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It’s really great that you’re reading this article! A small number of workers say they enjoy their work, but a huge number simply moan about it and that’s it. As you’ve reached this page we can guess that you’ve a personal interest in re-training, which means you’re already ahead of the pack. The next step is to discover where you want to go and get going.

We’d recommend that prior to beginning any individual training program, you discuss your plans with a person who can see the bigger picture and can make recommendations. They can look at aspects of your personality and give you guidance on the right role for you:

* Do you hope for interaction with others? If so, do you like working with the same people or are you more comfortable dealing with strangers? Alternatively, do you like to deal with your responsibilities alone?

* Building and Banking are not coping well at the moment, so think carefully about the sector that would suit you best?

* Is this the last time you imagine you’ll re-train, and if it is, will this new career give you scope to do that?

* Do you have the assurance that the training program you’ve chosen is commercially viable, and will provide the facility to work right up to the time you want to stop?

We ask you to have a good look at Information Technology – there are a larger number of jobs than people to do them, and it’s a rare career choice where the industry is on the grow. Despite what some people believe, IT isn’t all techie people gazing at their computer screens the whole day (though naturally some jobs are like that.) The vast majority of roles are occupied by ordinary people who want to earn a very good living.

If you’re considering a training academy that still provides ‘in-centre’ days as a feature of their programme, then take note of these problems experienced by almost all students:

* Loads of driving back and forth from the training centre – normally 100′s of miles.

* For those of us that work, then Mon-Fri events represent a difficulty in getting time off. You’re usually having to deal with 2-3 days at a time as well.

* Lost annual leave – most IT hopefuls are given only twenty days of leave annually. If over half of it is swallowed up by study workshops, vacation time is going to be quite short for students and their families.

* Because of the cost involved, a lot of schools really push the size of the class – certainly not ideal (and much less personal).

* Workshop pace – workshops usually consist of students of varied skill, consequently tension can run high between students with more background knowledge and the ones who need a little longer.

* Add up the cost of all the fares or petrol, parking, accommodation and food and you’ll be in for a big surprise. Trainees talk of increased costs mounting to several hundred and sometimes thousands of pounds. Take some time to add it all up – and see for yourself.

* A lot of trainees want their training to remain private thus avoiding all come-back in their work.

* We all find that, at times, it’s uncomfortable to raise questions when surrounded by other students – who wants to look like they’re the only one who doesn’t get it?

* Living away for part of your working week – a lot of students have to work or live away for part of the program. Events are very difficult then, unfortunately the monies have already been handed over as part of your fees.

Doesn’t it make a lot more sense to learn when it’s convenient for you – not the company – and exploit videos of instructors with interactive virtual-lab’s.

Think… If you’ve got a notebook PC you have the ability to learn in any location you choose. And 24×7 support is an online click away if you hit challenges.

It really doesn’t matter how often you would like to re-take a quiz or test, on-screen teachers can never get frustrated with you! And don’t forget, with this method, note-taking is gone forever. Everything is already there for you.

Even though this can’t completely stop every single problem, it definitely makes things easier, simpler and less stressful. Plus you’ve got less hassle, costs and travel.

Considering the amount of options that are available, is it any wonder that the majority of trainees don’t really understand the best career path they will follow.

Because in the absence of any previous experience in the IT industry, in what way could we understand what someone in a particular job does?

To attack this, we need to discuss a number of unique issues:

* Your hobbies and interests – as they can show the possibilities will give you the most reward.

* Why it seems right stepping into Information Technology – is it to overcome some personal goal such as being your own boss for instance.

* Your earning needs you may have?

* Considering the huge variation that computing covers, it’s a requirement that you can understand how they differ.

* It’s wise to spend some time thinking about what kind of effort and commitment you’ll put into your training.

The best way to avoid all the jargon and confusion, and uncover the best route for you, have an informal chat with an industry expert and advisor; an individual who understands the commercial reality as well as each accreditation.

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When you decide upon a training program it’s crucial that the qualification it leads to falls in line with the needs of industry. As well as this, be sure that the program is a match for you, and is pitched at the right level.

The courses range from Microsoft User Skills up to career training for Databases, Programming, Networking and Web Design. There’s a lot to choose from and so the chances are you’ll want to chat to an experienced advisor prior to deciding which way to go: you don’t want to get on the wrong course for a job you’d actually hate!

By utilising modern training techniques and keeping costs to a minimum, there is a new type of course provider supplying a superior brand of teaching and assistance for hundreds of pounds less.

Discovering job security nowadays is problematic. Companies can drop us from the workforce at a moment’s notice – as and when it suits them.

It’s possible though to hit upon market-level security, by looking for areas of high demand, together with a lack of qualified workers.

Using the computer business for example, the 2006 e-Skills study highlighted a skills gap in Great Britain in excess of 26 percent. Accordingly, for every 4 jobs in existence in Information Technology (IT), companies can only find certified professionals for 3 of them.

Gaining full commercial IT certification is therefore a quick route to succeed in a long-term as well as pleasing livelihood.

Without a doubt, this really is a fabulous time to join Information Technology (IT).

Incorporating exams upfront and offering an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is a popular marketing tool with a number of training colleges. However, let’s consider what’s really going on:

Obviously it’s not free – you are paying for it – it’s just been wrapped up in the price of the package.

Students who take exams one at a time, funding them as they go are much better placed to get through first time. They’re thoughtful of what they’ve paid and prepare more appropriately to be ready for the task.

Does it really add up to pay your training college in advance for exam fees? Hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take the exam, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance – and sit exams more locally – not at somewhere of their bidding.

A lot of questionable training course providers secure huge profits by charging for examinations upfront and hoping that you won’t take them all.

Also, you should consider what an ‘exam guarantee’ really means. The majority of organisations won’t pay again for an exam until you can prove to them you’re ready to pass.

Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on ‘Exam Guarantees’ is remiss – when consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is actually the key to your success.

Don’t accept anything less than an accredited exam preparation programme included in your course.

Due to the fact that many examining boards for IT are American, it’s essential to understand how exam questions will be phrased and formatted. It isn’t good enough merely going through the right questions – they have to be in the same format as the actual exams.

Ensure that you verify whether you’re learning enough by doing tests and practice exams to prepare you for taking the proper exam.

Sometimes students presume that the state educational track is the right way even now. So why then are commercial certificates becoming more in demand?

Vendor-based training (to use industry-speak) is far more effective and specialised. The IT sector is aware that this level of specialised understanding is what’s needed to meet the requirements of a technologically complex marketplace. Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA are the big boys in this field.

Patently, an appropriate amount of background knowledge has to be learned, but focused specialised knowledge in the exact job role gives a vendor trained student a massive advantage.

