As you've arrived here it's probable that you're about to make a move into the great world of IT and you've heard good things about MCSE's, or you're already a professional and it's apparent that the next stage is a qualification such as MCSE.

When looking into training colleges, steer clear of any that short-change you by not upgrading their courses to the latest Microsoft version. In the long-run, this will frustrate and cost the student a lot more because they've been taught from an out-of-date syllabus which will require an up-date pretty much straight away. A computer training organisation's attention must be based upon doing the most for their students, and the whole company should care about getting things right. Career study isn't just about passing exams - it should initially look at helping you work out the most valid way forward for you.

Finding your first job in the industry can feel more straightforward with the help of a Job Placement Assistance service. However sometimes there is more emphasis than is necessary on this service, because it's relatively easy for a well trained and motivated person to find a job in this industry - because there's a great need for well trained people.

Help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews may be available (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). Be sure to you work on your old CV right away - not after you've qualified! Getting your CV considered is far better than not even being known about. Often junior support jobs are given to people who are still at an early stage in their studies. The best services to help you land that job are most often specialised and independent recruitment consultants. Because they get paid commission to place you, they have the necessary incentive to try that bit harder.

A slight aggravation for a number of training providers is how much trainees are focused on studying to pass exams, but how little effort that student will then put into getting the position they've studied for. Get out there and hustle - you might find it's fun.

So, why should we consider commercially accredited qualifications and not the usual academic qualifications gained through schools, colleges or universities? With a growing demand for specific technological expertise, the IT sector has of necessity moved to specific, honed-in training that can only be obtained from the actual vendors - that is companies such as Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA. Frequently this is at a far reduced cost both money and time wise. They do this through concentrating on the skill-sets required (along with a proportionate degree of associated knowledge,) as opposed to spending months and years on the background 'extras' that academic courses are prone to get tied up in - to fill a three or four year course.

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty: Accredited IT qualifications give employers exactly what they're looking for - the title says it all: i.e. I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Infrastructure'. Therefore an employer can identify exactly what they need and which qualifications are required to perform the job.

One area often overlooked by trainees thinking about a course is the concept of 'training segmentation'. This basically means the method used to break up the program for timed release to you, which can make a dramatic difference to what you end up with. Trainees may consider it sensible (with a typical time scale of 1-3 years to gain full certified status,) for many training providers to send out one module at a time, until you've passed all the exams. Although: What happens when you don't complete every single section? What if you don't find their order of learning is ideal for you? Because of nothing that's your fault, you may go a little slower and therefore not end up with all the modules.

For maximum flexibility and safety, it's normal for most trainees to have all their training materials (which they've now paid for) posted to them in one go, with nothing held back. That means it's down to you how fast or slow and in what order you want to work.

Charging for exam fees as an inclusive element of the package price and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams is popular with many companies. Consider the facts:

You'll pay for it ultimately. It certainly isn't free - it's simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole. Those who take each progressive exam, funding them one at a time are far more likely to pass first time. They are thoughtful of what they've paid and revise more thoroughly to make sure they're ready.

Why pay the training company early for exam fees? Hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you're ready, rather than pay marked up fees - and take it closer to home - not at somewhere of their bidding. Big margins are made by a number of companies that get money upfront for exam fees. Many students don't take them for one reason or another but the company keeps the money. Amazingly, providers exist that depend on students not taking their exams - and that's how they increase their profits. The majority of companies will require you to sit pre-tests and not allow you to re-take an exam until you have proved to them you have a good chance of passing - which makes an 'Exam Guarantee' frankly useless.

VUE and Prometric examinations are currently clocking in at an average of 112 pounds in Great Britain. Why pay exorbitant 'Exam Guarantee' fees (most often hidden in the package) - when a quality course, support and exam preparation systems and a dose of commitment and effort are what's required.

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