At times people don't comprehend what information technology is about. It is electrifying, revolutionary, and means you're doing your bit in the gigantic wave of technology that will impact the whole world for generations to come. We are really only just starting to get to grips with how all this change will affect us. How we interrelate with the rest of the world will be significantly affected by technology and the internet.

And don't forget salaries moreover - the typical remuneration in the UK for the usual man or woman in IT is a lot better than remuneration packages in other sectors. It's a good bet you'll make a much better deal than you would in most other jobs. The good news is there is no end in sight for IT jobs expansion in the United Kingdom. The sector continues to develop hugely, and as we have a significant shortage of skilled professionals, it's not likely that things will be any different for a good while yet.

A few years ago Microsoft updated their chief certification paths. They up-graded from their previous 'MCAD'/'MCSD' (Microsoft Certified Application/Solutions Developer) exams to the MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) and the MCPD ('Microsoft Certified Professional Developer') examinations. Before you can deal with the complete MCPD exam, you should finish two 'MCTS' programs first of all. If perhaps programming is going to be new to you, it's a good idea to begin with a programming introduction course first of all - regardless of the fact Microsoft brand their 1st module a 'foundation module'. It is also generally sensible to gain a support certification before both of these, so that a good idea of software environments and software support can be gained. A support accreditation will allow you to to obtain your 1st I.T. role. Average training periods would possibly be close to 600-700 hrs for a complete career-track, & so you would usually plan for 12 - 18m of part time training.

Far too many companies are all about the certification, and completely miss what you actually need - which is a commercial career or job. Your focus should start with the end in mind - too many people focus on the journey. Never let yourself become one of those unfortunate students who set off on a track that on the surface appears interesting - only to end up with a qualification for a career they'll never really get any satisfaction from.

Prioritise understanding what expectations industry may have of you. What qualifications you'll need and how you'll build your experience level. It's also worth spending time considering how far you wish to go as it will often control your selection of accreditations. Seek advice from a skilled advisor, even if you have to pay - it's considerably cheaper and safer to find out at the beginning whether something is going to suit and interest you, instead of finding out after 2 years that the job you've chosen is not for you and have to start from the beginning again.

Looking at the myriad of choice out there, there's no surprise that the majority of students balk at what job they will enjoy. Since in the absence of any solid background in the IT industry, in what way could we be expected to understand what anyone doing a particular job actually does? Often, the key to unlocking this predicament correctly stems from a thorough talk over a variety of topics:

- Personality plays a significant part - what gives you a 'kick', and what are the activities that ruin your day.

- Are you hoping to get certified because of a precise raison d'etre - for instance, are you pushing to work based from home (self-employment possibly?)?

- Is your income higher on your priority-list than anything else.

- With everything that IT covers, you'll need to be able to see what is different.

- It's wise to spend some time thinking about the amount of time and effort you're going to give to your training.

For most of us, sifting through all these ideas tends to require the help of an experienced pro who knows what they're talking about. Not only the certifications - you also need to understand the commercial expectations and needs of industry too.

You should only consider study programs which will lead to industry acknowledged accreditations. There are way too many minor schools promoting minor 'in-house' certificates which are worthless when you start your job-search. All the major IT organisations like Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco all have internationally renowned proficiency programs. These heavyweights will ensure your employability.

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