

(C) Jason Kendall. Browse LearningLolly.com for intelligent advice. www.it-training-providers.co.uk or Click Here.

If you’re reading this then it’s likely that either you’re considering a career change into IT and you fancy taking your MCSE, or you’re already a professional and it’s apparent that you need the MCSE certification. As you discover more about training providers, ensure that you avoid those who cut costs by not providing the latest level of Microsoft development. Such institutions will hold back the student their knowledge will be of an old version of MCSE which doesn’t match the current exam syllabus, so it’s going to be hugely difficult for them to get qualified. Training colleges must be dedicated to offering the correct route for prospective students. Directing learning is as much concerned with helping people to work out where to go, as much as giving them help to get there.

Discovering job security in this economic down-turn is problematic. Companies frequently remove us out of the workplace at a moment’s notice – whenever it suits. Of course, a fast growing sector, with huge staffing demands (through a big shortfall of commercially certified workers), provides a market for proper job security. Investigating the Information Technology (IT) industry, a recent e-Skills study brought to light an over 26 percent shortfall of skilled workers. Accordingly, for every four jobs in existence around Information Technology (IT), businesses can only source properly accredited workers for three of the four. Accomplishing the appropriate commercial Information Technology exams is correspondingly a fast-track to achieve a long-term and satisfying career. In reality, seeking in-depth commercial IT training throughout the next year or two is most likely the greatest career move you’ll ever make.

Without a doubt, the Information Technology (IT) market offers great prospects. Yet, to investigate it properly, what kind of questions should we raise, and what are the most important factors?

We can see a glut of employment in Information Technology. Arriving at the correct choice out of this complexity often proves challenging. Since without any commercial background in computing, in what way could we know what anyone doing a particular job actually does? Contemplation on the following points is essential if you want to uncover the right solution that will work for you: Your personality can play a significant role – what gives you a ‘kick’, and what tasks you really dislike; Why it seems right getting involved with the IT industry – maybe you want to achieve a life-long goal like self-employment for instance; Any personal or home requirements you have; Looking at the many markets that the IT industry encompasses, you’ll need to be able to take in how they differ; It’s wise to spend some time thinking about the level of commitment you’re going to invest in the accreditation program. The best way to avoid the confusing industry jargon, and uncover the best path to success, have a good talk with an experienced professional; a person that understands the commercial reality while explaining each accreditation.

Most trainers typically provide a big box of books. It’s not a very interesting way to learn and not ideal for remembering. Where possible, if we can involve all our senses in the learning process, then we often see hugely increased memory retention as a result. Courses are now available via DVD-ROM discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Utilising the latest video technology, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how to perform the required skill, and then practice yourself – in an interactive lab. Be sure to get a training material demonstration from any training college. The package should contain slide-shows, instructor-led videos and interactive labs where you get to practice. Some companies only have access to just online versions of their training packages; while you can get away with this much of the time, consider how you’ll deal with it if internet access is lost or you get intermittent problems and speed issues. A safer solution is the provision of actual CD or DVD ROMs that removes the issue entirely.

The way a programme is physically sent to you can often be overlooked. How is the courseware broken down? And in what order and how fast does each element come? Typically, you will purchase a course requiring 1-3 years study and get sent one module each time you pass an exam. This may seem sensible until you think about these factors: How would they react if you didn’t complete all the exams within the time limits imposed? And maybe you’ll find their order of completion won’t be as easy as an alternative path could be. For the perfect solution, you want ALL the study materials up-front – meaning you’ll have all of them to come back to at any time in the future – at any time you choose. Variations can then be made to the order that you attack each section if you find another route more intuitive.

Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always full 24×7 support via trained professional instructors and mentors. Far too often we see trainers who only provide support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later (but not weekends usually). Many only provide email support (too slow), and telephone support is usually to a call-centre who will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team – who will attempt to call you within 24-48 hrs, at a time suitable for them. This is all next to useless if you’re stuck with a particular problem and only have a specific time you can study. As long as you look hard, you will find professional training packages that offer online support around the clock – no matter what time of day it is. Never compromise with the quality of your support. The majority of would-be IT professionals who can’t get going properly, are in that situation because they didn’t get the support necessary for them.

