In the fast-paced world we live in, support workers who can fix computers and networks, and give constant advice to users, are indispensable in every sector of industry. Whilst we’re all becoming progressively beholden to computers and networks, we in turn find ourselves increasingly more reliant upon the skilled and qualified network engineers, who ensure the systems function properly.

How are we supposed to go about making an informed decision then? With so many opportunities, we have to know where we should be looking – and of course, what to actually be searching for.

A typical blunder that many potential students make is to focus entirely on getting a qualification, rather than starting with the desired end-result. Schools are stacked to the hilt with unaware students who chose a course based on what sounded good – in place of something that could gain them the job they want. Don’t let yourself become part of the group that choose a course that sounds really ‘interesting’ and ‘fun’ – and end up with a certification for a career they’ll never really get any satisfaction from.

Be honest with yourself about what you want to earn and whether you’re an ambitious person or not. Usually, this will point the way to what precise accreditations will be required and what industry will expect from you in return. Always seek guidance and advice from a skilled professional, even if you have to pay a small fee – it’s considerably cheaper and safer to discover early on if a chosen track will suit, instead of discovering following two years of study that you’ve picked the wrong track and have wasted years of effort.

There is no way of over emphasising this: It’s essential to obtain proper 24×7 round-the-clock instructor support. You will have so many problems later if you don’t heed this. Beware of institutions that use ‘out-of-hours’ messaging systems – where you’ll get called back during normal office hours. This is no use if you’re stuck and want support there and then.

Keep your eyes open for providers that utilise many support facilities across multiple time-zones. Each one should be integrated to provide a single interface and also round-the-clock access, when you want it, with no hassle. Never make do with less than you need and deserve. Online 24×7 support is the only way to go for technical training. Perhaps you don’t intend to study during the evenings; but for the majority of us however, we’re at work while the support is live.

We’d hazard a guess that you probably enjoy fairly practical work – the ‘hands-on’ personality type. If you’re like us, the world of book-reading and classrooms can be just about bared when essential, but it’s not ideal. You should use video and multimedia based materials if book-based learning really isn’t your style. Years of research and study has time and time again confirmed that connecting physically with our study, will more likely produce memories that are deeper and longer-lasting.

Learning is now available in disc format, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Video streaming means you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how it’s all done, and then have a go at it yourself – in a virtual lab environment. It’s wise to view some of the typical study materials provided before you sign the purchase order. You should expect video tutorials, instructor demo’s and audio-visual elements backed up by interactive lab’s.

Avoid training that is purely online. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where possible, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you – and not be totally reliant on your broadband being ‘up’ 100 percent of the time.

Many certification companies are still using the rather old-fashioned idea of classroom lessons. Very often portrayed as a huge benefit, if you talk to a student who has had to attend a few, you’ll most likely hear about many or all of these issues:

* Loads of journeys to the workshop centre – sometimes quite a distance away.

* Getting time off work – typical colleges can only give Mon-Fri workshop availability and often group days together in a clump. If you’re working then this can be difficult, even more so when travel time is included.

* Don’t overlook lost vacation time. We typically get 4 weeks annual leave. If over 50 percent is used in classes, then there’s very little left over for us.

* Training events fill up fast and can sometimes be too big – so they’re not personal enough.

* Workshop pace – classes can contain trainees of varied abilities, therefore there is often tension between those that want to go quickly as opposed to the ones who need a little longer.

* A lot of trainees tell us of the considerable cost of all the travelling back and forth to the centre and paying for food and accommodation can get very expensive.

* The majority of attendees want their studies to remain private thus avoiding all come-back from their current employer.

* Don’t think it’s unusual for trainees to not ask questions they want answered – simply because they’re surrounded by fellow attendees.

* It’s a fact; classes are pretty much undoable, where you work or live away for days at a time.

It really does make more sense to take classes at your convenience – not your training provider’s – and employ videos of instructors with interactive virtual-lab’s. You can study anywhere you want. If you own a laptop, take in some fresh air in your garden as you study. Any issues that arise just logon to the 24×7 support facility. Note-taking is gone forever – you have the lessons and accompanying information ready-made for you. If you need to cover something again, it’s all right there. The bottom line: Much less stress and hassle, saved money, and no wasted travelling time.

How can job security honestly exist anymore? In the UK for instance, with businesses changing their mind at alarming speeds, there doesn’t seem much chance. It’s possible though to locate security at market-level, by digging for areas in high demand, together with a shortage of skilled staff.

Taking the computer business for instance, the most recent e-Skills study highlighted massive skills shortages throughout the UK of over 26 percent. It follows then that for each 4 job positions that exist across the computer industry, companies are only able to locate trained staff for 3 of them. This one fact in itself highlights why the country urgently requires so many more trainees to enter the Information Technology market. In reality, gaining new qualifications in IT over the next year or two is probably the safest career direction you could choose.