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If your dream is to become a great web designer and have the most recognised qualification for the job market today, you’ll need to study Adobe Dreamweaver. We also advise that you learn all about the complete Adobe Web Creative Suite, which incorporates Flash and Action Script, to be able to use Dreamweaver as a commercial web-designer. These skills can result in you subsequently becoming an ACP (Adobe Certified Professional) or an ACE (Adobe Certified Expert).

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

There is a tidal wave of change flooding technology over the next few decades - and it becomes more and more thrilling each day. We’re only just starting to see just how technology is going to shape our lives. Technology and the web will massively alter the way we view and interact with the entire world over the years to come.

Should receiving a good salary be around the top on your wish list, you will be pleasantly surprised to hear that the income on average for IT employees in general is considerably higher than salaries in much of the rest of industry. Excitingly, there is a lot more room for IT sector development throughout this country. The industry continues to develop hugely, and we don’t have anywhere near enough qualified skilled IT professionals to fill current job vacancies, so it’s highly unlikely that things will be any different for decades to come.

How can we make an educated choice then? With all these possibilities, it’s essential to be guided as to where to dig - and of course, what to actually be digging for.

You should remember: the training course or the accreditation is not the ultimate goal; the career that you want is. Too many training companies over-emphasise the certificate itself. Students often train for a single year but end up doing a job for a lifetime. Ensure you avoid the fatal error of finding what seems like a very ‘interesting’ program and then spend decades in a job you don’t like!

You’ll want to understand what industry will expect from you. Which certifications they will want you to have and how you’ll build your experience level. You should also spend a little time assessing how far you think you’ll want to build your skill-set as often it can present a very specific set of exams. Look for help from a skilled professional that has commercial knowledge of your chosen market-place, and who can offer ‘A typical day in the life of’ synopsis of what kinds of tasks you’ll be undertaking with each working day. It’s good sense to know if this change is right for you long before you start on any retraining programme. After all, what is the point in starting to train only to find you’ve gone the wrong way entirely.

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

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

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

Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always proper direct-access 24×7 support with expert mentors and instructors. Too many companies will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend. Never accept study programmes that only provide support to students via an out-sourced call-centre message system outside of normal office hours. Trainers will defend this with all kinds of excuses. The bottom line is - you want support at the appropriate time - not as-and-when it’s suitable for their staff.

Top training providers tend to use an internet-based 24 hours-a-day package combining multiple support operations across the globe. You will be provided with a single, easy-to-use interface which seamlessly accesses whichever office is appropriate irrespective of the time of day: Support on demand. Search out a training provider that goes the extra mile. Only true live 24×7 round-the-clock support delivers what is required.

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

Put yourself in the employer’s position - and you wanted someone who could provide a specific set of skills. What’s the simplest way to find the right person: Go through loads of academic qualifications from several applicants, trying to establish what they know and what trade skills they’ve mastered, or pick out specific commercial accreditations that precisely match your needs, and then select who you want to interview from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they’ll fit in - rather than on the depth of their technical knowledge.

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

They’ve allowed costings for it by some means. One thing’s for sure - it isn’t free - it’s simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole. Students who take exams one at a time, paying as they go are much more likely to pass. They’re mindful of the cost and prepare more appropriately to be ready for the task.

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

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

The perhaps intimidating chore of securing your first role in IT is often eased because some trainers offer a Job Placement Assistance service. The fact of the matter is it isn’t a complex operation to secure your first job - 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.

CV and Interview advice and support is sometimes offered (if it isn’t, consult one of our sites). Be sure to you bring your CV right up to date immediately - don’t leave it till you pass the exams! It’s not unusual to find that you will get your first job whilst you’re still studying (even when you’ve just left first base). If you haven’t updated your CV to say what you’re studying (and it isn’t in the hands of someone with jobs to offer) then you’re not even going to be known about! If you’d like to keep travelling time and costs to a minimum, then you’ll often find that a local IT focused recruitment consultancy may be more appropriate than a centralised service, for they’re going to have insider knowledge of what’s available near you.

Certainly be sure that you don’t invest a great deal of time on your training course, only to stop and expect somebody else to find you a job. Stand up for yourself and start looking for yourself. Put as much time and energy into finding the right position as you did to get trained.