A successful training package will also include Microsoft (or key company) exam simulation and preparation packages. Sometimes people can find themselves confused by practicing questions for their exams that don’t come from official boards. It’s not uncommon that the terminology in the real exams is startlingly different and it’s vital that you know this. Simulated exams can be invaluable as a tool for logging knowledge into your brain – so that when you come to take the real deal, you won’t be worried.

A useful feature offered by some training providers is a programme of Job Placement assistance. This is to assist your search for your first position. Ultimately it’s not as difficult as you may be led to believe to get the right work – as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications; because there’s still a great need for IT skills in the UK today. Bring your CV up to date as soon as possible however (advice and support for this should come from your course provider). Don’t delay until you’ve graduated or passed any exams. Quite frequently, you will get your first position whilst still on the course (occasionally right at the beginning). If your CV doesn’t show your latest training profile – or it’s not getting in front of interviewers, then you don’t stand a chance! The most reliable organisations to help get you placed are most often specialist locally based employment services. Because they get paid commission to place you, they’ll work that much harder to get a result. Many men and women, apparently, invest a great deal of time on their training course (sometimes for years), only to do nothing special when trying to get the right position. Sell yourself… Make an effort to let employers know about you. Good jobs don’t just knock on your door.

The MCSA course is a recognised route for men and women looking to get into supporting networks. Whether you’re about to join the IT industry or are experienced already but need to formalise your skills with an acknowledged certification, the right training exists for you. If you’re considering joining the world of IT for the 1st time, it’s likely you’ll have to improve your skill-set before tackling the 4 MCP exams needed to become MCSA qualified. Search for a training organisation that will tailor your studying to fulfil your needs – it should be possible for you to talk this through with an advisor to sort out what the best way forward is for you.

Tuning into all this debate around computing technology these days, how are we supposed to recognize what in particular to look for – so that we may obtain the specifics we need to come to the right verdict for us?

Ask almost any knowledgeable advisor and they’ll entertain you with many horror stories of salespeople ripping-off unsuspecting students. Only deal with a skilled advisor that asks lots of questions to discover the most appropriate thing for you – not for their paycheque! You must establish a starting-point that will suit you. Occasionally, the starting point of study for a person with experience is often vastly different to the student with none. Always consider starting with some basic PC skills training first. It can brush up on your current abilities and make the transition to higher-level learning a much easier going.

Some training providers only provide basic 9am till 6pm support (maybe a little earlier or later on certain days); very few go late in the evening or at weekends. Locate training schools where you can receive help at any time of day or night (irrespective of whether it’s the wee hours on Sunday morning!) Make sure it’s always direct-access to qualified mentors and tutors and not access to a call-in service which takes messages – so you’re consistently being held in a queue for a call-back – probably during office hours. The very best programs tend to use an internet-based round-the-clock package utilising a variety of support centres across the globe. You will have a single, easy-to-use environment that switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres irrespective of the time of day: Support when you need it. Don’t accept second best when you’re looking for the right support service. The majority of trainees who throw in the towel, would have had a different experience if they’d got the right support package in the first place.

Often, trainers provide a big box of books. Learning like this is dull and repetitive and isn’t the best way to go about remembering. Research over recent years has constantly shown that connecting physically with our study, is far more likely to produce long-lasting memories. Programs are now found in the form of CD and DVD ROM’s, where everything is taught on your PC. Through video streaming, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how it’s all done, followed by your chance to practice – with interactive lab sessions. All companies must be able to demonstrate some samples of their training materials. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and interactive areas to practice in. You should avoid purely online training. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where possible, 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 a good broadband connection all the time.

If you’re thinking of using a training school which still provides workshops as a feature of their programme, then take note of these problems reported by most trainees: Multiple round journeys – usually hundreds of miles each and every time… Workshop access; typically weekdays only and usually 2-3 days at a time. It’s not easy to get the leave of absence… Holiday days lost – the majority of employed people get just four weeks holiday each year. If half or more of that is used up by educational workshops, vacation time is going to be quite short for most student’s families… Training events invariably get too big.

Also, of course: Tension can be created in mixed classes as students want to progress at their own pace… You shouldn’t forget the extra cost of travelling and accommodation either. Often, this will cost 00′s or even 000′s extra. Sit down and add it up – it’ll shock and surprise you… Is it worth the possibility of getting ignored for a lift up the ladder or wage increases just because you’re retraining… Most of us avoid posing questions while sitting with other trainees – because none of us wants to look like we don’t understand…. For those of us who need to at times work elsewhere in the country for several days at a time, imagine the increased difficulty in reaching the requisite days in-centre, as time is now more scarce than ever.

