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With so many computer training courses to be had, it's sometimes daunting to know what to look for. Find one that's in line with your character and abilities, and one that is in demand in the commercial world. There are so many directions you can go in. Some re-trainers simply want Microsoft user skills, others want career skills such as courses on Networking, Programming, Databases or Web Design - and all can be catered for. However, don't just guess. We'd advise you to share your ideas with an advisor who knows the computer industry, and can lead you down the right path.

By minimising their overheads, there are now companies offering up-to-the-minute courses with excellent training and assistance for much less than is asked for by old-style trainers.

Massive developments are coming via technology over the next few decades - and the industry becomes more ground-breaking every year. We've only just begun to scrape the surface of how technology is going to shape our lives. Technology and the web will profoundly revolutionise how we see and interact with the world around us over the next few years.

And don't forget that income in the IT industry throughout this country is considerably higher than average salaries nationally, so in general you'll most likely receive noticeably more with professional IT knowledge, than you could reasonably hope to achieve elsewhere. With the IT marketplace emerging with no sign of a slow-down, it's looking good that demand for certified IT professionals will flourish for a good while yet.

How can we reach the right choice then? With all these possibilities, we'll need to know where to search - and what it is we should be digging for.

Students hopeful to kick off a career in computers and technology generally aren't sure what path to consider, or what market to build their qualifications around. How can most of us possibly understand the tasks faced daily in an IT career when we've never done it? Maybe we haven't met someone who performs the role either. Achieving an informed resolution can only grow through a methodical analysis across many unique factors:

* Personality factors and what you're interested in - the sort of work-oriented areas you enjoy or dislike.

* Why you're looking at getting involved with Information Technology - is it to achieve some personal goal like working from home for instance.

* What priority do you place on job satisfaction vs salary?

* Many students don't properly consider the time demanded to get fully certified.

* The time and energy you're prepared to set aside for your training.

For the average person, getting to the bottom of these areas needs a long talk with an advisor who has direct industry experience. And we don't just mean the qualifications - but also the commercial needs and expectations of the market as well.

We can't make a big enough deal out of this point: You absolutely must have proper 24x7 instructor and mentor support. You'll definitely experience problems if you don't follow this rule rigidly. Never buy study programmes that only provide support to you through a message system when it's outside of usual working hours. Colleges will defend this with all kinds of excuses. The bottom line is - you want support at the appropriate time - not as-and-when it's suitable for their staff.

Keep looking and you'll come across the very best companies which provide their students direct-access online support around the clock - even in the middle of the night. Unless you insist on online 24x7 support, you'll quickly find yourself regretting it. You may avoid using the support throughout the night, but you may need weekends, late evenings or early mornings.

Those that are drawn to this type of work are usually quite practically-minded, and aren't really suited to the classroom environment, and slogging through piles of books. If you're thinking this sounds like you, try the newer style of interactive study, where you can learn everything on-screen. Learning psychology studies show that memory is aided when we involve as many senses as possible, and we get practically involved in what we're studying.

Start a study-program in which you'll get a host of CD or DVD ROM's - you'll be learning from instructor videos and demo's, and be able to use virtual lab's to practice your new skills. Make sure to obtain a study material demo' from the school that you're considering. The package should contain expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and virtual practice lab's for your new skills.

It doesn't make sense to select online only courseware. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from all internet service providers, you should always obtain CD or DVD ROM based materials.

One area often overlooked by new students considering a training program is 'training segmentation'. Essentially, this is the way the course is divided up for drop-shipping to you, which vastly changes the point you end up at. Individual deliveries for each training module piece by piece, as you complete each module is the normal way of receiving your courseware. This sounds sensible, but you must understand the following: Maybe the order of study insisted on by the company won't suit you. And what if you don't finish all the sections within their timetable?

Ideally, you'd get ALL the training materials right at the beginning - enabling you to have them all to return to any point - as and when you want. Variations can then be made to the order that you complete each objective if another more intuitive route presents itself.

A subtle way that colleges make a lot more is by charging for exams up-front and offering an exam guarantee. This sounds impressive, until you think it through:

It's become essential these days that we are a bit more aware of hype - and generally we cotton on to the fact that we are actually being charged for it - it's not because they're so generous they want to give something away! Students who go in for their examinations when it's appropriate, funding them as they go are much more likely to pass. They are conscious of their investment and so are more inclined to be ready for the task.

Look for the very best offer you can at the appropriate time, and avoid college mark-up fees. You'll also be able to choose where to do your exams - meaning you can choose a local testing centre. A great deal of money is secured by some training companies that get money for exam fees in advance. A number of students don't take them for various reasons but no refunds are given. Surprising as it sounds, there are companies around who actually rely on students not sitting all the exams - as that's very profitable for them. Pay heed to the fact that, with the majority of Exam Guarantees - the company decides when you can do your re-takes. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company's say so.

Splashing out often many hundreds of pounds extra on an 'Exam Guarantee' is short-sighted - when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is actually the key to your success.

Many trainers will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance program, to help you get your first job. But don't place too much emphasis on it - it's quite easy for their marketing department to make it sound harder than it is. The fact of the matter is, the massive skills shortage in Britain is the reason you'll find a job.

