Computer and network support staff are ever more sought after in the United Kingdom, as organisations have come to depend on their technical advice and ability to fix and repair. Whereupon we’re all becoming massively more dependent on our PC’s, we simultaneously emerge as more dependent on the commercially qualified IT networkers, who keep the systems going.

Does job security really exist anymore? Here in the UK, with businesses changing their mind at alarming speeds, it seems increasingly unlikely. Security only exists now via a rapidly increasing market, driven forward by a shortage of trained workers. It’s this shortage that creates the appropriate setting for a secure market - a far better situation.

Using the Information Technology (IT) business for example, the 2006 e-Skills investigation demonstrated major skills shortages throughout the United Kingdom in excess of 26 percent. Put directly, we only have the national capacity to fill just three out of each 4 job positions in the computing industry. This glaring fact clearly demonstrates the requirement for more properly certified computing professionals in the United Kingdom. While the market is evolving at the speed it is, is there any other market worth investigating for a new future.

How can we go about making a good choice then? With all these possibilities, it’s important to know where to investigate - and what it is we should be digging for.

A fatal Faux-Pas that students everywhere can make is to choose a career based on a course, rather than starting with the end result they want to achieve. Colleges are stacked to the hilt with direction-less students that chose an ‘interesting’ course - rather than what would get them the job they want. You may train for one year and then end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don’t make the mistake of taking what may be an ‘interesting’ course and then spend decades in a job you hate!

Be honest with yourself about how much you want to earn and whether you’re an ambitious person or not. Often, this changes which particular qualifications will be expected and what’ll be expected of you in your new role. Chat with a skilled advisor who has a commercial understanding of the realities faced in the industry, and could provide an in-depth explanation of what tasks are going to make up a typical day for you. Researching these areas before commencement of any training path makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?

Training support for students is an absolute must - ensure you track down something that includes 24×7 access, as not obtaining this level of support will severely impede your ability to learn. Avoid those companies who use messaging services ‘out-of-hours’ - with your call-back scheduled for standard office hours. This is useless when you’re stuck and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.

The best trainers have many support offices active in different time-zones. Online access provides the interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, no matter what time you login, help is at hand, without any contact issues or hassle. If you opt for less than support round-the-clock, you’ll regret it. You may avoid using the support late at night, but consider weekends, late evenings or early mornings

The classroom style of learning we remember from school, using textbooks and whiteboards, is often a huge slog for most of us. If you’re nodding as you read this, look for learning programmes which feature interactive and multimedia modules. Research into the way we learn shows that memory is aided when we involve as many senses as possible, and we put into practice what we’ve been studying.

Fully interactive motion videos utilising video demo’s and practice lab’s beat books hands-down. And you’ll find them fun and interesting. All companies must be able to demonstrate a few examples of the materials provided for study. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and a wide selection of interactive elements.

Some companies only have access to just online versions of their training packages; and although this is okay the majority of the time, imagine the problems if you lose your internet access or you get slow speeds and down-time etc. It’s preferable to have CD and DVD ROM materials which will solve that problem.

Many people question why traditional academic studies are less in demand than the more commercial qualifications? With the costs of academic degree’s climbing ever higher, along with the IT sector’s general opinion that accreditation-based training is often far more commercially relevant, we have seen a big surge in Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA accredited training paths that supply key solutions to a student at a fraction of the cost and time involved. University courses, for example, can often get caught up in a great deal of loosely associated study - with a syllabus that’s far too wide. This holds a student back from learning the core essentials in sufficient depth.

Imagine if you were an employer - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What’s the simplest way to find the right person: Trawl through reams of different degrees and college qualifications from various applicants, asking for course details and which vocational skills they’ve acquired, or choose particular accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and then choose your interviewees based around that. You’ll then be able to concentrate on getting a feel for the person at interview - rather than on the depth of their technical knowledge.

A key training package will undoubtedly also offer Microsoft (or key company) simulation materials and exam preparation packages. Don’t go for training programs depending on unauthorised exam papers and questions. The type of questions asked can be completely unlike authorised versions - and sometimes this can be a real headache when it comes to taking the real exam. Clearly, it is vital to make sure you’re absolutely ready for your actual certification exam before embarking on it. Rehearsing simulated tests logs the information in your brain and will avoid you getting frustrated with thwarted exam entries.

Many training companies will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance program, to help you get your first job. The honest truth is that it’s not as hard as some people make out to secure a job - once you’re trained and certified; the shortage of IT personnel in Britain looks after that.

However, what is relevant is to have CV and Interview advice and support though; additionally, we would recommend all students to update their CV right at the beginning of their training - don’t wait for when you’re ready to start work. You may not have got to the stage where you’ve qualified when you land your first junior support position; however this is not possible if interviewers don’t get sight of your CV. Normally you’ll get better results from a specialist independent regional employment service than you’ll get from a training company’s recruitment division, as they will understand the local industry and employment needs.

A common grievance for a number of training course providers is how much students are focused on studying to get top marks in their exams, but how un-prepared they are to work on getting the position they’re studied for. Get out there and hustle - you might find it’s fun.

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