Surely it makes much more sense to study at a time that’s convenient for you – not the school – and make use of instructor-led videos with interactive lab’s. You can study at home on your desktop computer or use your laptop to enjoy the sun. Any questions; then get onto the live 24×7 support (that you should have insisted on for any technical study.) It doesn’t matter how regularly you want to re-do a section, video tutors aren’t ever likely to rush you! Plus, because of this, you don’t have to worry about any note-taking. It’s all there for you when you need it. The result: Much less stress and hassle, money saved, and you’ve avoided all travel.

The world of information technology is amongst the most stimulating and innovative industries that you could be a part of. Being a member of a team working on breakthroughs in technology puts you at the fore-front of developments affecting everyone who lives in the 21st century. There are people who believe that the technological advancement we’ve had over recent years is slowing down. This couldn’t be more wrong. Massive changes are on the horizon, and the internet significantly will be the most effective tool in our lives. A typical IT technician in the United Kingdom will also earn a lot more than employees on a par in other market sectors. Average wages are hard to beat nationally. There is a considerable country-wide requirement for trained and qualified IT technicians. And with the marketplace continuing to expand, it seems this pattern will continue for a good while yet.

The CompTIA A+ training program covers four areas of training; you’re qualified as an achiever in A+ when you’ve passed the test for 2 out of 4 subjects. This is the reason that the majority of training establishments limit themselves to 2 study areas. In fact to carry out a job effectively, you’ll need the information on each subject as a lot of employment will require knowledge and skills of the entire course. It’s not essential to take all four exams, although it would seem prudent that you study for all four areas. In addition to learning about the ins and outs of building and maintaining computers, trainees of A+ will be shown how to operate in antistatic conditions, along with remote access, fault finding and diagnostics. You might also choose to consider supplementing the A+ with Network + as you’ll then be in a position to work with networks, which is where the bigger salaries are.

Working on progressive developments in new technology is about as exciting as it can get. You become one of a team of people creating a future for us all. We’re at the dawn of starting to comprehend how all this change will affect us. The way we correlate with the world as a whole will be significantly affected by technology and the internet. The regular IT professional in the United Kingdom is likely to earn noticeably more money than his or her counterpart in other market sectors. Mean average salaries are amongst the highest in the country. The search for properly certified IT professionals is guaranteed for a good while yet, due to the constant expansion in the marketplace and the very large deficiency still in existence.

How do we go about making a good choice then? With all this potential, we’ll need to know where to dig – and what it is we should be searching for.

So many training providers focus completely on the certification process, and forget what it’s all actually about – which is a commercial career or job. Always start with the end in mind – don’t make the vehicle more important than the destination. It’s a sad testimony to the sales skills of many companies, but a great many students begin programs that seem great in the marketing materials, but which get us a career that is of no interest at all. Just ask several university graduates and you’ll see where we’re coming from. Never let your focus stray from where you want to get to, and formulate your training based on that – not the other way round. Stay on target and ensure that you’re training for a career that will keep you happy for many years. Your likely to need help from an experienced person that can best explain the industry you think may suit you, and will be able to provide ‘A day in the life of’ type of explanation of what you actually do on the job. These things are incredibly important because you obviously have to know if you’re barking up the wrong tree.

There is no way of over emphasising this: You absolutely must have proper 24×7 instructor and mentor support. You will have so many problems later if you let this one slide. Avoid, like the plague, any organisations who use messaging services ‘out-of-hours’ – where an advisor will call back during standard office hours. This is no use if you’re stuck and need an answer now. It’s possible to find the very best companies that offer online direct access support at all times – no matter what time of day it is. Never settle for less than you need and deserve. 24×7 support is the only way to go with technical learning. Perhaps you don’t intend to study during the evenings; often though, we’re out at work at the time when most support is available.

The classroom style of learning we remember from school, utilising reference manuals and books, is usually pretty hard going. If all this is ringing some familiar bells, find training programs that are on-screen and interactive. Long-term memory is enhanced when we use multiple senses – educational experts have expounded on this for decades now. The latest home-based training features easy-to-use DVD or CD ROM’s. By watching and listening to instructors on video tutorials you’ll absorb the modules, one by one, by way of the demonstrations and explanations. You can then test yourself by interacting with the software and practicing yourself. Always insist on a study material demo’ from the training company. The package should contain expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and interactive labs where you get to practice. It is generally unwise to opt for on-line only training. Connection quality and reliability varies hugely across all internet service providers, you should always obtain disc based courseware (On CD or DVD).

