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Network and PC support technicians are constantly in demand in the UK, as companies have come to depend upon their knowledge and ability to fix and repair. Because of the multifaceted levels of technological advances, greater numbers of competent professionals are required to specialise in the various different areas we’ve come to rely on.

Some training providers still use the rather old-fashioned idea of in-centre classes. Quite often pushed as a positive point, following a chat with most students who’ve had to attend a couple, you’ll hear a common theme of many or most of these problems:

* Regular visits to the centre - quite a distance away in more cases than not.

* If you’re working, then Monday to Friday events represent a difficulty in getting time off. You’re usually having to deal with two or three days together to make it worse.

* And don’t overlook lost holiday time. We typically get four weeks vacation allowance. If half of that is used up on workshops, then we haven’t got much left for ourselves.

* Training workshops typically get over subscribed.

* The pace of the class - workshops invariably consist of trainees of varied aptitude, therefore tension can be created between those that want to go quickly as opposed to those with less experience.

* Many trainees speak about the high (and unexpected) costs associated with getting to and from the facility while forking out for food and accommodation becomes prohibitively expensive.

* Study privacy will be of paramount importance to many trainees. Why would you want to give up any job advancement, wage increases or accomplishment in your job while you’re training. If your work discovers you’re putting yourself through accreditation in a different industry, what do you think they’ll do?

* Most of us find it difficult to ask questions in a room full of other trainees - who wants to look like they’re the only one who doesn’t get it?

* If your work takes you away from home, it’s a fact of life that workshops are now difficult to get to - and yet, they’ve been paid for in advance.

The most elegant solution comes from viewing a pre-made lesson - giving you the opportunity of instructor-led coaching whenever you wish. Imagine… With a notebook PC you have the ability to study in the garden, a park, or just outside. And live 24×7 support is only a web-browser click away when challenges strike you. Just watch and re-watch the study modules whenever you need to revise. There’s also no need to write any notes because you’ll always have access to the teaching. The result: Reduced stress and hassle, less cost, and no wasted travelling time.

A expert and specialised consultant (in direct contrast to a salesman) will talk through your current experience level and abilities. There is no other way of establishing your starting level of study. If you have a strong background, or even a touch of real-world experience (maybe some existing accreditation?) then it could be that the level you’ll need to start at will be quite dissimilar from someone with no background whatsoever. Consider starting with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. This can set the scene for your on-going studies and make the learning curve a bit more manageable.

Considering the amount of options that are available, does it really shock us that the majority of students don’t really understand the best career path they should even pursue. Flicking through a list of odd-sounding and meaningless job titles is next to useless. Surely, most of us have no idea what our next-door neighbours do at work each day - so what chance do we have in understanding the intricacies of any specific IT role. Often, the key to unlocking this question in the best manner comes from a thorough talk over several different topics:

* Our personalities play a major role - what gives you a ‘kick’, and what tasks get you down.

* Is it your desire to realise an important goal - for instance, working from home sometime soon?

* How important is salary to you - is it very important, or is day-to-day enjoyment higher up on your list of priorities?

* Some students don’t fully understand the time demanded to gain all the necessary accreditation.

* Our advice is to think deeply about the amount of time and effort you’re going to give to your training.

In all honesty, it’s obvious that the only real way to seek advice on these issues tends to be through a good talk with an experienced advisor that has a background in computing (and chiefly the commercial requirements.)

(C) Jason Kendall. Hop over to LearningLolly.com for logical information on Network+ Training and IT Training Courses.

Are you toying with the idea of doing an MCSE? If so, it’s probable that you’re probably in 1 of 2 situations: You could already be in IT and you want to enhance your CV with the MCSE qualification. In contrast this might be your initial foray into the IT environment, and you’ve discovered there’s a huge demand for men and women who are commercially qualified.

We’d recommend you see evidence that your provider is actually training you on the latest level of Microsoft development. A lot of students have come unstuck when they discover they’ve been educated in an out-of-date syllabus which now needs updating. Avoid the companies who are only trying to make a sale. Ask for comprehensive, personal guidance to ensure you’re registering on the correct course. Resist being forced into a one-size-fits-all course by a second-rate college.

A sneaky way that colleges make a lot more is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course then giving it ‘Exam Guarantee’ status. It looks like a good deal, but is it really:

In this day and age, we tend to be a little more ‘marketing-savvy’ - and usually we realise that of course it is something we’re paying for (it isn’t free or out of the goodness of their hearts!) Those who enter their exams one by one, funding them one at a time are much better placed to get through first time. They are thoughtful of the cost and prepare more appropriately to make sure they’re ready.

Don’t you think it’s more sensible to find the best exam deal or offer when you take the exam, instead of paying a premium to a training course provider, and also to sit exams more locally - rather than possibly hours away from your area? Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for examination fees when you didn’t need to? A great deal of money is made by companies getting paid upfront for exams - and then cashing in when they’re not all taken. The majority of organisations will insist that you take mock exams first and hold you back from re-takes until you’ve proven conclusively that you can pass - which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.

With average Prometric and VUE exams coming in at around 112 pounds in the UK, it makes sense to pay as you go. Why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra at the beginning of your training? Consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.

You have to be sure that all your certifications are commercially valid and current - don’t even consider studies which end up with a useless in-house certificate or plaque. Unless your qualification is issued by a big-hitter like Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco, then you’ll probably find it won’t be commercially viable - as it’ll be an unknown commodity.

Many folks don’t comprehend what IT is doing for all of us. It is ground-breaking, exciting, and means you’re working on technology that will affect us all over the next generation. There are people who believe that the technological revolution that’s been a familiar part of our recent lives is easing off. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are huge changes to come, and the internet significantly will be the most effective tool in our lives.

