Considering an MCSE? Then it's likely that you'll fall into one of two camps: You are a knowledgeable person and you need to formalise your skill set with a qualification such as MCSE. Instead you could be completely new to the computer world, and you've found that there's a growing demand for those with appropriate certifications.

As you discover more about training companies, don't use any that short-change you by not upgrading their courses to the most up-to-date Microsoft version. Over time, this will end up costing the student a lot more due to the fact that they've been educated in an out-of-date syllabus which inevitably will have to be up-dated very quickly. Training colleges ought to be dedicated to offering the correct route for their students. Directing study is equally about guiding people on establishing which way to go, as it is helping to help them get there.

Typically, a new trainee will not know to ask about a vitally important element - how their training provider breaks up the courseware sections, and into how many separate packages. Usually, you will join a program taking 1-3 years and receive one element at a time until graduation. This sounds logical on one level, until you consider this: What could you expect if you didn't actually complete each and every module at the speed they required? Often the staged order won't fit you as well as an alternative path could be.

To be in the best situation you would have all your study materials delivered to your home before you even start; the entire package! This prevents any future issues from rising that will affect your capacity to get everything done.

Many trainees presume that the traditional school, college or university track is still the most effective. Why then are commercial certificates becoming more popular with employers? As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, the IT sector has been required to move to the specialised core-skills learning that the vendors themselves supply - for example companies like Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe. Often this saves time and money for the student. University courses, for instance, clog up the training with vast amounts of background study - with a syllabus that's far too wide. This prevents a student from getting enough core and in-depth understanding on a specific area.

As long as an employer knows what they're looking for, then they simply need to advertise for someone with a specific qualification. Commercial syllabuses are set to exacting standards and aren't allowed to deviate (like academia frequently can and does).

One fatal mistake that we encounter all too often is to concentrate on the course itself, instead of focusing on the end result they want to achieve. Universities are full of unaware students who chose a course based on what sounded good - instead of the program that would surely get them an enjoyable career or job. It's a sad testimony to the sales skills of many companies, but thousands of new students start out on programs that sound wonderful in the marketing materials, but which gets us a career that is of no interest at all. Talk to many college students and you'll see where we're coming from.

Get to grips with how much you want to earn and what level of ambition fits you. This will influence which particular qualifications you will need and what industry will expect from you in return. Look for help from an experienced advisor that appreciates the market you're interested in, and is able to give you 'A typical day in the life of' understanding of what kinds of tasks you'll be undertaking with each working day. It makes good sense to ensure you're on the right track before your course begins. There's little point in starting to train and then realise you've made a huge mistake.

Students hopeful to begin a career in IT normally aren't sure which direction they should take, let alone what sector to get qualified in. As with no commercial skills in the IT industry, how should we possibly know what anyone doing a particular job actually does? Consideration of the following issues is required when you need to dig down the right solution that will work for you:

* The kind of individual you consider yourself to be - the tasks that you really enjoy, and on the other side of the coin - what makes you unhappy.

* Are you hoping to get qualified because of a specific motive - e.g. are you pushing to work based at home (being your own boss?)?

* Is your income higher on your priority-scale than anything else.

* With so many markets to choose from in IT - there's a need to pick up some background information on what differentiates them.

* Having a serious look at the level of commitment, time and effort you'll make available.

To completely side-step the industry jargon, and find the best path to success, have a good talk with an advisor with years of experience; someone that appreciates and can explain the commercial realities as well as each accreditation.

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