Most people don’t even think to ask about something of absolutely vital importance – the way their training provider divides up the training materials, and into how many separate packages. Typically, you will purchase a course 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 the trainer’s usual training route isn’t as suitable as another. They might find it’s more expedient to use an alternative order of study. Perhaps you don’t make it in the allotted time? Truth be told, the best option is to obtain their recommendation on the best possible order of study, but to receive all the materials up-front. You’re then in possession of everything should you not complete it inside of their required time-scales.

A subtle way that colleges make extra profits is by charging for exams up-front and then including an ‘Exam Guarantee’. This looks like a great idea for the student, but is it really… Of course it isn’t free – you are paying for it – the price has simply been included in the whole thing. If you want to pass first time, evidence suggests you must avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, focus on it intently and give the task sufficient application. Does it really add up to pay a training course provider at the start of the course for examinations? Find the best exam deal or offer when you’re ready, rather than pay marked up fees – and do it locally – rather than possibly hours away from your area. A lot of extra profit is made by many training colleges that get money for exam fees in advance. A number of students don’t take them for various reasons and so the company is quids-in. Amazingly, there are providers who actually bank on it – as that’s very profitable for them. Don’t forget, in the majority of cases of ‘exam guarantees’ – the company controls how often and when you can do your re-takes. You’ll have to prove conclusively that you can pass before they’ll pay for another exam. Due to typical VUE and Prometric examinations costing in the region of 112 pounds in this country, 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? Commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

The sometimes daunting task of securing your first role in IT is often relieved by some companies, via a Job Placement Assistance programme. Because of the massive demand for appropriately skilled people in Great Britain even when times are hard, it’s not too important to make too much of this option though. It’s not as difficult as you may be led to believe to find employment as long as you’re correctly trained and certified. Whatever you do, don’t procrastinate and wait until you have completed your exams before bringing your CV up to date. Right at the beginning of your training, enter details of your study programme and get it out there! Many junior support jobs have been bagged by trainees who are still studying and have yet to take their exams. This will at least get your CV into the ‘possible’ pile and not the ‘no’ pile. The top companies to help you find a job are generally local IT focused employment agencies. As they’re keen to place you to receive their commission, they have the necessary incentive to try that bit harder. In a nutshell, as long as you focus the same level of energy into landing a job as into studying, you’re not likely to experience problems. A number of trainees curiously conscientiously work through their training and studies and then call a halt once certified and would appear to think that businesses will just discover them.

What might you expect the best training companies certified by Microsoft to give a student in Britain in this day and age? Undoubtedly, the ultimate in Microsoft certified training tracks, presenting a range of courses to lead you into a selection of professions with IT. Maybe you’d like to talk to industry experts, who could help you sort out whereabouts in industry would be best, and what sort of duties are a good match for someone with your abilities and personal preferences. Once you’ve decided on your career path, your next search is for a relevant course tailored to your needs. The standard of teaching should leave no room for complaints.

Apparently, the IT market shows exceptional prospects. But, to arm ourselves with the correct information, what questions do we need to be posing, and which elements are the most important?

A ridiculously large number of organisations only look at the plaque to hang on your wall, and forget the reasons for getting there – getting yourself a new job or career. Always start with the final destination in mind – too many people focus on the journey. Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Avoid the mistake of finding what seems like an ‘interesting’ training program only to spend 20 years doing something you don’t even enjoy! You also need to know your leanings around earning potential, career development, and how ambitious you are. It’s vital to know what (if any) sacrifices you’ll need to make for a particular role, which particular certifications are required and in what way you can develop commercial experience. Before setting out on a learning programme, you’d be well advised to discuss specific career needs with an experienced industry professional, in order to be sure the retraining program covers all that is required.

Only consider study paths which will progress to commercially accepted exams. There are far too many small companies suggesting their own ‘in-house’ certificates which will prove unusable when it comes to finding a job. All the major IT organisations like Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco have internationally recognised proficiency programmes. These heavyweights can make sure you stand out at interview.