Help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews is sometimes offered (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). It's essential that you work on your old CV right away - not after you've qualified! Many junior support roles have been offered to students who're still on their course and haven't even passed a single exam yet. At least this will get you on your way. The best services to help you land that job are usually specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. Because they get paid commission to place you, they have more incentive to get on with it.

Certainly be sure that you don't put hundreds of hours of effort into your studies, then call a halt and leave it up to everyone else to find you a job. Stop procrastinating and make your own enquiries. Invest the same focus into getting a good job as it took to get qualified.

Currently in the UK, industry would struggle if it weren't for support workers fixing networks and computers, while making recommendations to users on a constant basis. With the increasingly multifaceted levels of technological advances, greater numbers of qualified workers are required to look after the various different areas we've become dependent on.

How are we supposed to make a good choice then? With so many opportunities, we'll need to know where to be looking - and what it is we should be investigating.

You should remember: the training itself or the accreditation isn't what this is about; the job or career that you're getting the training for is. Too many training companies place too much importance on just the training course. Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Avoid the mistake of choosing what sounds like a very 'interesting' program and then spend decades in a job you hate!

Get to grips with what you want to earn and how ambitious you are. Sometimes, this affects what precise exams will be required and what industry will expect from you in return. Sense dictates that you look for advice and guidance from an experienced industry professional before settling on a training path, so there's no doubt that the chosen route will give you the skill-set required for your career choice.

You have to make sure that all your exams are current and commercially required - don't even consider programmes which lead to some in-house certificate (which is as useless as if you'd printed it yourself). You'll discover that only industry recognised examinations from companies such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA and Cisco will be useful to a future employer.

Students who consider this area of study are often very practical, and aren't really suited to the classroom environment, and slogging through piles of books. If you identify with this, opt for more involving, interactive learning materials, with on-screen demonstrations and labs. Research over recent years has constantly confirmed that connecting physically with our study, is far more likely to produce long-lasting memories.

Courses are now available on CD and DVD discs, so you can study at your own computer. Through video streaming, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how something is done, and then practice yourself - in a virtual lab environment. You really need to look at courseware examples from the company you're considering. They have to utilise full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab's to practice the skills in.

Avoiding training that is delivered purely online is generally a good idea. Always choose CD or DVD based study materials where offered, as you need to be able to use them whenever it's convenient for you - it's not wise to be held hostage to a good broadband connection all the time.

Student support is absolutely essential - locate a good company that includes 24x7 access, as anything less will not satisfy and will also impede your ability to learn. Always avoid certification programs which can only support students with a message system when it's outside of usual working hours. Colleges will try to talk you round from this line of reasoning. The simple fact of the matter is - you want to be supported when you need the help - not at times when they find it cheaper to provide it.

We recommend that you search for providers that use several support centres around the globe in several time-zones. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to provide a single interface and also access round-the-clock, when it suits you, with the minimum of hassle. Don't accept second best where support is concerned. The majority of IT hopefuls who fall by the wayside, would have had a different experience if they'd got the right support package in the first place.

Incorporating exams with the course fee then giving it 'Exam Guarantee' status is a popular marketing tool with many training course providers. But look at the facts:

They've allowed costings for it one way or another. One thing's for sure - it isn't free - they've simply charged more for the whole training package. Students who take each progressive exam, funding them as they go are in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt. They're thoughtful of the cost and revise more thoroughly to ensure they are ready.

Don't pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you're ready, and hang on to your cash. In addition, it's then your choice where to sit the exam - so you can choose somewhere closer to home. Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on examination fees when you don't need to? A lot of profit is made because training colleges are getting money in early for exam fees - and then cashing in when they're not all taken. The majority of organisations will require you to sit pre-tests and not allow you to re-take an exam until you've proven conclusively that you can pass - so an 'Exam Guarantee' comes with many clauses in reality.

Paying maybe a thousand pounds extra on 'Exam Guarantees' is foolish - when study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will get you through.

Qualifications from the commercial sector are now, very visibly, beginning to replace the traditional academic paths into the industry - so why is this? With a growing demand for specific technological expertise, industry has had to move to specific, honed-in training only available through the vendors themselves - that is companies like Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA. Frequently this is at a far reduced cost both money and time wise. Academic courses, for example, often get bogged down in a lot of background study - with much too broad a syllabus. This prevents a student from getting enough specific knowledge about the core essentials.

What if you were an employer - and your company needed a person with some very particular skills. What should you do: Wade your way through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, struggling to grasp what they've learned and which commercial skills they have, or select a specialised number of commercial certifications that precisely match your needs, and make your short-list from that. You can then focus on how someone will fit into the team at interview - instead of having to work out if they can do the job.

At times individuals don't catch on to what information technology is doing for all of us. It is electrifying, revolutionary, and means you're working on technology that will affect us all over the next generation. We are really only just starting to understand how this will truly impact our way of life. How we communicate and interact with everyone around us will be profoundly affected by technology and the internet.

If making decent money is up there on your wish list, then you will welcome the news that the usual remuneration for IT employees in general is significantly greater than salaries in the rest of the economy. Experts agree that there's a significant UK-wide need for trained and qualified IT technicians. In addition, as growth in the industry shows little sign of contracting, it appears this pattern will continue for the significant future.