Traditional teaching in classrooms, with books and manuals, can be pretty hard going sometimes. If this sounds like you, look for learning programmes which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts. Studies have consistently verified that getting into our studies physically, will more likely produce memories that are deeper and longer-lasting.

Programs are now found in the form of CD and DVD ROM's, where everything is taught on your PC. Utilising the latest video technology, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how to do something, with some practice time to follow - in a virtual lab environment. It's wise to view a small selection of training examples before you sign the purchase order. What you want are instructor demonstrations, video tutorials and interactive modules with audio-visual elements.

Often, companies will only use online training only; and while this is acceptable much of the time, think what will happen if your access to the internet is broken or you get slow speeds and down-time etc. It's preferable to have physical CD or DVD discs which don't suffer from these broadband issues.

Don't accept anything less than the latest Microsoft (or relevant organisation's) authorised simulation materials and exam preparation packages. Steer clear of relying on non-official preparation materials for exams. The terminology of their questions can be quite different - and sometimes this can be a real headache when it comes to taking the real exam. Ensure that you ask for exam preparation tools so you'll be able to test your comprehension along the way. Mock exams will help to boost your attitude - so you won't be quite so nervous at the actual exam.

The vendor neutral worldwide association 'CompTIA' now offers perhaps the most recognised & widely respected independent I.T. certifications. Organisations such as 'ISC2' supply security certifications, & CWNP offer specialist wireless networking paths. Most conspicuously not surprisingly are Cisco and Microsoft themselves, each providing their very own qualification paths. Mainly due to the range and level of qualification paths on offer in this field, its wise to talk through this type of career change with a professional advisor. You might save yourself a whole lot of time and money, not to mention stress & discouragement.

You'll find larger alternatives beyond Microsoft & Cisco to become trained within these areas. In actual fact, there's a great deal of accreditation that's offered by highly respected independent organisations - and this has become increasingly significant. The understanding of network interface connectivity between and among networks is becoming more and more important. Networking is in fact undergoing some important paradigm-shifts right now; both in terms of processing & in the storage of data, with 'cloud' computing coming to the fore & 'green IT' getting to be increasingly relevant. Green I.T. does not particularly indicate 'saving the planet' -- it does of course have many elements designed to lower CO2 impact etc., but it is also strongly placed in the economic reality of cost-savings. The actual processing power within modern computers is lower, which means much less heat to cool down. These two things together vastly cut down the electricity expenditure, and therefore impact upon a corporation's bottom-line - especially in data-centres & high-volume processing departments.

The somewhat scary thought of getting your first IT job can be made easier by training colleges, through a Job Placement Assistance programme. The fact of the matter is it's not as hard as some people make out to land the right work - once you're trained and certified; the growing UK skills shortage sees to that.

Help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews should be offered (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). It's essential that you update that dusty old CV today - not when you're ready to start work! Being considered a 'maybe' is better than being rejected. Many junior support jobs are given to people in the early stages of their course. Generally, you'll receive better results from a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service than you will through a training course provider's national service, because they will understand the local industry and employment needs.

A regular grievance of many training companies is how much trainees are prepared to work to pass exams, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the position they have trained for. Have confidence - the IT industry needs YOU.

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