Just like the advert used to say: ‘It does what it says on the label’. The company just needs to know where they have gaps, and then advertise for someone with the specific certification. Then they’re assured that a potential employee can do exactly what’s required.

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Am I professing that IT training and careers within IT are the be-all and end-all of futures on this planet? God forbid, no. Where would we all be without the highly paid football stars who entertain us so well on a week by week basis? But there has to be a reason why increasing numbers of people are studying for careers within the IT industry.

An interesting development has been the increase in IT training for those people who are seeking a career change or an enhancement to their existing skill sets. In reviewing this, I’m curious as to why IT continues to offer the attraction, and is this option really viable?

Whilst we all acknowledge that in relationships, key elements and people themselves can change. At the age of 10, a boyfriend or girlfriend can be considered a cute thing, but it isn’t expected to last. At the age of 18-20, relationships are often less transient, but they also have a shorter lifespan than others later in life.

Equally our young people are asked to plan and make decisions about their working career quite early on in life, and yet historically there appears to be an inherent resistance to change as times progresses. If we accept that life changes, and we also accept that circumstances change, surely it’s prudent for us to accept that career paths should and could change?

The ongoing dependence of today’s society on IT, and factors related to IT, means that many people assume a career in this industry would be well paid and reliable, (based on simple economics of supply and demand). A lot see a direct correlation of how they utilise IT systems in a social environment (such as playing games and social interaction on the internet e.g. facebook etc.) and transfer that into a career. Could this genuinely lead to a career within IT, and what factors would be necessary for a successful career?

A key element in answering this, I believe, is an understanding that a career in IT is as dependent on factors such as a client base (if self-employed,) or an employer and economic issues, as any other career path. Nevertheless, there is a great deal of evidence to suggest that professional people within the IT industry can move between employers and industry sectors more freely. This is due to the wide dependence on IT services across both geographic and industry models.

The term ‘Professional IT People’ is one of the key elements here – as in any other industry, employers have consistently sought staff where the skills can be proven by both experience and a recognised, approved benchmark. This is the same whether that’s a degree, or recognised apprenticeship culminating in an industry standard qualification, like an electrician or plumber.

The IT industry is no different. Just because many people have access to a computer at home, and can experience many factors of the IT industry in a refined environment, this is in many cases vastly different from the skills and resources required in the commercial sector. I’m sure we’d all agree that spending four hours a night playing games or surfing the internet doesn’t make us a qualified games designer, or a qualified webmaster.

Professional qualifications such as MCSE or MCSA within the IT field are instantly recognisable as an industry standard. Employers can rely upon the skills offered. This means there’s a reduced risk of breach of commercial insurance policies for work and services provided by such people, whether they are directly employed or self-employed.

If you’re seriously considering a future within the IT industry, you must look at how best to position yourself to become attractive to an employer. Holding a professional qualification goes a long way towards this. We should at least be aware of what the employer or client is looking for in recruitment or engagement, as they are the ones paying the salary.

Plenty of data exists to support the view that the growth in the IT sector is faster and more resilient than many other industry sectors. We’re witnessing a transitional shift in industry sectors, from the first world through to the third world, and the rate at which many growing or ‘tiger’ economies are adapting to (and embracing) long standing IT systems is very fast indeed.

Within this article so far we’ve considered the trends, which along with the demise of traditional industry and therefore traditional expectancies of a job-for-life, there will be a growing propensity towards multiple jobs and career paths throughout our working life.

In addition, we’ve observed that as the IT industry provides both consistencies in supply and demand across industry sectors and across geographical boundaries, it remains consistently attractive. Current forecasts also predict the increasing reliance on both IT systems overall, and the professional people who develop, use and maintain those systems, as they remain integral to many organisations requirements long-term.

Expectations for salaries continue to be high within this field, and plenty of evidence suggests that this is achievable. However, it is worth noting that the top-people get paid the top-money in many other industries. It’s not good enough to simply ‘be there’ and does not guarantee the top-money.

We have also put forward the case that employers review recruitment for IT skills as no different to any other facet of their business, and they expect the individuals to formally demonstrate their skills and qualifications, in exactly the same way as they expect their electricians and accountants to be professionally qualified to do the work they’re employed to do.

I concur that there is substantial evidence to promote a career within the IT industry as a robust and viable option to many individuals within today’s economic and social climate. High renumeration is definitely achievable. However, it’s equally clear and, in fairness, common sense, to expect to have to achieve a recognisable professional IT certification to be able to demonstrate clearly one’s own ability; at the very least it demonstrates the attitude that you are serious about this career path and that any prospective employer can rely on you commercially.

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Long term studies recently indicated that the average cost of bringing up a child in the UK amounted to 193,000 pounds in total – equating to approximately 26-28 pounds per day. The news was greeted with a swathe of cynical retorts from long suffering parents almost unified in their total lack of surprise.

Many people are now weighing up the current recession and its effect on traditional education systems. Consistent reference is being made to the strategies to survive adopted by parents, educators and students in the recession of the 1990′s.

Analysis suggests that the money spent on education and schooling overall could on average be up to 40 percent of the entire household disposable income. With the hardening attitude towards mortgage allocation and bank lending, this figure could increase as young people stay with their parents for longer and extend their education programs – almost as a by product of something to do until things start to get better.

With an ever increasing family focus on the cost of living, alongside many companies cutting back on training and development programs – it is pointless spending money on training when you do not know for certain that the person will not be made redundant – it is small wonder that many people are now reviewing their method of personal development and the subject matter that they study in.

Historically, public services, banking and the like have all been thought of as stable long term employers and attracted people accordingly. Over the last decade or so this has largely been superseded by the perception of employment offered within the IT industry.

Unlike training in the motor industry or engineering, where key skills often have to be gained in a practical environment, IT training can be predominantly home based. Whilst it is difficult to transport a complete car production line into the home, computer based training is easily at hand. Developments in the intellectual property field such as IT have grown exponentially as a result of this and the continued enhancements in the way the skills are taught and learnt.

New training methodology utilising 24/7 remote access to highly skilled lecturers adds weight to the strategy and the final result is certification in a field that is widely sought after throughout the world. Along with easily quantified salary and career structures it is little wonder that IT training is so attractive.

As many people are unsure of their future, (whether early on in their career or mid-way through life), home-based training in subjects such as IT can often be seen as a superb, low cost, easy paced development program. Skills can be gained that are readily accepted anywhere in the world and are highly resilient in a changing economic environment.

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Dividing up the different stages of learning can be very useful when we’re working out where we are and how far we can go. It can be a little frightening to look at the big goal – maybe professional web designer with many clients who rely on our expertise, when we’re still having difficulty remembering the names of the software we’ll be using to learn!

