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If you’re seeking Microsoft certified training, it stands to reason you’ll want training organisations to offer a wide range of the best training programs available today.

Additionally you might hope to get advice on the sort of careers that are available when you’ve finished studying, and the type of individual such a career might be right for. Most students prefer to discuss what the best route is for them.

Training must be customised to make the most of your skills and abilities. Consequently, once you’ve decided on the most fruitful career for you, your next requirement is the most suitable program that will get you into that job.

Considering how a program is ‘delivered’ to you isn’t always given the appropriate level of importance. How many stages do they break the program into? And in what order and do you have a say in when you’ll get each part?

Often, you will purchase a course that takes between and 1 and 3 years and get sent one module each time you pass an exam. This may seem sensible until you think about these factors:

What could you expect if you didn’t actually complete each element at the speed they required? Often the prescribed exam order doesn’t work as well as another different route may.

In all honesty, the perfect answer is to have their ideal ‘order’ of training laid out, but to receive all the materials up-front. You then have everything if you don’t manage to finish at their required pace.

A useful feature that several companies offer is a programme of Job Placement assistance. The service is put in place to help you find your first job in the industry. Ultimately it isn’t so complicated as you might think to secure your first job – as long as you’re correctly trained and certified; the growing UK skills shortage sees to that.

However, what is relevant is to have advice and support about your CV and interviews though; and we’d encourage any student to get their CV updated the day they start training – don’t put it off until you’ve qualified.

It’s possible that you won’t have even taken your exams when you land your first junior support job; although this is not possible unless your CV is with employers.

If you don’t want to travel too far to work, then you’ll often find that an independent and specialised local employment service could serve you better than some national concern, as they’re going to be familiar with the local job scene.

Do ensure you don’t spend hundreds of hours on your training and studies, and then just stop and imagine someone else is miraculously going to secure your first position. Take responsibility for yourself and get out there. Channel the same energy and enthusiasm into securing your first job as it took to pass the exams.

It’s likely that you’ve always enjoyed practical work – the ‘hands-on’ individual. If you’re anything like us, the trial of reading reference books and manuals can be just about bared when essential, but it’s not ideal. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if book-based learning really isn’t your style.

Long-term memory is enhanced when multiple senses are involved – educational experts have expounded on this for years now.

Learning is now available on CD and DVD discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Using video-streaming, you can watch instructors demonstrating how to perform the required skill, with some practice time to follow – in an interactive lab.

Each company you’re contemplating should be able to show you a few samples of the type of training materials they provide. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and a wide selection of interactive elements.

Avoiding training that is delivered purely online is generally a good idea. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where available, 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.

Be on the lookout that any accreditations you’re considering doing will be recognised by employers and are the most recent versions. Training companies own certificates are often meaningless.

If the accreditation doesn’t feature a big-hitter like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco or CompTIA, then you’ll probably find it will have been a waste of time – because no-one will recognise it.

(C) 2009 S. Edwards. Try PC Repair Course or CareerQualifications.co.uk/gcarqua.html.

There are four A+ exams and study sections, but you’re just expected to get your exams in 2 of them for qualification purposes. For this reason, many educational establishments only offer 2 paths. But allowing you to learn about all 4 options will help you to build a much wider knowledge and understanding of the subject, which you’ll find an important asset in the commercial world.

Once you start your A+ computer training course you’ll be taught how to build, fix, repair and work in antistatic conditions. You’ll also cover fault-finding and diagnostic techniques, both remotely and via direct access.

If your ambition is taking care of computer networks, add the very comprehensive Network+ to your A+ course. This qualification will prepare you to get a higher paid position. You may also want to consider the networking qualifications from Microsoft, i.e. MCP, MCSA MCSE.

At the top of your shopping list for a training program should be full 24×7 support with trained professional instructors and mentors. Too many companies only provide support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later (but not weekends usually).

Beware of institutions that use messaging services ‘out-of-hours’ – where you’ll get called back during standard office hours. It’s not a lot of help when you’ve got study issues and need help now.

Keep your eyes open for study programmes that utilise many support facilities from around the world. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to provide a single interface together with round-the-clock access, when it suits you, with no hassle.

Never compromise where support is concerned. The majority of trainees that throw in the towel, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).

A so-called advisor who doesn’t ask you a lot of questions – it’s likely they’re actually nothing more than a salesman. If they’re pushing towards a particular product before understanding your background and experience, then it’s very likely to be the case.

Remember, if you’ve got any accreditation or direct-experience, then you can sometimes expect to begin at a different level to a student who’s starting from scratch.

It’s wise to consider user-skills and software training first. This can help whip your basic knowledge into shape and make the transition to higher-level learning a bit more manageable.

Considering the amount of options that are available, there’s no surprise that nearly all trainees have no idea which career they should even pursue.

