Make sure you don't get caught-up, as many people do, on the certification itself. Your training isn't about getting a plaque on your wall; this is about employment. You need to remain focused on where you want to go. It's unfortunate, but a large percentage of students commence training that sounds wonderful in the sales literature, but which provides the end-result of a job that doesn't satisfy. Speak to a selection of university students for examples.

Get to grips with the income level you aspire to and the level of your ambition. This can often control which precise exams you will need and what industry will expect from you in return. We recommend that students look for advice and guidance from a professional advisor before you begin a training course, so there's no doubt that the content of a learning package provides the skill-set required for your career choice.

The typical profile of a database-administrator or Developer is somebody who is extremely exact, is very well disciplined and thorough, & can effectively work either by themselves or as part of a small team. The work regularly will involve reporting to company managers, and so self-assured communication skills are required. Security is a growing matter as a large amount of highly sensitive data is taken & held - making Database work very responsible. Employers seek out individuals with some integrity that they can trust 100 percent, and a number of institutions will actually require you to get security clearance before giving you a position. Accountancy and business 'process' workers thrive in this arena, & quite a few proceed on to more senior management roles, as a robust understanding of the information that drives a profitable business can bring about greater opportunity for promotion.

Many men and women assume that the school and FE college system is still the most effective. So why are commercial certificates becoming more in demand? As we require increasingly more effective technological know-how, the IT sector has moved to the specialised training that the vendors themselves supply - namely companies like Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA. Often this saves time and money for the student. Academic courses, for example, often get bogged down in too much loosely associated study - with much too broad a syllabus. Students are then held back from getting enough core and in-depth understanding on a specific area.

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty: Authorised IT qualifications let employers know exactly what you're capable of - the title is a complete giveaway: for example, I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Infrastructure'. Consequently companies can identify just what their needs are and what certifications are needed for the job.

Some training providers will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance facility, to help you get your first job. With the massive skills shortage in Great Britain right now, it's not necessary to get too caught up in this feature though. It isn't such a complex operation to land a job once you're trained and certified.

Work on polishing up your CV right away however (advice can be sought on this via your provider). Don't procrastinate and leave it for when you're ready to start work. You may not have got to the stage where you've got to the exam time when you land your first junior support position; although this is not possible unless you've posted your CV on job sites. Generally, you'll receive quicker service from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than you will through a course provider's recruitment division, because they'll know local industry and the area better.

Many students, apparently, invest a great deal of time on their training course (sometimes for years), only to do nothing special when trying to get a good job. Introduce yourself... Do your best to let employers know about you. A job isn't just going to bump into you.

Looking around, we find an excess of job availability in the IT industry. Finding the particular one for yourself is generally problematic. What chances do most of us have of understanding the many facets of a particular career if we've never been there? Most likely we have never met anyone who is in that area at all. Ultimately, an informed answer really only appears through a systematic study of many changing factors:

- Personalities play an important role - what gives you a 'kick', and what are the areas that put a frown on your face.

- Is it your desire to reach a closely held aim - for instance, becoming self-employed someday?

- Where is the salary on a scale of importance - is it of prime importance, or is day-to-day enjoyment a little higher on your priority-list?

- Understanding what the main work types and sectors are - and what makes them different.

- What effort, commitment and time you're prepared to set aside for getting qualified.

To be honest, it's obvious that the only real way to research these areas tends to be through a good talk with someone that has years of experience in the IT industry (and more importantly it's commercial needs and requirements.)

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