Proper support should never be taken lightly – locate a good company providing 24×7 full access, as not obtaining this level of support will severely hamper your progress. Never purchase study programmes that only provide support to trainees with a call-centre messaging system outside of normal office hours. Trainers will give you every excuse in the book why you don’t need this. Essentially – support is needed when it’s needed – not at times when they find it cheaper to provide it. The best training colleges opt for an online access round-the-clock facility combining multiple support operations from around the world. You will be provided with a single, 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. If you opt for less than direct-access 24×7 support, you’ll quickly find yourself regretting it. It may be that you don’t use it late at night, but what about weekends, early mornings or late evenings?

If you’re like many of the students we talk to then you probably enjoy fairly practical work – the ‘hands-on’ individual. Typically, the painful task of reading endless manuals would be considered as a last resort, but it doesn’t suit your way of doing things. You should use video and multimedia based materials if book-based learning really isn’t your style. Long-term memory is enhanced with an involvement of all our senses – this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for years now. The latest audio-visual interactive programs with demonstrations and practice sessions beat books hands-down. And you’ll find them fun and interesting. Every company that you look at should be able to show you a few examples of their training materials. You should hope for instructor-led videos and a variety of interactive modules. Pick disc based courseware (On CD or DVD) every time. Thus avoiding all the issues associated with internet connection failure and issues with signal quality.

Exam ‘guarantees’ are sometimes offered as part of a training package – inevitably that means paying for the exams when you pay for the rest of your course. However, prior to embracing the chance of a guarantee, be aware of the facts: These days, we are a tad more knowledgeable about sales gimmicks – and the majority of us ought to realise that of course we’re actually paying for it (it’s not a freebie because they like us so much!) Passing first time is everyone’s goal. Taking your exams progressively when it’s appropriate and funding them as you go sees you much better placed to get through first time – you prepare appropriately and are mindful of the investment you’ve made. Do the examinations as locally as possible and don’t pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you’re ready. Considerable numbers of questionable training providers make huge amounts of money through getting in the money for examinations upfront and hoping you won’t see them all through. Many training companies will require you to sit pre-tests and hold you back from re-takes until you’ve demonstrated an excellent ability to pass – so an ‘Exam Guarantee’ comes with many clauses in reality. Splashing out often many hundreds of pounds extra on ‘Exam Guarantees’ is remiss – when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is what will really guarantee success.

We’re regularly asked to explain why traditional degrees are less in demand than the more qualifications from the commercial sector? With 3 and 4 year academic degree costs becoming a tall order for many, along with the IT sector’s growing opinion that key company training often has more relevance in the commercial field, we have seen a great increase in Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA based training programmes that educate students at a fraction of the cost and time involved. Clearly, a certain amount of associated information has to be learned, but precise specialised knowledge in the exact job role gives a commercially trained person a real head start. When it comes down to the nitty-gritty: Commercial IT certifications tell an employer precisely what skills you have – the title says it all: for example, I am a Microsoft Certified Professional in Windows XP Administration and Configuration. Consequently companies can identify just what their needs are and what certifications will be suitable to deal with those needs.

Discovering job security these days is very rare. Companies can throw us out of the workforce at the drop of a hat – as long as it fits their needs. Whereas a marketplace with high growth, where staff are in constant demand (due to a big shortfall of properly qualified staff), provides a market for proper job security. Taking the IT industry as an example, the most recent e-Skills investigation highlighted massive skills shortages throughout the United Kingdom around the 26 percent mark. Meaning that for each four job positions that exist in the computer industry, there are only 3 trained people to perform that task. Attaining proper commercial computer accreditation is accordingly a ‘Fast Track’ to realise a continuing as well as gratifying line of work. Because the IT sector is evolving at such a rate, could there honestly be a better market worth looking at for your new career.

