Searching for your first position in IT sometimes feels easier to handle if you're supported with a Job Placement Assistance facility. Having said that, occasionally this feature is bigged up too much, for it's relatively easy for any motivated and trained individual to find a job in this industry - as there is such a shortage of skilled employees.

Advice and support about getting interviews and your CV is sometimes offered (if not, see one of our sites for help). It's essential that you bring your CV right up to date straight away - not after you've qualified! Quite often, you'll land your first job whilst you're still studying (occasionally right at the beginning). If your CV doesn't say what you're learning (and it isn't in the hands of someone with jobs to offer) then you're not even going to be known about! Normally you'll get better results from a specialist locally based employment agency than you'll experience from any training company's national service, as they will be more familiar with the area and local employers.

A good number of men and women, it would appear, are prepared to study their hearts out (for years sometimes), and then just stop instead of attempting to secure their first job. Sell yourself... Make an effort to get in front of employers. A job isn't just going to bump into you.

Look at the following facts in detail if you believe the marketing blurb about 'guaranteeing' exams sounds like a benefit to the student:

These days, we are a little more 'marketing-savvy' - and generally we grasp that it is something we're paying for (it isn't free or out of the goodness of their hearts!) Qualifying on the first 'go' is what everyone wants to do. Entering examinations in order and paying for them just before taking them sees you much better placed to get through first time - you put the effort in and are mindful of the investment you've made.

Find the best exam deal or offer available when you take the exam, and hang on to your cash. In addition, it's then your choice where to do your exams - which means you can stay local. Buying a course that includes payments for exam fees (which also includes interest if you've taken out a loan) is bad financial management. Don't line companies bank accounts with your hard-earned cash just to give them more interest! There are those who hope that you will never make it to exams - so they get to keep the extra funds. It's worth noting that exam re-takes through training course providers with an 'Exam Guarantee' are monitored with tight restrictions. They will insist that you take pre-tests first until you've demonstrated an excellent ability to pass.

Due to typical VUE and Prometric exams coming in at around 112 pounds in the UK, it's common sense to fund them one by one. Not to fork out thousands extra in up-front costs. A commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools are actually the key to your success.

Many people question why academic qualifications are being replaced by more commercially accredited qualifications? With university education costs becoming a tall order for many, plus the IT sector's recognition that vendor-based training is closer to the mark commercially, we have seen a great increase in Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA accredited training routes that educate students at a much reduced cost in terms of money and time. Typically, the learning just focuses on what's actually required. It isn't quite as lean as that might sound, but the most important function is always to cover the precise skills needed (along with a certain amount of crucial background) - without going into too much detail in every other area (as degree courses are known to do).

As long as an employer understands what work they need doing, then they just need to look for someone with a specific qualification. The syllabuses are set to exacting standards and aren't allowed to deviate (as academic syllabuses often do).

All programs you're considering should always lead to a nationally accepted certification at the finale - and not some unimportant 'in-house' diploma - fit only for filing away and forgetting. Only fully recognised examinations from the top companies like Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA and Cisco will open the doors to employers.

'Microsoft' means the operating system Windows to most individuals who use computer systems. The word 'Office' could similarly spring to mind as a lot of individuals associate the 'applications' system with the organisation itself. The most familiar application is probably MS Word, which is a program for word processing. When we want spreadsheets we use 'Excel', & when we want database software we use 'Access'. If we include the PowerPoint presentation software then we finalise the key elements commonly associated with the 'Office' group. There is nevertheless much more to 'Office' in total, for instance Microsoft 'Outlook' serves as a calendar, email and messaging system.

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