There are four levels of understanding. Anytime we take on something new, we all go through these levels, and realising that helps us to measure ourselves and our progress.

Unconscious Incompetent, Conscious Incompetent, Conscious Competent and Unconscious Competent.

Career changers frequently begin at stage one – Unconscious Incompetent. We know we want to change at this stage, but we don’t yet know what we don’t know, what we need to know, how to learn it or where it might lead us! It sounds pretty desperate, but knowing we want to change is the important thing – we can be taught everything else .

The essential thing is to get advice. By talking things through with an experienced advisor, the stage one person can discover what’s involved in the process; find out where they want to go and what they need to learn.

Next comes stage two – Conscious Incompetent. We’re now probably at the start of our training course. Having been explained the different options, we’ve decided on our career path. So we now know what we have to learn – in other words we’re conscious of what we don’t know yet, or what we’re currently incompetent at.

It’s important to comprehend this, and have the wisdom of knowing where we are. If we understand conscious incompetence, we won’t get so frustrated in our early stages of learning – we’re maybe not very good at it (particularly if it’s been a while since school…) but we do know we’ll get better. This process is accelerated with modern interactive training, so we don’t have to stay at this stage for very long.

Then we reach stage three, which is Conscious Competent. Now we’re in the zone of the learning environment, and pick things up much faster. We still have to think consciously about what we’re doing all the time, but we can learn competently. Whilst in this learning stage we’ll probably complete our studies and successfully pass our exams. It’s likely to also extend into our working life too.

Think about when we learned to drive a car. We’d reached conscious competency at the time of our exam – still very conscious of every manoeuvre, but good enough to pass the test. We could only move into stage four when we gained more experience along with the knowledge.

Unconsciously Competent – In IT, we’ll probably be several years into our working experience before we reach stage four. We understand what we need to know, and no longer have to consciously think about why we do something. Although for the true professional school’s never over, (and definitely in computer-related careers the joy is there’s always more to learn) achieving these dizzy heights of understanding makes all the hard work worth it.

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I recall when I used to sit at the back of the class thinking, “Please don’t let the teacher ask me to answer that last question!” It wasn’t because I couldn’t answer it, or at least have a go at answering it. But just like going on a TV quiz show, answering in front of an audience and on-time isn’t always as easy as it seems.

This didn’t mean that I couldn’t learn the subject matter – but rather that the environment didn’t work for me.

Because of this, I greatly support and believe in a new era of training being offered, as it clearly supports alternative ways of learning.

A strategy being employed within the IT industry has to be one of the best examples of this. As might be expected, it’s leading the way using the latest technological assets to teach complex skills and techniques, and it’s enjoying a good deal of success.

Offering the option of multimedia and on-line tutorials, presented by experts in their respective field, gives quality access to a huge array of learning material – whenever and wherever the student wants it. Real round the clock learning and the true option to choose where to study; all of which enhances the learning experience and consequently improves learning success.

A long way away from the intimidating and sterile classroom experience of youth.

Clearly there are other benefits: The opportunity to carry on studying when the student may not feel 100 per cent well, or during a period of incapacitation. Training schemes are available to everyone, and could be particularly useful to those with disabilities who find it difficult to study at a centralised centre. The ability to carry on studying regardless of external weather conditions, and the facility to study in the security of one’s own home.

Additional advantages include the reduction in ‘down-time’ and cost; in terms of the time it takes to travel to and from the travel centre, the issue of having to be there at a set time, and the cost of travel there and back. All this supports the strategy of ‘smart study’ – studying what you want, when you want it, where it suits you best, and in a cost effective manner.

Training by his method is not hampered by the slow upgrades or revisions of reading material and books. Students have an edge over their counterparts, as they are more likely to be studying the latest concepts and skills available.

Students are not forced to study in isolation though. This new training methodology understands that many people need a blend of human communication built into their study program. Therefore, a truly effective offering includes on-line interactive support, plus many students also set up their own ‘study-buddy’ network, where, in a relaxed environment, they can review the concepts under study and discuss their ideas.

There has been incredible development in the field of IT and educational strategies. It seems natural that these two disciplines would come together to the advantage of the student, and create a training environment where the student is more in-control, making it more pleasurable overall. Surely that is one of the basic tenets of learning?

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Look in any bookshop at their Best Seller list today, and you’ll see a mass of autobiographies of the rich and famous. From empire builders to glamour models to footballers, they all tell a different story, but each has a thread in common – they focused on the positives and overcame adversity.

This is the way the world works; to be achievers in life we must encourage positive reasons why ‘we can’ to flood our consciousness, and drown out negative excuses why we can’t.

For the student, this attitude to studying is paramount. To successfully complete a training program, the biggest tool in a trainee’s workbox is a positive mindset. An optimistic approach brings about all sorts of possibilities, circumstances, answers and opportunities to achieve. By contrast, a negative outlook thwarts creativity and blocks our learning receptors.

This is because of our Reticular Activation System – a mechanism that automatically tells our brain what to focus on. Over our lives, we’ve experienced a huge number things that no longer remain in the forefront of our minds – the majority of what we’ve learned moves from our conscious mind to our sub-conscious mind, a kind of cupboard that stores all our past beliefs and knowledge.

When we attempt consciously to do something, our RAS (Reticular Activation System) will search for any relevant information in the sub-conscious mind, and bring it to our attention. If we’re taking a walk down a street, only the things that have meaning to us will be noticed – the rest is just background noise.

So if our conscious mind has regularly been transferring upbeat, positive messages to our sub-conscious mind, then that’s what will come back. But if our sub-conscious has been fed a bunch of downbeat, defeatist messages, then that’s equally what will come back.

It seems that achievers are able to manipulate the messages filtered through to their sub-conscious minds by deliberately programming their RAS and choosing the exact messages the conscious mind sends. This makes it an essential tool for achieving goals, as the sub-conscious mind can’t distinguish between real or imaginary events.

So, as it believes what it’s told, we must create a really specific picture of our goal in our conscious mind. This will then pass on to our subconscious via the RAS – which will then help us to achieve our goal. This is done by bringing to our attention all the meaningful information which might otherwise have remained as ‘background noise’.

Napoleon Hill once wrote that we can attain any realistic goal if we keep that goal clearly in our mind, and stop allowing any negative thoughts about it. If we keep thinking that we can’t achieve a goal, of course, our subconscious will help us not to achieve it.

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You should feel pleased that you’re on the right track! Only one in ten folks claim contentment with their job, but vast numbers just bitch about it and take no action. As you’ve reached this page we can guess that you’ve a personal interest in re-training, so well done to you. What comes next is discover where you want to go and get going.