It’s quite some achievement that you’re on the right track! Only one in ten folks say they enjoy their work, but vast numbers just bitch about it and do nothing. By looking for this we can guess that you’ve a personal interest in re-training, so you’ve already stood out from the crowd. What comes next is find out more and then take action. On the subject of training, it’s crucial that you have in mind what you DO want and DON’T want from the position you’re hoping to qualify for. Be sure that you would be more satisfied before you put a lot of energy into taking a new turn. It’s good sense to regard the destination you’re hoping for to avoid disappointment: Do you hope for interaction with others? If you say yes, are you a team player or is meeting new people important to you? Or are you better working in isolation? Banking and building are a little shaky at the moment, so think carefully about the sector that would give you the most options? When you’ve done all your re-training, would you like this skill to serve you till you retire? Do you feel uncomfortable about the chance of getting another job, and staying employable to the end of your working life? We would strongly recommend that your number one choice is Information Technology – everyone knows that it’s getting bigger. IT isn’t all techie geeks lost in their computer screens constantly – naturally those jobs exist, but most jobs are carried out by ordinary men and women who do very well out of it.

Doing your bit in the leading edge of new technology really is electrifying. You become one of a team of people shaping the next few decades. We’re at the dawn of beginning to understand how all this change will affect us. How we correlate with the world as a whole will be profoundly affected by computers and the internet. A regular IT man or woman in the United Kingdom has been shown to earn a lot more than his or her counterpart outside of IT. Average incomes are amongst the highest in the country. It’s no secret that there is a considerable nationwide hunger for certified IT specialists. Also with the marketplace continuing to expand, it appears this will be the case for a good while yet.

What kind of questions should we raise if we want to take onboard the understanding we want? Since it’s apparent there are a good many fairly fantastic prospects for everyone to look at.

Of course: the actual training or the accreditation is not the ultimate goal; the job or career that you’re getting the training for is. A lot of colleges seem to put too much weight in the piece of paper. It’s not unheard of, in many cases, to find immense satisfaction in a year of study only to end up putting 20 long years into a career that does nothing for you, as an upshot of not doing the correct research when it was needed – at the start. Make sure you investigate what your attitude is towards career development, earning potential, and if you’re ambitious or not. It’s vital to know what (if any) sacrifices you’ll need to make for a particular role, which particular qualifications will be required and in what way you can develop commercial experience. Take advice from a skilled advisor, even if you have to pay – it’s considerably cheaper and safer to investigate at the start whether something is going to suit and interest you, instead of finding out after several years of study that you’ve picked the wrong track and have wasted years of effort.

Many trainers provide mainly work-books and reference manuals. Learning like this is dull and repetitive and isn’t the best way to go about remembering. Memory is vastly improved when all our senses are brought into the mix – experts have been clear on this for many years. Learning is now available on CD and DVD discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Using video-streaming, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how to do something, and then have a go at it yourself – in a virtual lab environment. Every company that you look at should be able to show you some simple examples of their courseware. You’re looking for evidence of tutorial videos and demonstrations and interactive areas to practice in. Select actual CD or DVD ROM’s whenever you can. This then avoids all the potential pitfalls with internet connection failure and issues with signal quality.

Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always 24×7 round-the-clock support from dedicated instructors and mentors. Too many companies only seem to want to help while they’re in the office (9am till 6pm, Monday till Friday usually) and nothing at the weekends. Don’t buy study programmes that only provide support to you via a call-centre outside of normal office hours. Trainers will defend this with all kinds of excuses. The simple fact of the matter is – you want support at the appropriate time – not at times when they find it cheaper to provide it. The best trainers incorporate three or four individual support centres across multiple time-zones. They use an online interactive interface to join them all seamlessly; at any time you choose – help is at hand avoiding all the delays and problems. Never settle for less than you need and deserve. Support round-the-clock is really your only option for IT learning. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; often though, we’re out at work while the support is live.

Many men and women assume that the traditional school, college or university system is the way they should go. So why then are commercially accredited qualifications beginning to overtake it? Industry now acknowledges that to learn the appropriate commercial skills, proper accreditation from companies such as Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA most often has much more specialised relevance – saving time and money. Clearly, a certain amount of relevant additional information needs to be taught, but essential specialisation in the areas needed gives a commercially educated student a real head start. Just as the old advertisement said: ‘It does what it says on the tin’. All an employer has to do is know where they have gaps and then request applicants with the correct exam numbers. That way they can be sure they’re interviewing applicants who can do the job.