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

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

Wouldn’t it be great to know for sure that our jobs are safe and the future is protected, however, the truth for most sectors around the UK today appears to be that there is no security anymore. Whereas a fast growing sector, where there just aren’t enough staff to go round (as there is a growing shortfall of commercially certified professionals), enables the possibility of real job security.

The computing Industry skills-gap in the UK currently stands at just over 26 percent, as shown by the most recent e-Skills study. Put directly, we can’t properly place more than 3 out of every 4 jobs in the computing industry. This alarming certainty shows the requirement for more properly trained Information Technology professionals around the UK. In actuality, acquiring professional IT skills during the years to come is likely the finest choice of careers you could make.

As the computer industry provides some phenomenal advancement opportunities for us all - what questions do we need to raise and which areas are important to consider?

Don’t put too much store, as many people do, on the training course itself. You’re not training for the sake of training; you’re training to become commercially employable. Begin and continue with the end in mind. It’s quite usual, in some situations, to obtain tremendous satisfaction from a year of studying and then spend 20 miserable years in something completely unrewarding, as an upshot of not doing some quality research at the beginning.

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

The classroom style of learning we remember from school, utilising reference manuals and books, is often a huge slog for most of us. If this describes you, check out study materials which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts. Recent studies into the way we learn shows that long term memory is improved when we use all our senses, and we get practically involved in what we’re studying.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Validated exam simulation and preparation packages are crucial - and really must be obtained from your training provider. As the majority of examination boards in IT are from the USA, it’s essential to understand how exam questions will be phrased and formatted. You can’t practice properly by simply going through the right questions - it’s essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format. Simulations and practice exams can be very useful as a resource to you - so when it comes to taking the real deal, you won’t be worried.

Several companies have a handy Job Placement Assistance program, to assist your search for your first position. The need for this feature can be bigged up out of proportion though - it’s quite easy for training companies to make too much of it. At the end of the day, the need for well trained IT people in the UK is what will enable you to get a job.

Whatever you do, avoid waiting until you’ve qualified before getting your CV updated. As soon as your training commences, list what you’re working on and tell people about it! Getting your CV considered is better than being rejected. A surprising amount of junior positions are offered to trainees (who’ve only just left first base.) Most often, a specialist locally based recruitment consultant or service (who will get paid commission to place you) will be more pro-active than a recruitment division from a training organisation. It also stands to reason that they’ll know local industry and the area better.

Please ensure you don’t put hundreds of hours of effort into your studies, and then just stop and leave it in the hands of the gods to secure your first position. Stop procrastinating and get on with the job. Put as much resource into finding a good job as it took to pass the exams.

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

There is a tidal wave of change washing over technology over the next generation - and it becomes more and more thrilling each day. We are really only just beginning to comprehend how all this change will affect us. How we interrelate with the rest of the world will be significantly affected by computers and the internet.

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

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

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

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

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

Interactive audio-visual materials utilising video demo’s and practice lab’s will turn you off book-based study for ever more. And you’ll actually enjoy doing them. All companies should be able to show you a few examples of the materials provided for study. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and many interactive sections.

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

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

World-class organisations opt for a web-based 24 hours-a-day facility involving many support centres from around the world. You get a simple environment which seamlessly selects the best facility available no matter what time of day it is: Support when it’s needed. Don’t compromise with the quality of your support. Many trainees that give up, are in that situation because they didn’t get the support necessary for them.

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

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

Exam ‘guarantees’ are sometimes offered as part of a training package - inevitably that means paying for the exams before you’ve even made a start on the course. Before you get carried away with this so-called guarantee, be aware of the facts:

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

Isn’t it outrageous to have to pay a college at the start of the course for examinations? Go for the best offer at the appropriate time, instead of paying a premium - and sit exams more locally - rather than possibly hours away from your area. Paying upfront for examination fees (which also includes interest if you’ve taken out a loan) is a false economy. Resist being talked into filling the training company’s account with your money simply to help their cash-flow! There are those who hope that you won’t get to do them all - but they won’t refund the cash. It’s worth noting, with ‘Exam Guarantees’ from most places - you are not in control of when you are allowed to have another go. You’ll have to prove conclusively that you can pass before they’ll pay for another exam.

Shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds on an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is remiss - when hard work, commitment and the right preparation via exam simulations is actually the key to your success.

