Currently in the UK, commercial institutions could not function efficiently without the help of support workers mending PC’s and networks, while making recommendations to users each and every day. Because our society becomes growingly dependent on our PC’s, we simultaneously find ourselves increasingly more reliant upon the commercially qualified IT networkers, who ensure the systems function properly.

With all the options available, does it really shock us that a large percentage of newcomers to the industry don’t really understand the best career path they could be successful with.

How likely is it for us to understand the many facets of a particular career when we’ve never done it? We normally don’t know someone who works in that sector anyway.

Generally, the way to deal with this predicament correctly lies in a full talk over several different topics:

* Our personalities play a starring role - what gives you a ‘kick’, and what are the areas that you really dislike.

* For what reasons you’re stepping into computing - it could be you’re looking to achieve a life-long goal like being self-employed maybe.

* Where is the salary on a scale of importance - is it the most important thing, or is job satisfaction a lot higher on the priority-scale?

* Understanding what the normal job roles and markets are - and what differentiates them.

* The level of commitment and effort you’ll have available to spend on obtaining your certification.

In all honesty, the only way to seek advice on these issues tends to be through a good talk with an advisor or professional that has a background in IT (and more importantly it’s commercial requirements.)

The best type of training course package will undoubtedly also include fully authorised exam simulation and preparation packages.

Due to the fact that a lot of examining boards for IT tend to be American, it’s essential to understand how exam questions will be phrased and formatted. It’s no use just going through the right questions - it’s essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format.

As you can imagine, it is vital to know that you’ve thoroughly prepared for your actual certification exam prior to doing it. Rehearsing mock-up tests adds to your knowledge bank and will save a lot of money on thwarted exam entries.

Any advisor who doesn’t dig around with lots of question - it’s likely they’re really a salesperson. If they push a particular product before getting to know your background and whether you have any commercial experience, then you know it’s true.

Where you have a strong background, or even a touch of work-based experience (maybe some existing accreditation?) then obviously the level you’ll need to start at will be very different from a trainee who has no experience.

If this is going to be your initial effort at IT study then it may be wise to begin with some basic PC skills training first.

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. Before you jump at guaranteed exams, consider this:

You’ll be charged for it one way or another. It’s definitely not free - it’s simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole.

People who take each progressive exam, funding them one at a time are in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt. They’re conscious of their investment and so are more inclined to ensure they are ready.

Sit the exam at a local pro-metric testing centre and don’t pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you’re ready.

Paying upfront for exams (and interest charges if you’re borrowing money) is a false economy. Resist being talked into filling the training company’s account with your hard-earned cash simply to help their cash-flow! A lot bank on the fact that you won’t get to do them all - then they’ll keep the extra money.

It’s also worth noting that ‘Exam Guarantees’ often aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. Most companies won’t pay for re-takes until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won’t fail again.

The cost of exams was approximately 112 pounds twelve months or so ago when taken at Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. So what’s the point of paying maybe a thousand pounds extra to have ‘Exam Guarantees’, when it’s no secret that the most successful method is a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools.

We’re often asked why traditional academic studies are now falling behind more commercially accredited qualifications?

Key company training (in industry terminology) is far more specialised and product-specific. The IT sector is aware that specialisation is what’s needed to service the demands of a technically advancing marketplace. Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA dominate in this arena.

Vendor training works through concentrating on the particular skills that are needed (along with an appropriate level of related knowledge,) instead of covering masses of the background detail and ‘fluff’ that degree courses often do - to fill a three or four year course.

If an employer understands what they’re looking for, then they just need to look for someone with a specific qualification. Syllabuses are set to exacting standards and aren’t allowed to deviate (as academic syllabuses often do).

(C) Jason Kendall. Browse LearningLolly.com for superb career tips on Comptia Networking Course and Computer Network Courses.