Before embarking on a course, look for some advice – find an industry expert; an advisor who can get to the bottom of what you’ll like in a job, and work out what career tracks you may be suited to:

* Are you hoping to be involved with others in the workplace? Would you prefer to work with a small team or with many new people? Possibly operating on your own in isolation could suit you better?

* What thoughts do you have with regard to the industry you hope to work in?

* Once you’ve trained, how many years work do anticipate working, and can your chosen industry provide you with that possibility?

* Are you confident that the training program you’ve chosen will make you employable, and offer the chance to allow you to work until retirement?

We ask you to have a good look at the IT sector – there are greater numbers of positions than staff to fill them, because it’s one of the few choices of career where the market sector is on the grow. In contrast to what some people believe, IT isn’t all techie people gazing at their computer screens the whole time (some jobs are like that of course.) The vast majority of roles are occupied by ordinary men and women who want to earn a very good living.

Beginning with the understanding that we have to locate the employment that excites us first, before we can even ponder what career development program meets that requirement, how do we decide on the right direction?

How likely is it for us to understand the day-to-day realities of any IT job when we haven’t done that before? Maybe we haven’t met someone who works in that sector anyway.

To attack this, we need to discuss a number of definitive areas:

* Your personality type and what you’re interested in – the sort of work-related things please or frustrate you.

* Is your focus to get certified because of a certain reason – i.e. do you aim to work from home (maybe self-employment?)?

* Your earning requirements you may have?

* Learning what the normal career areas and markets are – including what sets them apart.

* You will need to understand the differences across each area of training.

In these situations, it’s obvious that the only real way to research these areas will be via a meeting with someone who has experience of computing (as well as the commercial needs.)

Those that are drawn to this type of work are usually quite practically-minded, and aren’t really suited to the classroom environment, and endless reading of dry academic textbooks. If this is putting you off studying, use multimedia, interactive learning, where you can learn everything on-screen.

Learning psychology studies show that much more of what we learn in remembered when we receive multi-sensorial input, and we put into practice what we’ve been studying.

You can now study via self-contained CD or DVD materials. Instructor-led tutorials will mean you’ll learn your subject via their teaching and demonstrations. Then it’s time to test your knowledge by utilising the practice lab’s and modules.

You really need to look at the type of training provided by any company that you may want to train through. Be sure that they contain instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab’s.

Avoiding training that is delivered purely online is generally a good idea. Ideally, you should opt for CD and DVD ROM courseware where obtainable, 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 quality and continuous internet connection.

A fatal Faux-Pas that we encounter all too often is to concentrate on the course itself, and not focus on the desired end-result. Schools are full of unaware students who chose a course based on what sounded good – rather than what would get them an enjoyable career or job.

Imagine training for just one year and then end up performing the job-role for decades. Don’t make the mistake of opting for what may seem to be a program of interest to you and then spend decades in a job you hate!

You also need to know your feelings on career development, earning potential, and whether you intend to be quite ambitious. You need to know what will be expected of you, what particular exams are required and where you’ll pick-up experience from.

All students are advised to chat with a skilled professional before following a particular training program. This is required to ensure it has the required elements for the chosen career path.

A valuable training package will undoubtedly have wholly authorised exam preparation systems.

Avoid relying on unauthorised exam preparation questions. The way they’re phrased can be quite different – and this leads to huge confusion once in the actual exam.

As you can imagine, it’s very important to make sure you’ve thoroughly prepared for the real exam before embarking on it. Rehearsing mock-up exams adds to your knowledge bank and will avoid you getting frustrated with failed exams.

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Should you be wanting to study for an MCSE, you’re probably in 1 of 2 situations. You could be about to come into the computer world, as it’s apparent the industry has many opportunities for qualified people. Or you may be someone with a certain amount of knowledge attempting to gain acknowledgement with a qualification such as MCSE.

When looking into training providers, ensure that you steer clear of those that short-change you by not providing the latest level of Microsoft development. This is no use to the trainee because they’ll have been studying the wrong MCSE version which doesn’t correspond to the current exam syllabus, so it’s going to be hugely difficult for them to get qualified.

Avoid making a hasty decision when buying a course before having all your questions answered. Set your sights on finding a training provider who will ensure you are on a well matched program for your needs.

Always expect accredited simulation materials and an exam preparation system included in the package you choose.

Don’t fall foul of depending on unofficial exam preparation systems. Their phraseology is sometimes startlingly different – and sometimes this can be a real headache when it comes to taking the real exam.

Practice exams can be very useful as a resource to you – so that when you come to take the proper exam, you don’t get phased.

Quite often, students have issues with one aspect of their training usually not even thought about: The breakdown of the course materials before being delivered to your home.

The majority of training companies will set up a program typically taking 1-3 years, and deliver each piece one-by-one as you complete each exam. Sounds reasonable? Well consider these facts:

What if for some reason you don’t get to the end of every single section? And what if you find the order of the modules counter-intuitive? Without any fault on your part, you might take a little longer and not receive all the modules you’ve paid for.

To avoid any potential future issues, most students now choose to insist that all study materials are delivered immediately, and not in stages. You can then decide at what speed and in which order you’d like to take your exams.

Talk to any knowledgeable advisor and they’ll entertain you with many worrying experiences of how students have been duped by salespeople. Stick to an experienced advisor who asks lots of questions to uncover the best thing for you – not for their pay-packet! You must establish a starting-point that will suit you.

Don’t forget, if you’ve had any relevant previous certification, then you may be able to begin at a different level to a trainee with no history to speak of.

Working through a basic PC skills module first can be the best way to get into your IT programme, but really depends on your level of familiarity with computers.

At the top of your shopping list for a training program should be proper direct-access 24×7 support from expert mentors and instructors. So many companies we come across only seem to want to help while they’re in the office (9am till 6pm, Monday till Friday usually) and nothing at the weekends.

Be wary of any training providers who use ‘out-of-hours’ call-centres – where you’ll get called back during typical office hours. This is no use if you’re stuck and need an answer now.

The best training colleges provide an online access 24 hours-a-day system utilising a variety of support centres over many time-zones. You will be provided with an interface that accesses the most appropriate office at any time of day or night: Support on demand.

Never settle for less than you need and deserve. Online 24×7 support is the only viable option with computer-based courses. Perhaps you don’t intend to study during the evenings; but for the majority of us however, we’re out at work while the support is live.

(C) 2009. Pop to LearningLolly.com for clear information on Microsoft MCSE and MCSE 2008.

The Microsoft MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) course is perfect for anybody thinking of getting into supporting networks. Whether you want to get into IT or already have knowledge but need to formalise your skills with a recognised qualification, the right training exists for you.

To achieve certification at the level of MCSA there are four MCP’s (Microsoft Certified Professional exams) needed to be passed. If you’re joining the industry for the first time, you’ll probably be required to learn a few things before doing the first of the four MCP’s. Search for a training organisation with people who can guide you towards the best way forward for you and will take care to start you at the right entry level.