After all, if you don’t have any understanding of the IT market, how could you possibly know what any qualified IT worker spends their day doing? How can you possibly choose what accreditation path provides the best chances for ultimate success.

Ultimately, the right conclusion can only grow via a systematic analysis across many unique factors:

* Personalities play an important role – what gets you ‘up and running’, and what are the activities that put a frown on your face.

* Why you want to consider getting involved with computing – is it to achieve a life-long goal like being your own boss for instance.

* The income needs that are important to you?

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

* You will need to understand the differences across the myriad of training options.

The bottom line is, the most intelligent way of checking this all out is via a good talk with an advisor or professional who has enough background to provide solid advice.

Be careful that the certifications that you’re considering are recognised by industry and are bang up to date. Training companies own certificates are often meaningless.

Unless your qualification is issued by a big-hitter like Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA or Adobe, then chances are it won’t be commercially viable – as it’ll be an unknown commodity.

(C) S. Edwards 2009. Pop over to Mature Student Training or CareerQualifications.co.uk.

If you’re looking for Cisco training and you haven’t worked with routers before, what you need is CCNA. This training course was created to train people with practical know how on routers. Commercial ventures that have a number of branches rely on routers to connect their various different networks of computers to keep in contact with each other. The Internet also is based on huge numbers of routers.

Routers are linked to networks, therefore it is necessary to have an understanding of the operation of networks, or you’ll struggle with the program and not be able to understand the work. Seek out a program that teaches the basics (for example CompTIA) before you start the CCNA.

If you’re just entering the world of routers, then working up to and including the CCNA is the right level to aim for – at this stage avoid being tempted to do the CCNP. Once you’ve worked for a few years, you’ll know if it’s relevant for you to have this next level up.

Make sure that all your certifications are current and also valid commercially – don’t bother with programs that only give in-house certificates.

Unless the accreditation comes from a company like Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco, then chances are it will be commercially useless – because no-one will recognise it.

Commencing with the understanding that we need to find the market that sounds most inviting first, before we’re able to weigh up what development program meets that requirement, how can we choose the correct route?

As without any commercial skills in computing, how could any of us be expected to understand what a particular job actually consists of?

Achieving an informed answer will only come through a meticulous investigation covering many varying factors:

* Your personality type as well as your interests – what kind of work-related things please or frustrate you.

* Do you want to obtain training due to a precise raison d’etre – i.e. are you looking at working from home (self-employment?)?

* The income requirements that guide you?

* Getting to grips with what the normal work types and sectors are – plus how they’re different to each other.

* The level of commitment and effort you’re prepared to put into your training.

In actuality, you’ll find the only real way to research these matters tends to be through a good talk with an experienced advisor that has years of experience in the IT industry (and specifically it’s commercial needs.)

Kick out the typical salesperson that offers any particular course without a decent chat to assess your abilities and level of experience. Always check they have access to a generous product range so they can solve your training issues.

With some real-world experience or qualifications, you could discover that your appropriate starting-point is not the same as someone new to the industry.

Consider starting with user-skills and software training first. It will usually make the slope up to the higher-levels a less steep.

Consider the points below very carefully if you’ve been persuaded that that over-used sales technique about an ‘Exam Guarantee’ sounds great value:

Thankfully, today we are a bit more aware of hype – and generally we realise that of course we are actually being charged for it – it’s not because they’re so generous they want to give something away!

If it’s important to you to get a first time pass, you must fund each exam as you take it, prioritise it appropriately and apply yourself as required.

Sit the exam as locally as possible and don’t pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you’re ready.

A lot of so-called credible training companies make huge profits because they’re getting in the money for exams at the start of the course and cashing in if they’re not all taken.

In addition to this, ‘Exam Guarantees’ often aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. The majority of organisations won’t pay for you to re-take until you’ve completely satisfied them that you’re ready this time.

The cost of exams was about 112 pounds in the last 12 months through Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So don’t be talked into shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds more to get ‘an Exam Guarantee’, when any student knows that the best guarantee is consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software.

(C) S. Edwards 2009. Hop over to www.AdultRetrainingCourses.co.uk or New Career Options.

In total, there are 4 A+ examinations and specialised sectors, but your only requirement is to get certified in 2 to qualify for your A+. Because of this, most training colleges simply offer two. Yet learning about all 4 will give you a much wider knowledge and understanding of it all, something you’ll appreciate as vital in industry.

As well as learning how to build PC’s and fix them, students of A+ will be taught how to operate in antistatic conditions, as well as diagnostics, fault-finding and remote access.

In addition, you could look to think about doing Network+ as you’ll then be in a position to take care of computer networks, and have a more responsible working role.

