What kind of things do you expect the top of the range training companies certified by Microsoft to provide a trainee in this country currently? Obviously, the very best Gold Partner Microsoft certified training tracks, supplying a portfolio of courses to lead you to a variety of careers in the IT workplace. Maybe you'd choose to discuss the job possibilities with a training advisor - and if you haven't come to a decision, then take counsel on which area of the industry would work for you, dependent on your personality. Courses must be tailored to match your current skills and aptitude. So, after working out the most fruitful career for you, you'll then need to look at what is the relevant route to see you into your career.

Most commercial training providers will only provide support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later; very few go late in the evening or at weekends. Never buy training that only supports you via a message system outside of normal office hours. Trainers will defend this with all kinds of excuses. The bottom line is - you want support at the appropriate time - not when it's convenient for them.

The very best training providers incorporate three or four individual support centres active in different time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to seamlessly link them all together, at any time you choose, there is always help at hand, without any contact issues or hassle. You can't afford to accept a lower level of service. Direct-access round-the-clock support is really your only option for computer-based study. Maybe late-evening study is not your thing; often though, we're at work while the support is live.

Locating job security in this economic down-turn is very rare. Businesses can drop us from the workplace at a moment's notice - as and when it suits them. Wherever we find increasing skills deficits and escalating demand though, we always reveal a newly emerging type of security in the marketplace; driven forward by the constant growth conditions, organisations just can't get the staff required.

Reviewing the Information Technology (IT) business, a key e-Skills investigation demonstrated a more than 26 percent shortage in trained professionals. To explain it in a different way, this clearly demonstrates that Great Britain only has 3 trained people for every 4 jobs in existence currently. This distressing idea shows the validity and need for more commercially trained computing professionals across the UK. Because the IT sector is growing at the speed it is, could there honestly be a better market worth taking into account for a new future.

It's likely that you probably enjoy fairly practical work - the 'hands-on' personality type. If you're like us, the unfortunate chore of reading reference guides would be considered as a last resort, but you really wouldn't enjoy it. You should use video and multimedia based materials if you'd really rather not use books. Years of research and study has consistently confirmed that connecting physically with our study, is much more conducive to long-term memory.

Search for a course where you're provided with an array of DVD-ROM's - you'll learn by watching video tutorials and demonstrations, and be able to use virtual lab's to practice your new skills. Make sure to obtain a look at some courseware examples from the school that you're considering. The materials should incorporate expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and virtual practice lab's for your new skills.

You'll find that many companies will only provide online training only; and although this is okay the majority of the time, consider what happens if internet access is lost or you get a slow connection speed. A safer solution is the provision of physical CD or DVD discs that will solve that problem.

Several companies will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance service, to assist your search for your first position. Sometimes, there is more emphasis than is necessary on this service, for it is genuinely quite straightforward for a well trained and motivated person to land a job in this industry - because companies everywhere are seeking skilled employees.

Nevertheless, don't wait till you've passed your final exams before bringing your CV up to date. As soon as you start a course, enter details of your study programme and get promoting! It's possible that you won't have even taken your exams when you will get your initial junior support job; however this isn't going to happen if your CV isn't in front of employers. You can usually expect quicker service from an independent and specialised local recruitment consultancy than any training company's centralised service, because they will understand the local industry and employment needs.

A good number of students, it would appear, are prepared to study their hearts out (sometimes for years), and then just stop instead of trying to get the right position. Promote yourself... Make an effort to get yourself known. Good jobs don't just knock on your door.

Consider the following points and pay great regard to them if you believe the sales ploy of examination guarantees seems like a good idea:

Everybody's aware that they're ultimately paying for it - it's not so hard to see that it's already in the full cost of the package supplied by the course provider. Certainly, it's not a freebie (it's just marketing companies think we'll fall for anything they say!) If you want to qualify first 'go', then the most successful route is to avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, give it the necessary attention and apply yourself as required.

Do your exams somewhere close to home and go for the best offer you can find when you're ready. Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on exam fees when you don't need to? A great deal of money is made by companies charging all their exam fees up-front - and hoping either that you won't take them, or it will be a long time before you do. Pay heed to the fact that, in the majority of cases of 'exam guarantees' - the company decides when you are allowed to do a re-take. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company's say so.

With average Prometric and VUE examinations coming in at around 112 pounds in the UK, by far the best option is to pay for them as you take them. Not to fork out thousands extra in up-front costs. Consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.