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

Help with your CV and interview techniques might be provided (if not, see one of our sites for help). Make sure you polish up your CV straight away - not after you’ve qualified! Quite frequently, you will get your first role whilst you’re still studying (sometimes when you’ve only just got going). If you haven’t updated your CV to say what you’re studying (and it’s not being looked at by employers) then you won’t even be considered! The most reliable organisations to get you a new position are most often specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. Because they only get paid when they place you, they have more incentive to get on with it.

A common aggravation of various training companies is how much students are focused on studying to get qualified, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the role they’re acquired skills for. Don’t give up when the best is yet to come.

Training for your CompTIA A+ covers 4 different sectors - you need to pass exams in 2 different areas to reach the level of A+ competent. For this reason, most training providers only offer two of the four areas. To us, this is selling you short - sure, you can pass an exam, but experience of all four will give you a distinct advantage in your working life, where knowledge of all four will be necessary. So that’s why you need education in the whole course.

Once you start your CompTIA A+, you’ll become familiar with how to work in antistatic conditions and build and fix computers. Diagnostic techniques and fault finding are also on the syllabus, as is remote access. Were you to add Network+ to your A+ course, you’ll also have the ability to take care of networks, allowing you to expect a better remuneration package.

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

Starting from the idea that it makes sense to choose the area of most interest first and foremost, before we’re able to ponder which educational program fulfils our needs, how do we decide on the right path? I mean, without any know-how of the IT market, what chance is there for you to know what some particular IT person spends their day doing? Let alone decide on which certification program will be most suitable for ultimate success. To get through to the essence of this, we need to discuss a variety of different aspects:

* Our personalities play a major role - what kind of areas spark your interest, and what tasks you really dislike.

* Is your focus to re-train for a particular reason - for instance, are you pushing to work based from home (being your own boss?)?

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

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

* What effort, commitment and time you will commit the training program.

Ultimately, your only chance of covering these is via a meeting with a professional that knows the industry well enough to give you the information required.

We can’t make a big enough deal out of this point: It’s essential to obtain proper 24×7 round-the-clock instructor and mentor support. Later, you’ll kick yourself if you don’t follow this rule rigidly. Avoid certification programs which can only support trainees via a message system when it’s outside of usual working hours. Training companies will always try to hide the importance of this issue. But, no matter how they put it - you need support when you need support - not at times when they find it cheaper to provide it.

Top training providers utilise an online access round-the-clock package utilising a variety of support centres from around the world. You’ll have a single, easy-to-use environment which seamlessly accesses whichever office is appropriate no matter what time of day it is: Support on demand. Never make the mistake of compromise when you’re looking for the right support service. Many students who give up, would have had a different experience if they’d got the right support package in the first place.

Traditional teaching in classrooms, utilising reference manuals and books, can be pretty hard going sometimes. If this sounds like you, find training programs which feature interactive and multimedia modules. Many studies have proved that much more of what we learn in remembered when we involve as many senses as possible, and we get physically involved with the study process.

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

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

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

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

* Mon-Fri access for events is usual, and with two or three days required at a time, this is usually problematic for most working students.

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

* Training events fill up quickly and can be very crammed in.

* Some attendees want to work as quickly as possible, but some need a more gentle learning curve and not be pushed beyond their comfort-zone. This causes tension and bad atmosphere in most cases.

* Tot up the cost of all the petrol, fares, accommodation, parking and food and you’ll be in for a big surprise. Attendees mention extra costs mounting to several hundred and sometimes thousands of pounds. Do the maths - and you’ll see how.

* Don’t risk any chance of getting side-stepped for a possible promotion or salary hikes because you’re getting trained in a different area.

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

* Working away from home - many trainees need to live or work away for part of their training. Events become hard to get to, unfortunately you’ve already coughed up the readies as part of your fees.

It would be better to simply watch and be trained by instructors one-to-one through videoed lessons, working on them at a time that’s convenient for you and you alone. You could study at home on your desktop computer or use your laptop to enjoy the sun. Any questions that pop up, just utilise the 24×7 Support (that should’ve been packaged with any technical type of training.) No matter how regularly you have to re-cover a topic, on-screen teachers won’t ever lose patience! And don’t forget, because of this, note-taking becomes a thing of the past. It’s all there for immediate use. Could it get any simpler: A lot of money is saved and you avoid all the travelling; and you get a more comfortable study atmosphere.

