Considering an MCSE? If the answer's 'yes', there's a good chance that you'll fall into one of the following categories: You're someone with a certain amount of knowledge and you'd like to gain accreditation with an MCSE certification. Or you could be completely new to commercial IT, and you've discovered there's lots of demand for qualified people.

As you try to find out more, you'll hit upon companies that compromise their offerings by failing to provide the latest version from Microsoft. Avoid these companies as you'll have problems when it comes to exams. If you are studying an old version, it could be impossible to pass. Avoid businesses who're just out to sell you anything. Advisors should be helping to ensure you are on the best program for your needs. Don't be shoe-horned into a one-size-fits-all course by a second-rate college.

Only consider learning paths that'll lead to commercially approved exams. There's a plethora of small companies proposing 'in-house' certificates which will prove unusable when it comes to finding a job. From the perspective of an employer, only the top companies such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco (for example) will make the right impression. Anything less just won't hit the right spot.

It's not uncommon for companies to offer inclusive exam guarantees - they always involve paying for the exam fees up-front, at the start of your training. Before you get carried away with a course with such a promise, why not consider this:

Everybody's aware that they're still footing the bill for it - it's quite obvious to see that it's been inserted into the overall price charged by the training company. It's absolutely not free - and it's insulting that we're supposed to think it is! Passing first time is everyone's goal. Taking your exams progressively one by one and paying as you go makes it far more likely you'll pass first time - you put the effort in and are conscious of what you've spent.

Doesn't it make more sense to find the best exam deal or offer when you're ready, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance to the training college, and to do it in a local testing office - rather than in some remote centre? A lot of unscrupulous training colleges make huge amounts of money because they're charging for exam fees early then banking on the fact that many won't be taken. Re-takes of previously unsuccessful exams with organisations who offer an 'Exam Guarantee' inevitably are heavily regulated. You will be required to do mock exams till you've proven conclusively that you can pass.

Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on 'Exam Guarantees' is foolish - when hard work, commitment and the right preparation via exam simulations is actually the key to your success.

A service provided by many trainers is a programme of Job Placement assistance. The service is put in place to help you get your first commercial position. However sometimes too much is made of this feature, for it is genuinely quite straightforward for a well trained and motivated person to get a job in the IT industry - because companies everywhere are seeking well trained people.

Ideally you should have advice and support about your CV and interviews though; also we would encourage everyone to work on polishing up their CV as soon as they start a course - don't put it off until you've graduated or passed any exams. You might not even have taken your exams when you will be offered your first junior support role; although this can't and won't happen if your CV isn't in front of employers. The best services to help get you placed are normally independent and specialised local recruitment services. As they will get paid by the employer when they've placed you, they'll work that much harder to get a result.

Many trainees, it would appear, invest a great deal of time on their training course (sometimes for years), only to give up at the first hurdle when finding the right position. Promote yourself... Do everything you can to get in front of employers. Don't think a job's just going to jump out in front of you.

A capable and specialised advisor (vs a salesperson) will want to thoroughly discuss your current experience level and abilities. This is useful for understanding the point at which you need to start your studies. Where you have a strong background, or sometimes a little real-world experience (possibly even some previous certification?) then obviously the level you'll need to start at will be different from someone who is just starting out. It's wise to consider a user-skills course first. Starting there can make your learning curve a bit more manageable.

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