Were it not for a continuous flood of qualified network and PC support staff, commercial enterprise in the UK (as elsewhere) would inevitably run into problems. Consequently, there’s a huge requirement for men and women with technical ability to support systems and users alike. Our desire for those people is consistently on the grow, as industry becomes progressively more computer dependent.

Training support for students is an absolute must – find a program providing 24×7 full access, as anything less will frustrate you and could hold up your pace and restrict your intake.

Email support is too slow, and phone support is usually just a call-centre which will make some notes and then email an advisor – who will call back over the next day or so (assuming you’re there), at a time suitable for them. This is all next to useless if you’re stuck and can’t continue and only have a specific time you can study.

As long as you look hard, you will find the very best companies that provide their students direct-access online support 24×7 – at any time of day or night.

If you fail to get yourself direct-access 24×7 support, you’ll regret it. You may not need it late at night, but you’re bound to use weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.

The area most overlooked by new students thinking about a course is the concept of ‘training segmentation’. This basically means how the program is broken down into parts for drop-shipping to you, which makes a huge difference to the point you end up at.

Training companies will normally offer some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and send out each piece as you complete each exam. If you think this sound logical, then consider this:

How would they react if you didn’t complete everything within the time limits imposed? Often the prescribed exam order doesn’t come as naturally as another different route may.

In a perfect world, you’d ask for every single material to be delivered immediately – enabling you to have them all to come back to at any time in the future – whenever it suits you. You can also vary the order in which you move through the program if another more intuitive route presents itself.

Many trainers have a handy Job Placement Assistance service, to help you get your first job. But don’t place too much emphasis on it – it’s easy for training companies to make too much of it. Ultimately, the huge shortage of staff in the UK is the reason you’ll find a job.

Having said that, it’s important to have advice and support about your CV and interviews though; and we’d recommend everybody to bring their CV up to date right at the beginning of their training – don’t put it off till you’ve finished your exams.

It’s not unusual to find that you’ll land your first job whilst you’re still studying (even in the early stages). If your CV doesn’t show your latest training profile (and it hasn’t been posted on jobsites) then you’re not even going to be known about!

The most efficient companies to help get you placed are normally specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. As they’re keen to place you to receive their commission, they have more incentive to get on with it.

A big aggravation for a number of course providers is how much people are prepared to work to become certified, but how ill-prepared they are to market themselves for the position they have qualified for. Don’t give up when the best is yet to come.

If an advisor doesn’t ask many questions – chances are they’re just a salesperson. If someone pushes specific products before learning about your history and experience, then you know it’s true.

Often, the level to start at for a person with some experience is often massively dissimilar to the student with none.

It’s usual to start with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. Starting there can make the transition to higher-level learning a little less steep.

(C) 2009. Go to LearningLolly.com for great advice on MCSA or MCSE and Web Design Training.