If we didn't have a regular deluge of qualified network and computer support personnel, industry in the UK (as elsewhere) could well grind to a halt. Consequently, there's a huge demand for technicians to support systems and users alike. Whereupon we become progressively beholden to advanced technology, we also emerge as more reliant on the well trained IT networkers, who ensure the systems function properly.

Don't accept anything less than accredited simulation materials and an exam preparation system as part of your training package. Avoid relying on non-official exam preparation questions. The way they're phrased is often somewhat different - and this could lead to potential problems when it comes to taking the real exam. Be sure to ask for testing modules so you'll be able to verify your comprehension along the way. Practice or 'mock' exams add to your knowledge bank - so you're much more at ease with the real thing.

The somewhat scary thought of finding your first IT job can be made easier by training colleges, through a Job Placement Assistance facility. In reality it's not as hard as some people make out to secure employment - once you're trained and certified; because there's still a great need for IT skills in the UK today.

Advice and support about getting interviews and your CV is sometimes offered (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). Ensure you bring your CV right up to date straight away - don't leave it till you pass the exams! It can happen that you haven't even passed your first exam when you land your first junior support position; although this can't and won't happen unless you've posted your CV on job sites. If you'd like to get employment in your home town, then you'll probably find that a specialist locally based employment agency could serve you better than some national concern, because they're far more likely to be familiar with the local job scene.

Just ensure you don't conscientiously work through your course materials, then call a halt and leave it up to everyone else to secure your first position. Take responsibility for yourself and get on with the job. Channel the same focus into finding a good job as you did to gain the skills.

If you're like many of the students we talk to then you've always enjoyed practical work - the 'hands-on' person. If you're like us, the unfortunate chore of reading reference guides can be just about bared when essential, but you'd hate it. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if book-based learning really isn't your style. Memory is vastly improved when we use multiple senses - this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for as long as we can remember.

Study programs now come via DVD-ROM discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Through video streaming, you are able to see your instructors showing you how it's all done, and then practice yourself - with interactive lab sessions. It would be silly not to view some examples of the kind of training materials you'll be using before you purchase a course. You should expect video tutorials, instructor demo's and interactive audio-visual sections with practice modules.

Often, companies will only use just online versions of their training packages; and although this is okay the majority of the time, think what will happen if you lose your internet access or you get slow speeds and down-time etc. It's much safer to rely on DVD or CD discs which don't suffer from these broadband issues.

You have to be sure that all your exams are current and commercially required - you're wasting your time with programs that lead to in-house certificates. The main industry leaders such as Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA all have nationally renowned proficiency programs. These heavyweights will give some sparkle to your CV.

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