Are you toying with the idea of doing an MCSE? It’s very possible then that it’s likely you’ll come into one of two categories: You’re currently an IT professional and you’d like to gain accreditation with the Microsoft qualification. Alternatively you might be just about to enter the IT environment, and you’ve found that there are many opportunities for certified networking professionals.

When researching MCSE’s, you’ll hit upon training companies that lower their out-goings by failing to provide the latest version from Microsoft. Avoid such training providers as you will face problems at exam time. If you are studying the wrong version, it will make it very difficult to pass.

Don’t get bullied into a course without the right advice. Find a training provider that will make sure that you’re on an appropriate training track for your requirements.

A study programme really needs to work up to a nationally (or globally) recognised certification as an end-result – definitely not some ‘in-house’ plaque for your wall.

You’ll find that only recognised certification from companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe and CompTIA will open the doors to employers.

A service that many training companies provide is job placement assistance. This is to assist your search for your first position. The need for this feature can be bigged up out of proportion though – it’s quite easy for eager sales people to overplay it. The fact of the matter is, the still growing need for IT personnel in the UK is why employers will be interested in you.

Update your CV at the beginning of your training though – look to your training company for advice on how to do this. Don’t procrastinate and leave it for when you’re ready to start work.

Getting onto the ‘maybe’ pile of CV’s is more than not being known. Many junior positions are offered to students who are still at an early stage in their studies.

Generally, a specialist locally based employment service (who will get paid commission to place you) will perform better than any division of a training company. They should, of course, also know the local industry and employment needs.

To bottom line it, if you put the same amount of effort into securing your first job as into training, you won’t find it too challenging. Some people bizarrely spend hundreds of hours on their training and studies and do nothing more once they’ve passed their exams and seem to expect employers to find them.

We’re often asked why traditional degrees are less in demand than the more commercial qualifications?

Industry is of the opinion that for an understanding of the relevant skills, certified accreditation supplied for example by Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe most often has much more specialised relevance – and a fraction of the cost and time.

University courses, for instance, can often get caught up in a lot of loosely associated study – and much too wide a syllabus. Students are then prevented from learning the core essentials in sufficient depth.

Assuming a company is aware what they’re looking for, then all it takes is an advert for the particular skill-set required. The syllabuses are set to exacting standards and can’t change from one establishment to the next (as academic syllabuses often do).

One thing you must always insist on is 24×7 round-the-clock support via professional mentors and instructors. So many companies we come across will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend.

Be wary of any training providers which use ‘out-of-hours’ call-centres – with the call-back coming in during standard office hours. It’s not a lot of help when you’ve got study issues and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.

World-class organisations utilise an online access round-the-clock system combining multiple support operations throughout multiple time-zones. You’ll have an easy to use environment which accesses the most appropriate office at any time of day or night: Support available as-and-when you want it.

You can’t afford to accept anything less. Direct-access round-the-clock support is the only kind to make the grade for technical training. It’s possible you don’t intend to study late evenings; often though, we’re out at work during the provided support period.

(C) Scott Edwards 2009. Look at HTML Training or www.INeedANewCareer.co.uk/LINANC.html.