A fraction of the working population in the United Kingdom are happy with what they do for a living. Inevitably, huge numbers will just stay there. The reality of your getting here surely means that you're considering or may be ready for a change.

We'd politely request that before you start any study program, you chat with an expert who knows the industry and can give you advice. The right person will be able to assess your personal likes and dislikes and help you find your ideal job to train for:

* Do you operate better working alone or is being part of a team an important option?

* What criteria are fundamentally important with regard to the sector of industry you hope to work in?

* Should this be a one off time that you will need more qualifications?

* Will this new qualification give you the chance to get a good job, and be gainfully employed until you wish to retire?

The most significant market sector in the UK to meet the above criteria is the computer industry, particularly IT. There's a shortage of skilled technicians in this market, just check out any job site and there'll be a long list. Don't let people tell you it's all nerdy people looking at their computerscreens every day - it's much more diverse than that. Most of workers in IT are ordinary people, with jobs they enjoy and better than average salaries.

The perhaps intimidating chore of landing your first IT job is often eased by some companies, via a Job Placement Assistance service. It can happen though that there is more emphasis than is necessary on this service, because it's really not that difficult for well qualified and focused men and women to find a job in this industry - as employers are keen to find appropriately trained staff.

You would ideally have help with your CV and interview techniques though; also we would encourage everyone to work on polishing up their CV as soon as they start a course - don't delay till you've finished your exams. You might not even have got to the exam time when you land your first junior support role; although this can't and won't happen unless your CV is with employers. Actually, a specialist independent regional recruitment consultant or service (who will get paid by the employer when they've placed you) will perform better than any recruitment division from a training organisation. In addition, they will no doubt know local industry and the area better.

Just ensure you don't spend hundreds of hours on your training and studies, and then just stop and leave it in the hands of the gods to secure your first position. Stand up for yourself and get out there. Put as much time and energy into getting your new role as it took to get qualified.

Technology and IT is one of the more electrifying and revolutionary industries you could be involved with. Being up close and personal with technology is to be a part of the massive changes affecting everyone who lives in the 21st century. Technology, computers and communication via the internet is going to spectacularly change the direction of our lives in the near future; profoundly so.

Let's not ignore salaries either - the income on average over this country as a whole for a typical man or woman in IT is much more than in other market sectors. It's likely you'll bring in a much greater package than you could reasonably hope to get in other industries. It's no secret that there is a significant nationwide need for professionally qualified IT workers. Also, as growth in the industry shows little sign of contracting, it looks like this pattern will continue for the significant future.

Incorporating examination fees up-front and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams is popular with many training course providers. But let's examine why they really do it:

Obviously it isn't free - you're still footing the bill for it - the price has simply been included in the whole thing. The fact is that if students pay for their own exams, one by one, they'll be in a better position to pass first time - since they'll be conscious of the cost and will therefore apply themselves appropriately.

Isn't it in your interests to not pay up-front, but when you take the exam, not to pay the fees marked up by the training college, and to do it in a local testing office - instead of miles away at the college's beck and call? What's the point in paying early for exams when you didn't need to? A great deal of money is made by companies charging upfront for all their exams - and then cashing in when they're not all taken. The majority of companies will insist on pre-tests and hold you back from re-takes until you've completely proven that you're likely to pass - so an 'Exam Guarantee' comes with many clauses in reality.

VUE and Prometric examinations are around 112 pounds in Great Britain. What's the point of paying huge 'Exam Guarantee' costs (usually wrapped up in the course package price) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools are actually the key to your success.

You should look for an authorised exam preparation system as part of your course package. Confirm that the practice exams are not just posing the correct questions in the right areas, but are also posing them in the way the real exams will pose them. This completely unsettles trainees if the phraseology and format is completely different. 'Mock' or practice exams will prove very useful as a tool for logging knowledge into your brain - so much so, that at your actual exams, you don't get uptight.

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