Incomes in IT are not a problem moreover - the usual income in the United Kingdom for an average IT worker is considerably better than average salaries nationally. Odds are that you’ll earn a much greater package than you could reasonably hope to get in other industries. The good news is there is no easing up for IT increases across Britain. The market is still growing enormously, and with the skills shortage of over 26 percent that we’re experiencing, it’s highly unlikely that this will change significantly for years to come.

Traditional teaching in classrooms, involving piles of reference textbooks, can be pretty hard going sometimes. If this sounds like you, dig around for more practical courses that are multimedia based. Where possible, if we can involve all our senses in the learning process, our results will often be quite spectacular.

Courses are now available via DVD-ROM discs, so you can study at your own computer. Video streaming means you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how to perform the required skill, followed by your chance to practice - via the interactive virtual lab’s. Be sure to get a study material demo’ from your training provider. You’ll want to see demo’s from instructors, slideshows and fully interactive skills-lab’s.

Often, companies will only use training that is purely available online; while you can get away with this much of the time, think what will happen if you lose your internet access or you only get very a very slow connection sometimes. It is usually safer to have CD and DVD ROM materials that will not have these problems.

A service that several companies offer is job placement assistance. The service is put in place to assist your search for your first position. But don’t place too much emphasis on it - it isn’t unusual for companies marketing departments to overstate it’s need. The fact of the matter is, the massive skills shortage in Britain is what will make you attractive to employers.

Having said that, it’s important to have help with your CV and interview techniques though; additionally, we would recommend all students to work on polishing up their CV as soon as training commences - don’t put it off for when you’re ready to start work. It’s not unusual to find that you will get your initial role whilst still on the course (even when you’ve just left first base). If your course details aren’t on your CV (and it’s not being looked at by employers) then you don’t stand a chance! You can usually expect quicker service from an independent and specialised local recruitment consultancy than you will through a course provider’s national service, because they will be more familiar with the area and local employers.

Certainly ensure you don’t invest a great deal of time on your training course, just to give up and leave it up to everyone else to sort out your employment. Stand up for yourself and get out there. Invest as much resource into finding a good job as you did to get trained.

(C) Jason Kendall. Check out LearningLolly.com for excellent career advice on MCSE 2003 Course and MCSE.

Should you be considering getting into a web design team, an Adobe Dreamweaver course is a fundamental criteria to achieve in-demand qualifications that are recognised around the world. The full Adobe Web Creative Suite should also be studied in its entirety. This will introduce you to Action Script and Flash, amongst others, and means you’ll be in a position to take your Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) or Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) qualification.

Building a website is only the first aspect of the necessary skill-set for web professionals today. Why not look for a course with additional features such as E-Commerce, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation,) to enable you to appreciate how to create traffic, maintain content and operate on database driven sites.

Don’t listen to any salesperson that recommends a training program without a thorough investigation so as to understand your abilities and also your experience level. Always check they have access to a expansive product range so they’re actually equipped to solve your training issues. An important point to note is that, if you have some relevant work-experience or certification, then you can sometimes expect to pick-up at a different starting-point to a trainee with no history to speak of. For students embarking on IT studies for the first time, you might like to break yourself in gently, starting with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. This is often offered with most training packages.

Accredited simulation materials and exam preparation packages are crucial - and really must be sought from your course provider. Don’t fall foul of depending on non-accredited exam preparation systems. The type of questions asked can be completely unlike authorised versions - and often this creates real issues once in the actual exam. Mock exams are very useful for confidence building - so much so, that at the real thing, you don’t get uptight.

The perhaps intimidating chore of securing your first role in IT can be made easier by some training providers because they offer a Job Placement Assistance facility. Because of the massive shortage of skills in the United Kingdom even when times are hard, it’s not necessary to get too caught up in this feature though. It’s not as difficult as you may be led to believe to secure your first job once you’re trained and certified.

Work on polishing up your CV right away however (advice can be sought on this via your provider). Don’t wait until you’ve graduated or passed any exams. Quite frequently, you will get your first job whilst you’re still studying (even in the early stages). 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 won’t even be considered! If you don’t want to travel too far to work, then it’s quite likely that a specialist independent regional recruitment consultant or service may serve you better than some national concern, because they’re far more likely to have insider knowledge of local employment needs.

A good number of people, it would appear, put a great deal of effort into their studies (sometimes for years), only to give up at the first hurdle when trying to get the right position. Promote yourself… Do your best to put yourself out there. A job isn’t just going to bump into you.

Many trainers only give office hours or extended office hours support; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly. Never accept training courses that only support trainees 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 at times when they find it cheaper to provide it.

Top training providers offer an internet-based round-the-clock service utilising a variety of support centres from around the world. You will be provided with an easy to use environment that seamlessly accesses whichever office is appropriate irrespective of the time of day: Support available as-and-when you want it. If you opt for less than support round-the-clock, you’ll quickly find yourself regretting it. You may avoid using the support throughout the night, but consider weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.

Trainees looking at this market are usually quite practically-minded, and don’t always take well to classrooms, and poring through books and manuals. If you identify with this, opt for more involving, interactive learning materials, with on-screen demonstrations and labs. We see a huge improvement in memory retention with an involvement of all our senses - educational experts have expounded on this for many years.

Locate a program where you’ll get a host of CD and DVD ROM’s - you’ll begin by watching videos of instructors demonstrating the skills, and be able to use virtual lab’s to practice your new skills. Each company you’re contemplating should willingly take you through some examples of the materials provided for study. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and many interactive sections.

It doesn’t make sense to opt for on-line only training. With highly variable reliability and quality from all internet service providers, ensure that you have access to disc based courseware (On CD or DVD).