By Jason Kendall

Cisco training is the way to go for those who need to know all about routers and switches. Routers join up computer networks over the internet or lines dedicated for that purpose. We'd recommend that you should first attempt CCNA. Don't be tempted to go straight for your CCNP as it's a considerable step up - and you'll need the CCNA and experience first to have a go at this.

As routers are connected to networks, find a course that features the basics on networks - perhaps Network+ and A+, and then do a CCNA course. It's vital that you've got a basic grasp of networks prior to starting your Cisco training or the chances are you'll fall behind. In the commercial environment, employers will be looking for networking skills in addition to the CCNA.

If you haven't yet had any experience of routers, then studying up to CCNA is more than enough - at this stage avoid being tempted to do the CCNP. With a few years experience behind you, you can decide if it's relevant for you to have this next level up.

One thing you must always insist on is proper direct-access 24x7 support via trained professional instructors and mentors. It's an all too common story to find providers that will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend.

Don't buy training courses that only support trainees through a message system after 6-9pm in the evening and during weekends. Colleges will give you every excuse in the book why you don't need this. The bottom line is - you need support when you need support - not when it's convenient for them.

The best training colleges tend to use an online round-the-clock system involving many support centres across the globe. You will be provided with an interface which accesses the most appropriate office any time of the day or night: Support when it's needed.

Seek out an educator that is worth purchasing from. Only true live 24x7 round-the-clock support gives you the confidence to make it.

So many training providers are all about the certification, and completely miss the reasons for getting there - getting yourself a new job or career. Always begin with the final destination in mind - don't make the vehicle more important than the destination.

Students often train for a single year but end up doing a job for a lifetime. Avoid the mistake of finding what seems like a program of interest to you only to spend 20 years doing a job you don't like!

Take time to understand how you feel about career development, earning potential, and how ambitious you are. You should understand what the role will demand of you, which certifications are needed and how you'll gain real-world experience.

Before setting out on a training course, you'd be well advised to chat over individual market requirements with an experienced advisor, to ensure the training course covers all the bases.

It's likely that you're quite practically minded - the 'hands-on' individual. Usually, the trial of reading reference books and manuals would be considered as a last resort, but you really wouldn't enjoy it. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if book-based learning really isn't your style.

Where possible, if we can study while utilising as many senses as possible, then the results are usually dramatically better.

Modern training can now be done at home via self-contained CD or DVD materials. Instructor-led tutorials will mean you'll find things easier to remember via the expert demonstrations. Then you test your knowledge by using practice-lab's.

You must ensure that you see courseware examples from the company you're considering. Be sure that they contain full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab's to practice the skills in.

Some companies only have access to training that is purely available online; sometimes you can get away with this - but, imagine the problems if you lose your internet access or you get intermittent problems and speed issues. A safer solution is the provision of physical CD or DVD discs that removes the issue entirely.

Does job security really exist anymore? In a marketplace like the UK, where business constantly changes its mind on a day-to-day basis, it seems increasingly unlikely.

Where there are escalating skills shortfalls mixed with high demand areas of course, we can hit upon a fresh type of security in the marketplace; where, fuelled by the conditions of constant growth, companies find it hard to locate enough staff.

The 2006 UK e-Skills survey highlighted that twenty six percent of IT jobs are unfilled mainly due to a chronic shortage of properly qualified workers. Quite simply, we can't properly place more than 3 out of each four job positions in the computing industry.

This single concept alone highlights why the country desperately needs considerably more new trainees to become part of the industry.

We can't imagine if a better time or market circumstances is ever likely to exist for gaining qualification for this rapidly growing and developing sector.

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