It’s really great that you’ve already got this far! Only one in ten folks claim contentment with their job, but a huge number just bitch about it and do nothing. By looking for this we have a hunch that you’ve a personal interest in re-training, which means you’re already ahead of the pack. The next step is to get busy to find your direction.

When considering retraining, it’s crucial to initially know what you DO want and DON’T want from the position you would like to get. It’s important to discover if you would be more satisfied before much time and effort is spent re-directing your life. We recommend looking at the end goal first, to avoid disappointment:

* Do you like to work collaborating with people? Is that as part of a team or with a lot of new people? Possibly operating on your own in isolation would be more your thing?

* What criteria are fundamentally important with regard to the industry you hope to work in?

* Is it important that this should be the last time re-training is necessary?

* Do you think being qualified will give you the opportunity to find the work you’re looking for, and keep working until you wish to retire?

A predominant industry in the United Kingdom that can satisfy a trainee’s demands is Information Technology. There’s a shortage of skilled technicians in the industry, simply have a look at a local jobsite and you will find them yourself. But don’t think it’s only geeky nerds sitting in front ofscreens all day long – there’s a lot more to it than that. The majority of workers in this sector are people of average intelligence, but they enjoy their work and get well paid.

Being a part of progressive developments in new technology is about as exciting as it can get. You personally play your part in creating a future for us all. Computing technology and communication via the internet will dramatically shape our lifestyles in the future; remarkably so.

If earning a good living is around the top on your wish list, you will welcome the news that the usual remuneration of a typical IT worker is significantly better than salaries in most other jobs or industries. Because the IT market sector is still emerging nationally and internationally, it’s looking good that the need for appropriately qualified IT professionals will continue actively for decades to come.

Be under no illusions, the computer sector provides outstanding potential. Yet, to fully investigate, what questions do we need to raise, and what are the sectors we need to investigate?

A capable and professional consultant (in contrast with a salesperson) will want to thoroughly discuss your current level of ability and experience. This is paramount to understanding your study start-point. Occasionally, the training inception point for a person with experience is substantially dissimilar to someone without. Working through a user skills program first can be the best way to get into your computer programme, depending on your current skill level.

Proper support should never be taken lightly – ensure you track down something that provides 24×7 direct access, as not opting for this kind of support could hold up your pace and restrict your intake. Never accept training that only supports students with a call-centre messaging system after 6-9pm in the evening and during weekends. Training companies will give you every excuse in the book why you don’t need this. But, no matter how they put it – you need support when you need support – not at their convenience.

Keep your eyes open for study programmes that use several support centres active in different time-zones. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to give a single entry point and round-the-clock access, when you want it, without any problems. Never ever take second best when you’re looking for the right support service. Many IT hopefuls that give up, are in that situation because they didn’t get the support necessary for them.

Those that are drawn to this type of work can be very practical by nature, and don’t really enjoy classrooms, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If you’re thinking this sounds like you, opt for more involving, interactive learning materials, where you can learn everything on-screen. Many years of research has consistently confirmed that connecting physically with our study, is far more likely to produce long-lasting memories.

Start a study-program in which you’re provided with an array of DVD-ROM’s – you’ll begin by watching videos of instructors demonstrating the skills, with the facility to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions. It makes sense to see some of the typical study materials provided before you purchase a course. The minimum you should expect would be instructor demonstrations, video tutorials and audio-visual elements backed up by interactive lab’s.

You’ll find that many companies will only provide purely on-line training; and while this is acceptable much of the time, think what will happen if you lose your internet access or you only get very a very slow connection sometimes. It’s much safer to rely on CD and DVD ROM materials that will solve that problem.

An important area that is sometimes not even considered by new students mulling over a new direction is that of ‘training segmentation’. This is essentially the breakdown of the materials to be delivered to you, which vastly changes how you end up. Training companies will normally offer some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and send out each piece as you complete each section or exam. On the surface this seems reasonable – until you consider the following: What if there are reasons why you can’t finish each and every exam? Maybe the prescribed order won’t suit you? Without any fault on your part, you might take a little longer and therefore not end up with all the modules.

For maximum flexibility and safety, it’s normal for most trainees to request that all their modules (now paid for) are posted to them in one go, with nothing held back. It’s then up to you in what order and how fast or slow you’d like to work.

‘Exam Guarantees’ are often bundled with training offers – this always means exams have to be paid for upfront, at the start of your training. But before you get taken in by guaranteed exams, look at the following:

Obviously it isn’t free – you’re still coughing up for it – it’s just been wrapped up in the price of the package. It’s everybody’s ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Going for exams one by one and paying as you go sees you much better placed to get through first time – you take it seriously and are aware of the costs involved.

Do your exams somewhere local and go for the best offer you can find when you’re ready. Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for examinations when you didn’t need to? Big margins are made because training colleges are charging upfront for all their exams – and then cashing in when they’re not all taken. Additionally, many exam guarantees are worthless. Most companies won’t pay for re-takes until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won’t fail again.

With average prices for VUE and Pro-metric exams in the United Kingdom costing around 112 pounds, 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. Study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.

Many trainers will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance facility, designed to steer you into your first job. Often, this feature is bigged up too much, as it is actually not that hard for any motivated and trained individual to secure a job in IT – as there is such a shortage of trained staff.

Help with your CV and interview techniques is sometimes offered (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). Make sure you polish up your CV straight away – don’t leave it till you pass the exams! It’s not unusual to find that you will be offered your initial job whilst you’re still studying (occasionally right at the beginning). If your CV doesn’t show your latest training profile (and it hasn’t been posted on jobsites) then you don’t stand a chance! Normally you’ll get better results from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than any course provider’s employment division, as they’ll know the local area and commercial needs better.

Not inconsiderable numbers of trainees, so it seems, put a great deal of effort into their studies (sometimes for years), only to do nothing special when trying to get their first job. Introduce yourself… Make an effort to get in front of employers. Don’t expect a job to just fall into your lap.

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