Incorporating examination fees up-front and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams is popular with a number of training colleges. But let’s examine why they really do it: You’re paying for it one way or another. It certainly isn’t free – they’ve just worked it into the package price. The fact is that if a student pays for their relevant examinations, one by one, they’ll be in a better position to get through on the first attempt – as they are conscious of their investment in themselves and will therefore apply themselves appropriately. Isn’t it in your interests to go for the best offer at the appropriate time, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance to a training course provider, and to do it in a local testing office – instead of miles away at the college’s beck and call? Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for exam fees when there’s absolutely nothing that says you have to? Big margins are made by companies charging all their exam fees up-front – and hoping either that you won’t take them, or it will be a long time before you do. Pay heed to the fact that, in the majority of cases of ‘exam guarantees’ – they control when and how often you are allowed to have another go. They’ll only allow a re-take once completely satisfied. On average, exams cost around the 112 pounds mark last year via Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra for ‘Exam Guarantees’, when it’s obvious that the best guarantee is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.

Many training companies will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance facility, designed to steer you into your first job. It can happen though that people are too impressed with this facility, because it is genuinely quite straightforward for any focused and well taught person to secure work in IT – because there’s a great need for skilled employees. Help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews may be available (if not, see one of our sites for help). Make sure you update that dusty old CV immediately – not after you’ve qualified! It can happen that you haven’t even taken your exams when you will be offered your first junior support position; although this won’t be the case unless your CV is with employers. If you’d like to get employment in your home town, then it’s quite likely that a local (but specialised) recruitment consultancy can generally be more appropriate than a centralised service, as they’re going to be familiar with local employment needs. A common confusion of many course providers is how hard people are focused on studying to become certified, but how little effort that student will then put into getting the position they have qualified for. Don’t falter at the last fence.

Finding the right training course to match commercial requirements is crucially important in our turbulent times. But it’s just as crucial to find one that you will get on well with, that fits your character and ability level. There’s lots to choose from with these training programs – right from office user skills up to training for programmers, web designers, networkers etc. Take advice before you jump in with two feet – talk to an advisor with experience of the IT world. Somebody who you trust to select the right career path for you – one that’s both commercially relevant and leads to a job you’ll love. Modern training techniques at last enable students to be instructed on a new style of course, that costs far less than more outdated courses. The low overhead structure of the new courses means anyone can afford them.

Huge changes are about to hit technology over the next few decades – and it only gets more exciting every day. We’re barely starting to comprehend how all this will mould and change our lives. How we interact with the world will be profoundly affected by computers and the web. A regular IT technician in the UK will also get much more than his or her counterpart in much of the rest of the economy. Typical salaries are some of the best to be had nationwide. Experts agree that there’s a substantial nationwide search for certified IT specialists. In addition with the marketplace continuing to expand, it appears there’s going to be for the significant future.

So, what are the questions we should ask if we’d like to take onboard the understanding we want? After all, it’s evident there are a good many fairly unparalleled possibilities for us to investigate.

There are a glut of work available in computing. Arriving at the correct choice in this uncertainty is generally problematic. Reading a list of odd-sounding and meaningless job titles is next to useless. Most of us have no idea what our next-door neighbours do at work each day – so we’re in the dark as to the intricacies of any specific IT role. Deliberation over many points is essential when you need to expose the right solution that will work for you: Your personal interests and hobbies – as they can highlight what things will provide a happy working life; Do you want to get certified because of a certain reason – for example, are you looking at working from home (maybe self-employment?), and is the money you make further up on your priority-list than anything else; Looking at the many markets that IT encompasses, you really need to be able to understand what is different; Our advice is to think deeply about any sacrifices you’ll need to make, as well as what commitment and time you’re going to invest in the accreditation program. When all is said and done, your only chance of understanding everything necessary is by means of a good talk with a professional that knows the industry well enough to lead you to the correct decision.

One thing you must always insist on is 24×7 round-the-clock support from professional mentors and instructors. It’s an all too common story to find providers that only provide office hours (or extended office hours) support. Many only provide email support (too slow), and telephone support is usually to a call-centre who will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team – who will then call back sometime over the next 24hrs, at a suitable time to them. This is not a lot of use if you’re sitting there confused over an issue and can only study at specific times. The best trainers have many support offices active in different time-zones. They use an online interactive interface to seamlessly link them all; irrespective of the time you login – there is always help at hand avoiding all the delays and problems. Never make do with a lower level of service. Online 24×7 support is the only kind that ever makes the grade with IT learning. Perhaps you don’t intend to study during the evenings; often though, we’re working at the time when most support is available.

