Accredited exam preparation packages are crucial - and must be obtained from your training company. Sometimes people can be thrown off course by going through practice questions that aren't from the authorised examining boards. Quite often, the question formats and phraseology is unfamiliar and it's vital that you know this. Mock exams can be very useful in helping you build your confidence - so when it comes to taking the real thing, you don't get uptight.

Of course: a training course or a certification is not what you're looking for; the job or career you're training for is. Far too many training organisations put too much weight in the certificate itself. It's common, for instance, to find immense satisfaction in a year of study and then spend 20 miserable years in a tiresome job role, simply because you did it without some quality research at the outset.

Get to grips with the income level you aspire to and the level of your ambition. Often, this changes which particular certifications you will need and how much effort you'll have to give in return. All students are advised to speak with an experienced professional before deciding on their training program. This helps to ensure it has the required elements for the chosen career path.

Currently, you'll find hardly any 'Windows' NT Server installations remaining, yet there are even now quite a lot around at server '2000'. By far the most prolific is Server '2003', with server 2008 still in its early-days. Given that Server 2003 continues to be the most prevalent in the commercial environment, Microsoft's major accreditations still centre around 2003. MS's qualifications MCSA and MCSE have supported the different server 'evolutions' through the years. Consistent with the marketplace, the '2003' versions of these networking accreditations remain the most commonly required. However it would not be beneficial to ignore '08 training, as to cover this also will future-proof yourself.

A study programme has to build towards a nationally (or globally) recognised exam at the end - and not a worthless 'in-house' diploma - fit only for filing away and forgetting. To an employer, only the top companies such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco (for instance) will get you short-listed. Anything less won't make the grade.

A useful feature provided by many trainers is a Job Placement Assistance program. It's intention is to steer you into your first IT role. Don't get caught up in this feature - it's easy for eager sales people to make it sound harder than it is. The fact of the matter is, the need for well trained IT people in Great Britain is what will make you attractive to employers.

CV and Interview advice and support might be provided (if it isn't, consult one of our sites). Ensure you polish up your CV today - don't leave it till you pass the exams! A good number of junior support jobs have been bagged by trainees who're still on their course and have still to get qualified. This will at least get your CV into the 'possible' pile and not the 'no' pile. The top companies to get you a new position are generally specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. As they will get paid by the employer when they've placed you, they have more incentive to get on with it.

Just be sure that you don't invest a great deal of time on your training course, only to stop and expect somebody else to land you a job. Stand up for yourself and get on with the job. Put the same focus into landing your first job as you did to get trained.

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