One of the most important things to insist on has to be proper direct-access 24×7 support from professional mentors and instructors. Too many companies only provide support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later (but not weekends usually).

You’ll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and phone support is often 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 will call back over the next day or so (assuming you’re there), when it’s convenient to them. This isn’t a lot of good if you’re stuck with a particular problem and have a one hour time-slot in which to study.

It’s possible to find professional training packages that recommend and use direct-access support all the time – at any time of day or night.

Don’t compromise when it comes to your support. Many IT hopefuls that throw in the towel, are in that situation because they didn’t get the support necessary for them.

A typical blunder that students everywhere can make is to concentrate on the course itself, instead of focusing on where they want to get to. Universities are stacked to the hilt with direction-less students that chose an ‘interesting’ course – rather than what would get them their end-goal of a job they enjoyed.

It’s an awful thing, but a great many students begin programs that seem wonderful in the prospectus, but which provides the end-result of a job that doesn’t fulfil at all. Just ask several college leavers and you’ll see where we’re coming from.

Make sure you investigate your leanings around earning potential and career progression, plus your level of ambition. It’s vital to know what the role will demand of you, which particular exams will be required and how to develop your experience.

Have a conversation with a professional advisor that has a commercial understanding of the realities faced in the industry, and is able to give you detailed descriptions of what you actually do in that role. Researching these areas before commencement of any training program has obvious benefits.

A sneaky way that course providers make extra profits is via an ‘exam inclusive’ package and offering an exam guarantee. It looks like a good deal, until you think it through:

You’ll pay for it ultimately. It certainly isn’t free – they’ve just worked it into the package price.

Qualifying on the first ‘go’ is what everyone wants to do. Going for exams one by one and paying for them just before taking them makes it far more likely you’ll pass first time – you prepare appropriately and are mindful of the investment you’ve made.

Sit the exam at a local pro-metric testing centre and hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take it.

Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for exam fees when you don’t need to? A great deal of money is made because training colleges are charging upfront for all their exams – and then cashing in when they’re not all taken.

Don’t forget, with the majority of Exam Guarantees – the company decides when you can re-take the exam. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company’s say so.

Splashing out often many hundreds of pounds extra on an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is naive – when study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really see you through.

It’s essential to have accredited simulation materials and an exam preparation system included in your course.

Avoid depending on unofficial preparation materials for exams. The terminology of their questions can be quite different – and often this creates real issues when the proper exam time arrives.

Ensure that you test whether you’re learning enough by doing quizzes and practice in simulated exam environments to prepare you for taking the real deal.

Author: Scott Edwards. Check out CLICK HERE or Career Retraining Courses.

Nice One! Hitting upon this feature proves you must be contemplating your career, and if you’re considering retraining then you’ve already got further than almost everybody else. It’s a frightening thought that hardly any of us consider ourselves fulfilled and satisfied with our jobs – yet the vast majority of us will take no corrective action. Why not liberate yourself and do something – you have the rest of your life to enjoy it.

We recommend you seek advice first – find someone who knows the industry; a guide who can really get to know you and find the best job role for you, and offer only the training programs which will get you there:

* Do you like working on your own or perhaps being around others is vital for your sanity?

* Are you thinking carefully about which area you could be employed in? (In this economy, it’s vital to get it right.)

* Is this the final time you plan to retrain, and therefore, will this new career allow you to do that?

* Will this new qualification give you the opportunity to get a good job, and keep working until you choose to stop?

Don’t overlook Information Technology, that’s our recommendation – it’s one of the few growth areas in Great Britain and Europe. Another benefit is that remuneration packages are much better than most.

Without a doubt: There’s pretty much no individual job security now; there’s only market or sector security – companies can just drop any single member of staff if it suits the business’ trade needs.

Where there are growing skills deficits mixed with increasing demand though, we often locate a newer brand of security in the marketplace; as fuelled by the constant growth conditions, organisations find it hard to locate enough staff.

Looking at the computer business, the 2006 e-Skills analysis highlighted a more than 26 percent shortfall of skilled workers. To explain it in a different way, this highlights that the UK only has three qualified staff for each four job positions existing now.

This disturbing truth underpins an urgent requirement for more appropriately trained Information Technology professionals around the UK.

While the market is evolving at such a speed, it’s unlikely there’s any better market worth investigating for a new future.

Students often end up having issues because of one area of their training usually not even thought about: The breakdown of the course materials before being physically delivered to you.

Delivery by courier of each element one stage at a time, according to your exam schedule is how things will normally arrive. This sounds logical, but you must understand the following:

What would their reaction be if you find it difficult to do each and every exam at the proposed pace? Sometimes their preference of study order doesn’t come as naturally as some other structure would for you.

To be in the best situation you would have all the learning modules posted to your home before you even start; every single thing! Thus avoiding any future problems that could impede your capability of finishing.

