By Jason Kendall

As your research has brought you here it's probable that you'd like to enter the world of computers and an MCSE certificate appeals to you, or you could already be in IT and you're aware that you need a qualification such as MCSE.

Be sure you check that your provider is educating you on the latest level of Microsoft development. Many trainees have come unstuck when it turns out they have been studying for an outdated MCSE program which now needs updating. A company's mission statement must be centred on the best thing for their clients, and the whole company should care about what they do. Studying isn't simply about qualifications - the process should be all about assisting you in working on the best action plan for your future.

Don't forget: the training course or a qualification is not what you're looking for; a job that you want to end up in is. A lot of colleges seem to place too much importance on the qualification itself. Students often train for a single year but end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Ensure you avoid the fatal error of choosing what sounds like an 'interesting' course only to spend 20 years doing something you don't even enjoy!

Take time to understand what your attitude is towards earning potential, career development, plus your level of ambition. It's vital to know what will be expected of you, which certifications are required and how you'll gain real-world experience. Talk to an experienced professional that knows about the sector you're looking at, and could provide a detailed description of what tasks are going to make up a typical day for you. Getting to the bottom of all this well before you start on any study programme will prevent a lot of wasted time and effort.

You have to be sure that all your accreditations are commercially valid and current - don't even consider studies that only give in-house certificates. Only fully recognised examinations from the top companies like Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe and Cisco will open the doors to employers.

Huge changes are about to hit technology as we approach the second decade of the 21st century - and it becomes more and more thrilling each day. It's a common misapprehension that the technological advancement we've had over recent years is easing off. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have yet to experience incredible advances, and the internet particularly will be the most effective tool in our lives.

Always remember that the average salary in the IT market throughout this country is a lot more than in other market sectors, which means you will be in a good position to receive much more as a trained IT professional, than you'd get in most other industries. Experts agree that there's a great UK-wide demand for trained and qualified IT technicians. It follows that as the industry constantly develops, it is likely there will be for a good while yet.

A service provided by many trainers is a Job Placement Assistance program. The service is put in place to steer you into your first IT role. Ultimately it isn't a complex operation to get the right work - assuming you're well trained and qualified; employers in this country need your skills.

However, don't wait till you have qualified before getting your CV updated. As soon as you start a course, enter details of your study programme and get it out there! You might not even have taken your exams when you land your first junior support role; but this isn't going to happen unless your CV is with employers. Generally, you'll receive better performance from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than you'll get from a course provider's recruitment division, as they will understand the local industry and employment needs.

A good number of people, it seems, conscientiously work through their course materials (sometimes for years), only to give up at the first hurdle when attempting to secure a good job. Introduce yourself... Do everything you can to let employers know about you. Don't expect a job to just fall into your lap.

An effective package of training should have fully authorised exam preparation packages. As most IT examining boards tend to be American, you need to become familiar with their phraseology. It's not sufficient just answering any old technical questions - they have to be in the same format as the actual exams. Always ask for testing modules that will allow you to check your comprehension at any point. Practice exams prepare you properly - so the real thing isn't quite as scary.

About the Author:

0 comments