Huge changes are about to hit technology as we approach the second decade of the 21st century - and the industry becomes more ground-breaking every year. There are people who believe that the technological revolution that’s been a familiar part of our recent lives is slowing down. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have yet to experience incredible advances, and most especially the internet is going to dominate how we conduct our lives.

Wages in the IT sector aren’t to be ignored moreover - the income on average over this country as a whole for the usual IT worker is considerably better than average salaries nationally. Odds are you’ll make a whole lot more than you would in most other jobs. Because the IT market sector is still growing with no sign of a slow-down, it’s looking good that demand for qualified professionals will continue actively for decades to come.

If you’re thinking about an excellent career in network support then the Microsoft MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) course is an ideal qualification for you. Whether you want to get going or are experienced already but no certificate, there’s a range of courses to suit your requirements. Each of these scenarios needs a different solution, so pay attention that you’re on the right one in advance of spending your money. Identify a company that’s eager to understand you, and what you’re looking to do, and one that has the ability to make available the clear facts to make your choice.

If the UK Information Technology (IT) sector provides so many fantastic advancement possibilities for us all - then what are the questions we need to be posing and which aspects are important to consider?

So many training providers are all about the certification, and avoid focusing on what it’s all actually about - which will always be getting the job or career you want. You should always begin with the end goal - too many people focus on the journey. Don’t let yourself become one of those unfortunate students that choose a course which looks like it could be fun - and end up with a plaque on the wall for something they’ll never enjoy.

Get to grips with the income level you aspire to and whether you’re an ambitious person or not. Sometimes, this affects which certifications you will need and what you can expect to give industry in return. Seek guidance and advice from an industry professional, irrespective of whether you have to pay - it’s much safer and cheaper to investigate at the start if something is going to suit and interest you, rather than realise following two years of study that the job you’ve chosen is not for you and have to return to the start of another program.

Be on the lookout that any certifications you’re working towards are recognised by industry and are bang up to date. ‘In-house’ certificates are not normally useful in gaining employment. From a commercial standpoint, only the top companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA (for example) will get you into the interview seat. Anything less won’t make the grade.

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

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

You should avoid purely online training. Ideally, you should opt for CD and DVD ROM courseware where obtainable, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want - and not be totally reliant on your internet connection always being ‘up’ and available.

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

Top training companies utilise several support facilities around the globe in several time-zones. An online system provides an interactive interface to seamlessly link them all together, any time of the day or night, help is just seconds away, without any contact issues or hassle. If you opt for less than 24×7 support, you’ll end up kicking yourself. You may not need it during late nights, but you’re bound to use weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.

Charging for exams up-front then giving it ‘Exam Guarantee’ status is common for many training course providers. But let’s examine why they really do it:

Certainly it’s not free - you’re still coughing up for it - it’s just been included in your package price. People who go in for their examinations when it’s appropriate, paying for them just before taking them are much more likely to pass. They are conscious of their spending and prepare more appropriately to make sure they’re ready.

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

On average, exams cost 112 pounds or thereabouts in the last 12 months when taken at Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So what’s the point of paying maybe a thousand pounds extra to get ‘an Exam Guarantee’, when any student knows that what’s really needed is a regular, committed, study programme, with an accredited exam preparation system.

Commercial qualifications are now, very visibly, already replacing the more academic tracks into the IT industry - why then should this be? As we require increasingly more effective technological know-how, the IT sector has had to move to the specialised training that the vendors themselves supply - in other words companies such as CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. Often this saves time and money for the student. Typically, the learning just focuses on what’s actually required. It’s not quite as straightforward as that, but the principle objective is to focus on the exact skills required (including a degree of required background) - without attempting to cover a bit about all sorts of other things - in the way that academic establishments often do.

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

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

Let’s not ignore salaries either - the usual income across the UK for the usual IT professional is significantly more than in other market sectors. It’s likely you’ll bring in a much greater package than you would in most other jobs. It would appear there is no easing up for IT sector growth throughout this country. The industry continues to grow enormously, and with the skills shortage of over 26 percent that we’re experiencing, it’s not showing any signs that it will even slow down for the significant future.