Of course: a training itself or an accreditation is not what you’re looking for; the career you’re training for is. Too many training companies completely prioritise just the training course.

It’s possible, for instance, to get a great deal of enjoyment from a year of study but end up spending 10 or 20 years in something completely unrewarding, as a consequence of not performing some decent due-diligence at the beginning.

Be honest with yourself about the income level you aspire to and whether you’re an ambitious person or not. Usually, this will point the way to which precise qualifications will be required and how much effort you’ll have to give in return.

We recommend that students seek guidance and advice from a skilled advisor before embarking on a learning programme, so there’s little doubt that the chosen route will give you the skills for the job being sought.

A competent and professional advisor (vs a salesman) will want to thoroughly discuss your current experience level and abilities. This is vital for understanding your study start-point.

If you have a strong background, or sometimes a little commercial experience (some industry qualifications maybe?) then it’s likely your starting level will be quite dissimilar from someone with no background whatsoever.

Consider starting with some basic user skills first. This can set the scene for your on-going studies and make the slope up to the higher-levels a a little easier.

(C) Jason Kendall. Visit LearningLolly.com for the best career advice. CCNA Training or www.adult-retraining.co.uk.

Both if you’re a beginner, or an experienced technician looking to gain accredited qualifications, you’ll discover interactive Microsoft MCSA training programs that teach both student levels.

If you want to get into the world of computers as a beginner, you will possibly need to have some coaching before attempting to go for the 4 MCP’s (Microsoft Certified Professional exams) needed to become MCSA qualified. Look for a company that’s able to create a bespoke package to cater for you – it should be possible for you to chat with an advisor to sort out your optimum route.

Proper support is incredibly important – ensure you track down something offering 24×7 direct access to instructors, as not obtaining this level of support will severely hold up your pace and restrict your intake.

Never purchase training that only supports students with a message system after office-staff have gone home. Trainers will defend this with all kinds of excuses. The bottom line is – you need support when you need support – not when it suits them.

It’s possible to find professional training packages who provide their students online direct access support 24×7 – including evenings, nights and weekends.

You can’t afford to accept less than you need and deserve. 24×7 support is really your only option when it comes to technical study. Perhaps you don’t intend to study during the evenings; often though, we’re at work when traditional support if offered.

Make sure you don’t get caught-up, like so many people do, on the training course itself. Your training isn’t about getting a plaque on your wall; this is about gaining commercial employment. You need to remain focused on where you want to go.

Don’t be part of that group who choose a training program which looks like it could be fun – and end up with a plaque on the wall for a career they’ll never really get any satisfaction from.

Set targets for earning potential and the level of your ambition. Usually, this will point the way to which qualifications you will need and what’ll be expected of you in your new role.

Look for advice and guidance from a professional advisor, even if there’s a fee involved – as it’s a lot cheaper and safer to investigate at the start if a chosen track will suit, rather than find out after several years of study that you’re doing entirely the wrong thing and have wasted years of effort.

Beginning from the viewpoint that it makes sense to locate the employment that excites us first, before we can contemplate which development program fulfils our needs, how do we decide on the way that suits us?

How can we possibly grasp the day-to-day realities of any IT job if we’ve never been there? Maybe we haven’t met someone who performs the role either.

To get to the bottom of this, there should be a discussion of a variety of different aspects:

* Your hobbies and interests – as they can point towards what areas will give you the most reward.

* Are you aiming to pull off a closely held objective – for instance, becoming self-employed as quickly as possible?

* How highly do you rate salary – is it the most important thing, or do you place job satisfaction a little higher on your list of priorities?

* With so many ways to train in Information Technology – there’s a need to achieve some background information on what differentiates them.

* You need to understand the differences across each area of training.

For the majority of us, sifting through these areas needs a long talk with an advisor who can investigate each area with you. Not only the certifications – you also need to understand the commercial requirements also.

We’re regularly asked to explain why academic qualifications are now falling behind more qualifications from the commercial sector?

Accreditation-based training (to use industry-speak) is more effective in the commercial field. Industry has become aware that a specialist skill-set is what’s needed to service the demands of an acceleratingly technical workplace. CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA are the dominant players.

Vendor training works through honing in on the skills that are really needed (together with a relevant amount of related knowledge,) as opposed to trawling through all the background detail and ‘fluff’ that computer Science Degrees often do – to fill a three or four year course.

The bottom line is: Commercial IT certifications tell an employer precisely what skills you have – it says what you do in the title: for example, I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Designing Security for a Windows 2003 Network’. So employers can identify just what their needs are and what certifications are required to perform the job.

(C) Jason Kendall. Browse LearningLolly.com for superb career advice. MCSA 2008 Certification or MCSA Training Course.