Most trainers typically provide piles of reference manuals and workbooks. It’s not a very interesting way to learn and isn’t the best way to go about studying effectively. Research into the way we learn shows that we remember much more when all our senses are involved and take action to use what we’ve learned. Study programs now come in the form of CD and DVD ROM’s, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Video streaming means you can watch instructors demonstrating how to do something, and then practice yourself – in a virtual lab environment. You really need to look at examples of the study materials provided by any company that you may want to train through. It’s essential they incorporate instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab’s. Some companies only have access to training that is purely available online; and while this is acceptable much of the time, think what will happen if you lose your internet access or you only get very a very slow connection sometimes. A safer solution is the provision of physical CD or DVD discs that removes the issue entirely.

Students often end up having issues because of one aspect of their training very rarely considered: The method used to ‘segment’ the courseware before being packaged off through the post. Often, you will join a program requiring 1-3 years study and get sent one module each time you pass an exam. This may seem sensible until you think about these factors: What if you don’t finish all the sections or exams? 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 receive all the modules you’ve paid for. The ideal circumstances are to get all the learning modules couriered to your home before you even start; the entire thing! Thus avoiding any future problems that could impede your progress.

The right sort of package of training will undoubtedly have accredited exam simulation and preparation packages. As the majority of IT examination boards are American, you must be prepared for the way exams are phrased. It’s not sufficient simply going through the right questions – they must be in an exam format that exactly replicates the real thing. Be sure to have some simulated exam questions so you can check your knowledge at all times. Practice or ‘mock’ exams will help to boost your attitude – then you won’t be quite so nervous at the actual exam.

Many training companies offer a Job Placement Assistance service, to help you get your first job. Having said that, occasionally people are too impressed with this facility, for it’s really not that difficult for well qualified and focused men and women to find a job in the IT industry – as employers are keen to find appropriately skilled employees. You would ideally have CV and Interview advice and support though; additionally, we would recommend everyone to update their CV as soon as training commences – don’t delay till you’ve finished your exams. A good number of junior support jobs have been offered to students who are still studying and haven’t even passed a single exam yet. 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 specialist independent regional recruitment consultant or service might serve you better than a national service, for they’re going to have insider knowledge of the jobs that are going locally. Do ensure you don’t conscientiously work through your course materials, then call a halt and imagine someone else is miraculously going to secure your first position. Stand up for yourself and start looking for yourself. Invest the same time and energy into getting a good job as you did to gain the skills.

Nothing great ever happens by accident. Successful people from all walks of life don’t just wake up one morning as high achievers! For change to happen, a plan of action has to be made, targets have to be set and a commitment to see it through has to be adopted.

Prior to commencing your training course, take the time to think about your personal goals, and work out a study programme with targets or indicators of success along the way. To help you get started, use the acronym Smart to qualify the goals you plan to achieve. Smart stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and targeted.

To really get involved at an emotional level with the successful completion of your studies, compose a contract for yourself using the following headings:

DEFINE what you wish to get out of your soon to be acquired new skill-set, to keep you motivated along the way. Be specific about the material things you’re looking forward to, the kind of home you want, the sort of holidays you’ll take and the type of car you’ll drive.

DESIRE is what stirs us deep down. Think about why you’ve decided to take this course, and why it’s important to you. The more emotionally involved you get with your desire, the more you’ll stick with it. Pin point whether it’s the job, the status, the challenge, or the control etc. that drives you.

Commitment or DEDICATION. Announce to yourself and those close to you that you’re dedicated to your studies by writing up a timetable and sticking with it. However much time you choose to study each week, have it written on a calendar planner that you can cross off once you’ve completed it. Put it in a prominent place so it’s at the forefront of your mind (at least until it becomes a habit). All things that are important get prioritised, so let your friends and family know that this is a priority to you for perhaps ten hours a week for a set number of months. Once your timetable has become established, you’ll take pride in your dedication, and study all the better for it.

DETERMINATION – The will to stick to the plan until completion and see it through. This is your contract to ensure that you won’t let yourself down.

Having a plan and targets to work towards gives you a DISCIPLINE that helps you to power through the tough times that will occasionally strike you.

Once you’ve done this, sign it and do NOT put it away in a drawer. This is a working document and should be read every day for at least one month so you buy into it and it becomes your new way of life. If and when things get tough, read it again for another month. Always have it close to hand while you study and show it to your partner, kids (if you have them), friends and parents. This will help you to see your goal through.