Watch out that all qualifications you're considering doing are commercially relevant and are the most recent versions. The 'in-house' certifications provided by many companies are usually worthless. The main industry leaders such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco all have internationally recognised skills programmes. These heavyweights will make sure you're employable.

Lots of people come in to IT from very different jobs. This can mean different starting points, subject to prior experience and software-skill expertise. Moving on from here usually needs a chat with an industry advisor. In fact, if you are planning a career move, you ought to have this conversation before you undertake any certification - to confirm you are taking the correct track from the outset. Inadequate preparation can result in much frustration in the future, and cost you a good deal more money than was necessary!

Authorised exam simulation and preparation packages are a must - and must be offered by your training company. Be sure that the exams you practice haven't just got questions from the right areas, but also asking them in the way the real exams will pose them. It completely unsettles people if they're faced with unrecognisable phrases and formats. Ensure that you ask for testing modules that will allow you to test your comprehension whenever you need to. Practice exams log the information in your brain - so the real thing isn't quite as scary.

Generally, the starting point for a total beginner, who just would like to gain a simple idea of how to get more out of their computer, is the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL). Most home computer systems operate on a system known as 'Windows', and your "ECDL" covers how you can operate it's basic components. You can also get ti know about web-browsers (so you can surf the internet,) and e-mail software (so that you can be in contact with friends.) You'll also be taught the basic principles of word processing and a bit about what databases and spreadsheets are useful for.

The next stage is to do some more formalised instruction to improve your Curriculum Vitae or equip you for other functions at the office. The most common of these is more advanced training in 'Microsoft Office'. The main certifications are the 'Microsoft Office Specialist' (MOS) and the 'Microsoft Certified Application Specialist' ('MCAS'.) MOS has been around for several years and emphasises Office 2003 & 'XP', which is still well utilised commercially. 'MCAS' features 'Office' 2007 & 'Vista', so inevitably provides for greater longevity. You will find different examinations for each which test on 'Word', "Excel", "Powerpoint" and 'Access' - for 'word processing', spreadsheets, 'presentations' and data-bases. These qualifications will indicate to an employer that you are adequately skilled to use these applications to their maximum level.

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