Many training companies are still using one of the most out-dated training concepts – classroom attendance. Often sold as a benefit, after discussion with someone who has first-hand experience, you’ll find them listing some or most of these:

* Recurrent travelling – very long trips in more cases than not.

* Getting time out of work – typical companies will only provide class availability from Monday to Friday and often group days together in a clump. This can be hard for a lot of working people, especially if you include the travel time on top.

* With only 20 days holiday per year, using half of that on educational events means we’ll be hard-pushed to get a holiday with our families.

* Training events invariably become too big.

* There is often tension in many classes where students want to progress at their own pace.

* And let’s not disregard the extra financial outlay of travelling or bed and breakfast for the night either. Don’t be surprised to find this become many hundreds of pounds more – sometimes thousands. Sit down and add it up – it’ll shock and surprise you.

* Privacy is important to us all. We should never risk giving up any lift up the ladder that could awarded to us while we retrain.

* Don’t think it’s unusual for trainees to keep a question to themselves – simply because they’re surrounded by fellow attendees.

* If your work takes you away from home, you now have to deal with the fact that workshops sometimes become difficult to get to – unfortunately however, the money has already been paid.

It really does make a lot more sense to take classes when it suits you — not the training company – and exploit virtual lab environments with videos of your instructors.

If anything comes up, utilise the 24×7 Support (that should come with any technical program.) Remember, if you have a laptop, study can take place anywhere.

Simply repeat the modules whenever you want or need. And of course, you don’t have to make notes as you have the lesson indefinitely.

Put simply: You save money, avoid hassle, don’t waste time and completely avoid polluting the skies.

The market provides a glut of work available in the IT industry. Arriving at the correct choice in this uncertainty is generally problematic.

I mean, without any know-how of the IT industry, what chance is there for you to know what someone in a particular field does each day? And of course decide on what certification program will be most suitable for a successful result.

Deliberation over several areas is most definitely required if you need to reveal the right solution that will work for you:

* Your personality type and what you’re interested in – what kind of working tasks please or frustrate you.

* Do you want to get qualified due to a certain raison d’etre – for example, is it your goal to work from home (self-employment?)?

* How important is salary to you – is it the most important thing, or is day-to-day enjoyment further up on your priority-list?

* Getting to grips with what the main Information technology roles and sectors are – plus how they’re different to each other.

* What effort, commitment and time you’re prepared to commit your training.

Ultimately, the most intelligent way of covering these is through a meeting with an advisor or professional that knows the industry well enough to provide solid advice.

(C) 2009. Visit LearningLolly.com for clear information on Microsoft MCSA and MCSA 2008.

What are the sort of things you’d expect the top of the range training organisations accredited by Microsoft to give a student in Britain in this day and age? Undoubtedly, the very best Gold Partner Microsoft authorised training routes, providing a portfolio of courses to lead you to a variety of careers in the IT workplace.

You may wish to consider all the options with somebody who knows about the commercial needs of the market, and can influence your choice of the more likely roles to go with your personal characteristics.

Once you’ve decided on the career track for you, you’ll need a relevant course tailored to your needs. The standard of teaching ought to be of an excellent standard.

Some training providers will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance service, designed to steer you into your first job. With the great shortage of skills in Britain today, there’s no need to get too caught up in this feature though. It really won’t be that difficult to find your first job as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications.

You would ideally have help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews though; and we’d recommend any student to bring their CV up to date the day they start training – don’t delay until you’ve qualified.

You might not even have qualified when you’ll secure your initial junior support job; although this isn’t going to happen if your CV isn’t in front of employers.

The most efficient companies to help you land that job are generally independent and specialised local recruitment services. As they will get paid by the employer when they’ve placed you, they’ll work that much harder to get a result.

Do make sure you don’t put hundreds of hours of effort into your studies, only to stop and imagine someone else is miraculously going to land you a job. Stop procrastinating and start looking for yourself. Put as much energy and enthusiasm into landing your new role as you did to get trained.

Many companies only concern themselves with gaining a certificate, and avoid focusing on what it’s all actually about – which is a commercial career or job. Always begin with the final destination in mind – too many people focus on the journey.

It’s not unheard of, for example, to obtain tremendous satisfaction from a year of studying and then spend 20 miserable years in a tiresome job role, entirely because you stumbled into it without the correct level of soul-searching when you should’ve – at the outset.

You need to keep your eye on where you want to go, and create a learning-plan from that – don’t do it the other way round. Stay on target – making sure you’re training for an end-result you’ll still be enjoying many years from now.

Seek out help from an experienced industry advisor who understands the sector you wish to join, and who can give you ‘A typical day in the life of’ synopsis of what duties you’ll be performing day-to-day. It’s good sense to understand whether or not this is right for you long before your course begins. There’s really no point in starting to train and then realise you’ve made a huge mistake.

It’s likely that you’re quite practically minded – a ‘hands-on’ individual. If you’re anything like us, the painful task of reading endless manuals is something you’ll make yourself do if you have to, but it’s not ideal. You should use video and multimedia based materials if learning from books is not your thing.

Where possible, if we can utilise all of our senses into our learning, then the results are usually dramatically better.

Top of the range study programs now offer self-contained CD or DVD materials. Instructor-led tutorials will mean you’ll find things easier to remember through their teaching and demonstrations. Then you test your knowledge by using practice-lab’s.

It’s imperative to see some example materials from the company you’re considering. Be sure that they contain instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab’s.

It is generally unwise to go for purely on-line training. Because of the variable quality and reliability of most broadband providers, make sure you get actual CD or DVD ROM’s.

It’s usual for students to get confused with one area of their training very rarely considered: The breakdown of the course materials before being physically delivered to you.

The majority of training companies will set up a 2 or 3 year study programme, and drop-ship the materials to you piecemeal as you get to the end of each exam. Sounds reasonable? Well consider these facts:

Maybe the order of study pushed by the company’s salespeople doesn’t suit all of us. It may be difficult to get through each and every section at the speed required?

To be honest, the perfect answer is to have their ideal ‘order’ of training laid out, but get everything up-front. You then have everything should you not complete it inside of their required time-scales.

(C) 2009. Try LearningLolly.com for superb information on Learn Computer Programming and Programming Training Courses.

If you’re seeking Microsoft certified training, then you’ll naturally expect training providers to supply a wide range of the most superior courses currently available.

Perhaps you’d want to be given advice on the sort of careers you might go for once you have passed your exams, and the type of individual those jobs would appeal to. Most students like to get advice on what they might be good at.

