Computer and network support workers are more and more in demand in this country, as institutions are becoming more reliant upon their knowledge and ability to fix and repair. As we’re all becoming massively more reliant on technology, we also become increasingly more reliant upon the technically knowledgeable IT professionals, who ensure the systems function properly.

Getting into your first IT role can feel more straightforward if you’re supported with a Job Placement Assistance service. With the great skills shortage in Britain at the moment, there’s no need to become overly impressed with this service however. It’s actually not as hard as some people make out to find your first job once you’re trained and certified.

You would ideally have CV and Interview advice and support though; also we would encourage everyone to update their CV the day they start training – don’t put it off until you’ve graduated or passed any exams.

Quite often, you’ll secure your initial job while you’re still a student (occasionally right at the beginning). If you haven’t updated your CV to say what you’re studying (and it hasn’t been posted on jobsites) then you don’t stand a chance!

Normally you’ll get better results from a specialist locally based employment agency than any training provider’s recruitment division, as they’ll know local industry and the area better.

Many trainees, so it seems, put a great deal of effort into their studies (sometimes for years), only to do nothing special when attempting to secure a good job. Promote yourself… Do everything you can to let employers know about you. A job isn’t just going to bump into you.

It’s quite a normal occurrence for students not to check on a vitally important element – the way their training provider actually breaks down and delivers the courseware elements, and into what particular chunks.

Drop-shipping your training elements piece by piece, as you pass each exam is the typical way that your program will arrive. This sounds sensible, but you must understand the following:

It’s not unusual for trainees to realise that the trainer’s standard order of study is not what they would prefer. They might find varying the order of study will be far more suitable. And what if you don’t get to the end in the allotted time?

To be honest, the best solution is to have a copy of their prescribed order of study, but get everything up-front. Everything is then in your possession in case you don’t finish inside of their required time-scales.

A fatal Faux-Pas that we encounter all too often is to concentrate on the course itself, instead of focusing on the end result they want to achieve. Colleges are full of students who took a course because it seemed fun – instead of the program that would surely get them an enjoyable career or job.

Never let yourself become part of the group who choose a training program that on the surface appears interesting – and end up with a plaque on the wall for a career they’ll never really get any satisfaction from.

You’ll want to understand the expectations of your industry. Which precise exams you’ll need and in what way you can gain some industry experience. Spend some time considering how far you wish to progress your career as it will affect your choice of qualifications.

As a precursor to beginning a particular training program, it makes sense to talk through individual market needs with an experienced industry professional, so as to be sure the training program covers all that is required.

It’s likely that you’re a practical sort of person – a ‘hands-on’ individual. If you’re like us, the unfortunate chore of reading reference guides is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you’d hate it. Consider interactive, multimedia study if book-based learning really isn’t your style.

Research into the way we learn shows that memory is aided when we use all our senses, and we put into practice what we’ve been studying.

Locate a program where you’ll get a host of DVD-ROM’s – you’ll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, with the facility to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions.

Always insist on a demonstration of the study materials from your training provider. You’ll want to see instructor videos, demonstrations, slide-shows and virtual practice lab’s for your new skills.

Often, companies will only use purely on-line training; while you can get away with this much of the time, consider how you’ll deal with it if your access to the internet is broken or you get slow speeds and down-time etc. It’s much safer to rely on physical CD or DVD discs that removes the issue entirely.

(C) Jason Kendall. Check out www.ccnatraining4.co.uk for excellent information on Computer Training & Cisco Courses.