A+ consists of four exams and study sections, but you’re just expected to achieve certification in two for qualification purposes. As this is the case, the majority of training providers only offer 2 paths. However, training you in all four will provide you with a more confident perspective of the subject, which you’ll come to realise is an important asset in professional employment.

Once you start your A+ training program you will develop an understanding of how to build computers and fix them, and work in antistatic conditions. Diagnostic techniques and fault finding are also on the syllabus, as is remote access. In addition, you could look to consider adding Network+ training to your A+ as it will enable you to take care of computer networks, and become a more senior IT professional.

How can job security really exist anymore? In the UK for example, with businesses changing their mind on a whim, it seems increasingly unlikely. We could however discover security at market-level, by searching for areas that have high demand, coupled with a shortage of skilled staff.

The computer industry skills shortfall across the United Kingdom clocks in at just over 26 percent, as shown by the 2006 e-Skills analysis. Showing that for every four jobs that are available throughout Information Technology (IT), we have only 3 certified professionals to do them. Properly taught and commercially accredited new workers are consequently at an absolute premium, and it seems it will continue to be so for many years to come. In reality, gaining new qualifications in IT over the coming years is very likely the best career direction you could choose.

How do we reach an informed decision then? With such prospects, we’ll need to know where to look – and what it is we should be digging for.

For the most part, the normal person really has no clue how they should get into a computing career, or even what sector they should look at getting trained in. As having no commercial background in computing, how could any of us be expected to understand what a particular job actually consists of? Getting to any kind of right answer will only come via a thorough study across many different key points:

* The kind of person you think yourself to be – the tasks that you enjoy doing, and conversely – what you definitely don’t enjoy.

* Are you hoping to obtain training for a specific motive – e.g. do you aim to work based at home (maybe self-employment?)?

* How important is salary to you – is it the most important thing, or is job satisfaction higher up on your priority-list?

* With so many ways to train in computing – there’s a need to achieve a basic understanding of what separates them.

* You should also think long and hard about the level of commitment you’re going to invest in the accreditation program.

For most people, considering all these ideas requires a good chat with someone who can explain things properly. And we don’t just mean the qualifications – but the commercial requirements of the market as well.

Those that are drawn to this type of work often have a very practical outlook on work, and don’t really enjoy classrooms, and slogging through piles of books. If this could be you, use multimedia, interactive learning, where you can learn everything on-screen. Research over recent years has always demonstrated that becoming involved with our studies, to utilise all our senses, is much more conducive to long-term memory.

Find a course where you’re provided with an array of CD and DVD based materials – you’ll learn by watching video tutorials and demonstrations, and then have the opportunity to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions. Any company that you’re considering must be able to demonstrate some examples of their training materials. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and interactive areas to practice in.

Plump for disc based courseware (On CD or DVD) where possible. You’re then protected from broadband ‘downtime’ or slow-speeds.

How the program is actually delivered to you is usually ignored by most students. How many parts is the training broken down into? And in what order and at what speed is it delivered? You may think that it makes sense (when study may take one to three years to gain full certified status,) for your typical trainer to courier one module at a time, as you achieve each exam pass. But: Often, the staged breakdown offered by the provider doesn’t suit. You may find it a stretch to finalise all the elements inside their defined time-scales?

For the perfect solution, you want everything at the start – giving you them all to come back to in the future – at any time you choose. This also allows you to vary the order in which you complete each objective where a more intuitive path can be found.

A lot of training companies will only provide support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly. Beware of institutions which use ‘out-of-hours’ messaging systems – where an advisor will call back during standard office hours. This is no use if you’re stuck and need help now.

As long as you look hard, you will find the top providers that provide their students online support all the time – no matter what time of day it is. Unless you insist on direct-access round-the-clock support, you’ll regret it. You may avoid using the support late at night, but you’re bound to use weekends, early mornings or late evenings.

Always expect authorised exam simulation and preparation programs as part of your training package. Some students can be thrown off course by going through practice questions that are not from the authorised examining boards. It’s not uncommon that the phraseology is startlingly different and it’s vital that you know this. Always have some simulated exam questions that will allow you to check your comprehension at all times. Simulated or practice exams will help to boost your attitude – then the actual exam is much easier.

Many training companies will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance service, to help you into your first commercial role. Because of the growing need for more IT skills in the United Kingdom at the moment, there’s no need to make too much of this option though. It isn’t so complicated as you might think to secure a job once you’re trained and certified.

However, what is relevant is to 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 right at the beginning of their training – don’t wait until you’ve qualified. You may not have got to the stage where you’ve qualified when you’ll secure your initial junior support role; although this isn’t going to happen unless you’ve posted your CV on job sites. The top companies to get you a new position are generally local IT focused employment agencies. As they’re keen to place you to receive their commission, they have more incentive to get on with it.

A good number of students, it seems, spend evenings and weekends on their training and studies (sometimes for years), only to do nothing special when looking for the right position. Sell yourself… Work hard to put yourself out there. A job isn’t just going to bump into you.