Having selected the career track for you, you’ll need a suitable training program matched to your ability level and skill set. The standard of teaching should be second to none.

Trainees hoping to start a career in IT usually don’t know which direction to consider, or which market to achieve their certification in.

Since having no previous experience in Information Technology, in what way could we be expected to know what a particular job actually consists of?

Generally, the way to deal with this quandary appropriately lies in an in-depth talk over several areas:

* Personalities play a major part – what gets you ‘up and running’, and what are the things that really turn you off.

* Are you looking to realise a specific aim – for example, being your own boss someday?

* Does salary have a higher place on your priority-scale than anything else.

* With everything that computing covers, it’s a requirement that you can absorb how they differ.

* You should also think long and hard about what kind of effort and commitment you’ll put into your education.

To completely side-step the industry jargon, and uncover the best path to success, have an in-depth discussion with an industry-experienced advisor; a person that appreciates and can explain the commercial realities as well as each accreditation.

We’re often asked why qualifications from colleges and universities are being replaced by more commercial certificates?

With an ever-increasing technical demand on resources, the IT sector has been required to move to the specialised training that can only be obtained from the actual vendors – namely companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA. This usually turns out to involve less time and financial outlay.

Of course, a certain quantity of closely linked detail must be taught, but focused specialised knowledge in the particular job function gives a commercially educated person a distinct advantage.

It’s rather like the advert: ‘It does what it says on the tin’. Employers simply need to know where they have gaps, and then request applicants with the correct exam numbers. They’ll know then that all applicants can do what they need.

You’ll come across courses which guarantee examination passes – this always means you have to pay for the exams when you pay for the rest of your course. Before you jump at guaranteed exams, be aware of the facts:

You’ll pay for it one way or another. It’s definitely not free – they’ve simply charged more for the whole training package.

Should you seriously need to qualify first ‘go’, then you should pay for each exam as you go, focus on it intently and apply yourself as required.

Isn’t it outrageous to have to pay your training course provider up-front for exam fees? Find the best exam deal or offer at the time, instead of paying a premium – and sit exams more locally – instead of miles away at the college’s beck and call.

Paying upfront for examination fees (and interest charges if you’re borrowing money) is madness. Resist being talked into filling the training company’s account with your hard-earned cash simply to help their cash-flow! There are those who hope that you won’t get round to taking them – so they don’t need to pay for them.

Many training companies will require you to sit pre-tests and hold you back from re-takes until you’ve completely proven that you’re likely to pass – which makes an ‘Exam Guarantee’ frankly useless.

The cost of exams was around the 112 pounds mark twelve months or so ago via UK VUE or Prometric centres. Therefore, why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra to have ‘an Exam Guarantee’, when it’s no secret that the responsible approach is consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software.

Any advisor who doesn’t question you thoroughly – chances are they’re just trying to sell you something. If they’re pushing towards a particular product before learning about your history and whether you have any commercial experience, then it’s very likely to be the case.

Often, the training start-point for a trainee experienced in some areas can be largely dissimilar to the student with no experience.

If you’re a student beginning IT exams and training anew, it’s often a good idea to ease in gradually, by working on some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. This can be built into most training packages.

(C) 2009. Go to LearningLolly.com for clear career advice on Database Courses and SQL Training.

Should you be aspiring to become Cisco accredited, but you’ve no practical experience with switches and routers, we’d recommend taking the Cisco CCNA qualification. This will provide you with the knowledge you need to understand routers. Vast numbers of routers make up the internet, and national or international corporations with several locations also utilise routers to connect their computer networks.

Routers are linked to networks, therefore it’s important to have prior knowledge of the operation of networks, or you will have difficulties with the course and not be able to follow the work. Seek out a program that includes basic networking skills (for example CompTIA) before you get going on CCNA.

You’ll need a specially designed course that takes you on a progressive path to make sure that you’ve mastered the necessary skills and abilities prior to getting going with Cisco.

One thing you must always insist on is proper direct-access 24×7 support via trained professional instructors and mentors. It’s an all too common story to find providers that will only offer a basic 9am till 6pm support period (maybe later on certain days) with very little availability over the weekend.

Many only provide email support (too slow), and phone support is usually just a call-centre who will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team – who will call back over the next day or so (assuming you’re there), at a time suitable for them. This isn’t a lot of good if you’re sitting there confused over an issue and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.

The best training colleges tend to use an online round-the-clock system involving many support centres across the globe. You will be provided with an interface which accesses the most appropriate office any time of the day or night: Support when it’s needed.

Don’t ever make the mistake of taking second best when it comes to your support. Most IT hopefuls who fall by the wayside, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).

So many training providers are all about the certification, and completely miss the reasons for getting there – getting yourself a new job or career. Always begin with the final destination in mind – don’t make the vehicle more important than the destination.

Students often train for a single year but end up doing a job for a lifetime. Avoid the mistake of finding what seems like a program of interest to you only to spend 20 years doing a job you don’t like!

Take time to understand how you feel about career development, earning potential, and how ambitious you are. You should understand what the role will demand of you, which certifications are needed and how you’ll gain real-world experience.

You’d also need help from a professional who understands the sector you’re hoping to qualify in, and who can give you ‘A typical day in the life of’ synopsis of the job being considered. This really is absolutely essential as you’ll need to know if you’re going down the right road.

Students who consider this area of study often have a very practical outlook on work, and won’t enjoy sitting at a desk in class, and endless reading of dry academic textbooks. If this is putting you off studying, try the newer style of interactive study, where learning is video-based.

Where possible, if we can study while utilising as many senses as possible, then the results are usually dramatically better.

Find a course where you’re provided with an array of CD and DVD based materials – you’ll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, and be able to practice your skills in interactive lab’s.

You must ensure that you see courseware examples from the company you’re considering. Be sure that they contain full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab’s to practice the skills in.

It’s usually bad advice to choose training that is only available online. With highly variable reliability and quality from the ISP (internet service provider) market, it makes sense to have disc based courseware (On CD or DVD).

Most of us would love to think that our careers are secure and our work prospects are protected, but the growing reality for the majority of jobs in the United Kingdom currently appears to be that there is no security anymore.

In actuality, security now only emerges in a rapidly growing marketplace, driven by work-skills shortages. It’s this alone that creates the appropriate setting for a secure marketplace – a far better situation.

The Information Technology (IT) skills shortfall in the country falls in at over 26 percent, as shown by the latest e-Skills investigation. Meaning that for each four job positions in existence throughout the computer industry, there are barely three qualified workers to do them.

Attaining full commercial computing qualification is as a result an effective route to achieve a long-lasting and enjoyable livelihood.

While the market is developing at such a quick pace, is there any other sector worth looking at for retraining.

(C) Jason Kendall. Hop over to LearningLolly.com for the best ideas on CCNA Certification and Cisco Training Courses.

The CompTIA A+ training program covers four areas of training; you’re seen as an achiever in A+ when you’ve passed the test for half of them. Because of this, most colleges only have two of the courses on their syllabus. You’ll find that you’re advised to have the training for all four areas as many jobs will require the skills and knowledge of all four areas. It’s not essential to qualify in them all, however we’d advise that you study for all four areas.

CompTIA A+ on its own will allow you to mend and maintain stand-alone PC’s and MAC’s; ones that are most often not part of a network – this generally applies to home use and small companies.

If you’re considering being the kind of individual who works in a multi-faceted environment – fixing and supporting networks, add Network+ to your CompTIA A+, or alternatively look at doing an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft because it’s necessary to have a deeper understanding of how networks work.

Your training program should always include the current Microsoft (or Cisco, CompTIA etc.) authorised exam preparation and simulation materials.

Be sure that your practice exams are not only asking questions on the correct subjects, but ask them in the way that the actual final exam will pose them. This can really throw some trainees if the questions are phrased in unfamiliar formats.

Always request some practice exams so you’ll be able to test your knowledge whenever you need to. Mock exams log the information in your brain – then the real thing isn’t quite as scary.

How the program is actually delivered to you is often missed by many students. How is the courseware broken down? And in what sequence and do you have a say in when you’ll get each part?

Many think it logical (when study may take one to three years to gain full certified status,) that a training provider will issue the training stage by stage, as you complete each part. However:

Students often discover that their providers typical path to completion doesn’t suit. You may find that it’s more expedient to use an alternative order of study. Perhaps you don’t make it at the pace they expect?

In a perfect world, you’d ask for every single material to be delivered immediately – meaning you’ll have all of them for the future to come back to – at any time you choose. This allows a variation in the order that you attack each section where a more intuitive path can be found.

Be careful that the certifications you’re considering doing will be commercially viable and are the most recent versions. The ‘in-house’ certifications provided by many companies are often meaningless.

From an employer’s perspective, only the major heavyweights like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA (to give some examples) will make the right impression. Anything less won’t make the grade.

Charging for exams upfront and offering an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is common for many companies. But look at the facts:

Everyone knows they’re still being charged for it – it’s obviously been inserted into the full cost of the package supplied by the training provider. It’s certainly not free (although some people will believe anything the marketing companies think up these days!)

People who enter their exams one by one, funding them one at a time are in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt. They’re conscious of their spending and prepare more appropriately to be ready for the task.

Doesn’t it make more sense to hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you’re ready, instead of paying a premium to the training company, and to do it in a local testing office – rather than possibly hours away from your area?

Huge profits are secured by many training colleges that take the exam money up-front. A number of students don’t take them for various reasons but the company keeps the money. Surprising as it sounds, there are providers that actually rely on students not sitting all the exams – and that’s how they increase their profits.

The majority of companies will require you to sit pre-tests and prohibit you from re-taking an exam until you’ve completely proven that you’re likely to pass – which makes an ‘Exam Guarantee’ frankly useless.

With the average price of Pro-metric and VUE exams coming in at around 112 pounds in the UK, it makes sense to pay as you go. It’s not in the student’s interests to fork out hundreds or thousands of pounds for exams when enrolling on a course. A commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools are actually the key to your success.

(C) Jason Kendall. Go to LearningLolly.com for quality career advice on Comptia Certification and Comptia Networking.

We live in a very media-dominated society, where we’re fed a diet of bad luck stories, who’s cheated on who, and why we should blame someone else for anything that goes wrong in our lives.

Not long ago, we used to look across the Atlantic at the American people, and wonder at the litigious way they lived their lives – now we’ve been bitten by the same bug! Anybody watching daytime TV can’t help but see the number of adverts purporting ‘no win no fee’ from voracious lawyers out to make a quick killing if they can blame someone else.

Everyone seems to know their ‘Rights’, but few seem to understand the responsibilities that underpin those rights. People complain about their circumstances, but wait for somebody else to solve their problems for them. They blame society, their boss, the government, the economy – in fact anybody rather than looking in the mirror and facing the truth.

But the chances are that change will have to come from inside if things are going to improve. Until we learn to take responsibility and conduct ourselves differently, the same problems will keep coming our way. Only then will the lesson be learned, and the problem disappear. Think how different our society would be if we all took responsibility for what we did. Half a century ago, more people took pride in seeing a job through and not giving up on themselves and their families.

We can’t change the world, but we can change ourselves. Anyone who’s looking to study for self-improvement has already taken the first step in personal responsibility. Successful training will demand conscientious habits, and self-accountability.

Only you can be responsible for devoting time and energy to the task. Of course, your training provider also has responsibilities – to carry out their promises with quality learning and support materials. That’s a given, and must equally be taken seriously. But to be victorious, you have to assume your own responsibility to win through.

If approached in the right way, learning can be stimulating and fun. Critics and soothsayers are ten-a-penny if they think you’re going to get ahead of them, so it might take a little protecting yourself from outside negatives. Be responsible for your surroundings, and only spend time with those who are happy to see you move on.

In the UK today, we’re fortunate to have the right to a quality of life unheard of in our grandparents’ day. Only when we have a greater regard for the responsibilities those rights carry, will we truly achieve the pinnacle of modern day success.

(C) 2009. Go to LearningLolly.com for quality info on Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX 2004 Training.

In-Centre IT workshops are generally sold by many training providers as a positive. But they’re a leftover relic in reality from the time when IT training courses came mainly from books and training manuals, and needed college back-up to be sure students understood everything. Modern training courses now incorporate state-of-the-art interactive instruction and testing, which leaves the books and in-centre brigade far behind.

Apart from being part of an antiquated teaching system, in-centre workshops have many more hidden negatives for the student. There’s a great deal of travelling required, as colleges can be a long way away from students homes. This can mean spending hundreds of pounds on petrol and accommodation, in addition to the often inflated course fees. An MCSE might typically have 10 in-centre workshops, with at least one overnight stop each time. Let’s assume you can’t get cheaper than 35 pounds for accommodation, 40 pounds for petrol and 15 pounds for food. That’s 90 pounds per visit, or close to a whopping one thousand pounds for 10 visits – often more!

Organising suitable dates can often turn into a logistical nightmare – finding available relevant workshops that fit in with your current job and family commitments, and happen to coincide with your study needs can be nigh on impossible at times. Workshops fill up quickly, so colleges either end up excluding people, or taking larger numbers than is ideal.

Differing ability levels invariably make up the group workshops, creating awkwardness between those who want to go faster or slower. Many of us feel tense asking questions in front of other students, particularly when they’re not regular class-mates who we know well. We don’t want to appear stupid so questions get left un-asked! Compare that embarrassment with interactive video workshops and one-on-one live 24×7 support.

Workshops usually mean taking holiday allowance from work rather than un-paid leave. As most of us only have 20 days a year, if half of that or more is taken up with training, it doesn’t leave much time for holidays and family time. And that’s assuming your boss can accommodate those holiday dates, and give you the time off.

Most training companies provide Monday to Friday workshop availability, and typically group two to three days together. This can be a big chunk of time away from the job and home – especially if travelling time has to be the night before.

Keeping their training private is also important for many students. The majority don’t want to sacrifice possible pay-rises in their current job whilst they’re training, but if there are five workshops to attend in a year how long can it be kept secret? If they know someone is training to get into another industry, employers might feel a little different.

Finally, many students have jobs which regularly take them away from home. Fitting time in for friends and family is challenging enough, but this makes workshop time almost impossible.

It’s so much more straightforward to simply watch and learn at your own convenience, from pre-filmed, one-to-one instructor classes. When you need to ask a question, use the inclusive 24×7 live support (which is available on the best technical career courses). You can go over modules as many times as you want, until the information has sunk in. Without the need for note taking and hassle, you’ll save time, money and patience by choosing interactive learning from the comfort of your computer.

(C) 2009. Pop to LearningLolly.com for smart tips on Macromedia Contribute 2 and Macromedia Contribute 2 Training.

As we become adults, our needs regarding training change. In our teenage years our teaching has to give us structure, as we don’t always understand why knowledge is relevant and we’re still developing self-discipline. We need to learn to deal with people, which is a huge learning curve all on its own. Add a few volatile hormones, trying to work out who we are and peer pressure, and it’s surprising that we do any learning at all!

Thankfully as adults we can put all that behind us. Adult learning courses are all about effective learning systems that fit around our other commitments. If you’re learning for career reasons, then it’s also vital that the course content fits with what the industry’s looking for.

First of all there are classroom-based colleges, universities and boot camps. You have to put your life on hold to study with these establishments. Delivery methods are tutorials, backed up with technical books. All the students are required to go at the same pace throughout the course which inevitably leads to challenges. If you miss any classes, you’re expected to catch up.

With a boot camp, don’t even think of missing one session or you’ll never catch up. You’ll romp through a syllabus in 10 to 12 weeks that usually takes two years. Such courses are designed to get you a qualification and no more. Employers are generally not impressed by this type of training, as your ability to do the job based on what you’ve learned will be limited. Experienced IT workers who are upgrading their certifications to the latest level are the only students who should really use such courses. The student planning to enter the world of IT should not entertain them.

The courses tend to be more academic with colleges and universities, and are not always in-tune with current industry requirements. It can be difficult for the student to enter industry without gaining some additional commercial skills.

Secondly there are home based commercial training providers. These offer by far the most convenient way to learn, but some adults worry they’ll need the structure of a classroom. Actually, this isn’t usually the case with the right training; it’s just a strong recollection from adolescent days.

There are some very good commercial training providers, but also some very bad ones. Always check the quality of their training materials; if they have nothing to show you, don’t buy. The most user-friendly way to study today is with interactive on-screen training. It’s so much easier and more engaging than books. It also improves your recall of what you’ve learned because it provides multi-sensory input.

Good training providers will give you direct access to tutors at the time you intend to study – evening and weekends. Ask specific questions to check. (Some companies ’24×7 Support’ is merely a message system out of office hours.) Additionally, they need to provide an authorised exam preparation system (from Microsoft, Cisco or CompTIA for example) – be wary of learning in a specific style, only to be in an exam which uses different phraseology and terms.

A few final tips: Don’t pay for exams fees up-front – it will cost you more. A good quality course shouldn’t need to be backed up by classroom visits (a huge additional expense). Old style training is much more expensive than modern interactive training and produces fewer successful students.

Selecting the right IT training provider is really a matter of research. Don’t be frightened to ask questions – remember, it’s your future.

(C) 2009. Navigate to LearningLolly.com for intelligent tips on DVD Studio Pro 2-3 and DVD Studio Pro 2-3 Training.

When we first meet someone, we just about instantly get a ‘gut’ reaction that tells us if we like this person or not – if in fact we see them as a friend or a foe. Where does an instinct like that come from, and how does it come up so quickly with such an embracing or damning reaction? More crucially, how can we stack the odds in our favour when we’re going for a new job, and flash a first impression of ‘friend’ into our interviewer’s consciousness?

Without getting into too much technical jargon – it’s commonly known that the brain has two hemispheres; the left deals with logic, and the right with creativity. This is what we know as the new brain or cortex. But there’s also an additional dimension, the pre-historic brain or hypo-thalamus (the brain stem, in fact) which is solely responsible for instincts. This was essential for making split-second life saving decisions in ancient times.

From Switzerland, more recent research names the pre-historic brain as the ‘Gatekeeper’. The Gatekeeper’s sole function is to instantly decide whether someone is a friend or a foe, and not being capable of rational thinking, it judges purely on instinct. If an approach stresses the Gatekeeper, it switches on the fight or flight response, and immediately shuts down all other message receptors. This makes any further attempts at communication impossible. Hence the phrase we use today, ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression’!

Understanding how this relates to modern life is essential for effective communication. Interviewees must learn to build a ‘Language of Trust’, and as the Gatekeeper doesn’t have the capacity to think, that language isn’t just verbal. In the first 10 to 20 seconds of meeting an interviewer, your instinctive signals must convey the message of a ‘friend’.

Your body language will convey this, with open and relaxed movements, gestures, facial expressions and eye contact. The speed of your speech must be controlled and gentle, and your voice modulation and tone must stay calm. The Gatekeeper’s decision will also be based on your appearance, clothes, smell, enthusiasm and posture. Finally, don’t invade his or her personal space.

The total focus at this stage is to get past the Gatekeeper so you can develop and build rapport, and open the interviewer’s message receptors. Once you’re past this initial first impression, you can get on with the job of developing a relationship with your interviewer, as the gate will be open to what you have to offer.

The Thomas Gordon Institute has done extensive research on communication. They looked at how words, voice, face and body contribute to believability. They came up with the following after measuring the effectiveness of each component of communication:

Facial Expression = 35%, Body Language = 35%, Voice = 23%, Words = 7%.

So actually, the gestures we make, our appearance, and how we deliver our words have more importance than what we actually say. The Gatekeeper, remember, has no capacity for rational thought, just an instinctive reaction evolved from ancient times. The gut-feeling we get is really an ancient brain feeling. Understanding this will ensure you get off to the very best start and help you to take control.

(C) 2009. Try LearningLolly.com for excellent ideas on CBT and CBT Training.