What might someone looking for Microsoft certified training expect to come across? Obviously, training organisations ought to have a variety of routes that match the needs of Microsoft certified training tracks.

Maybe you'd choose to talk about career options with a person who's got industry experience - and should you be confused, then get help to sort out whereabouts in industry would be right for you, dependent on your abilities and personality.

Insist that your training course is matched to your ability level and skills. A quality company will make sure that the course is purpose built for the job you want to get.

So, why is it better to gain commercial qualifications as opposed to traditional academic qualifications taught at tech' colleges and universities?

With 3 and 4 year academic degree costs climbing ever higher, alongside the industry's increasing awareness that accreditation-based training is closer to the mark commercially, there has been a great increase in Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe authorised training routes that educate students for much less time and money.

Patently, a necessary degree of background detail has to be taught, but core specifics in the areas needed gives a vendor educated student a huge edge.

Just like the advert used to say: 'It does what it says on the tin'. Employers simply need to know what they're looking for, and then advertise for someone with the specific certification. Then they're assured that a potential employee can do exactly what's required.

So many training providers are all about the certification, and avoid focusing on what you actually need - which is a commercial career or job. You should always begin with where you want to get to - too many people focus on the journey.

Don't be part of that group who set off on a track which looks like it could be fun - only to end up with a qualification for an unrewarding career path.

Be honest with yourself about how much you want to earn and the level of your ambition. Sometimes, this affects which precise exams will be required and what industry will expect from you in return.

Our recommendation would be to always seek guidance and advice from a skilled professional before embarking on a study programme, so you're sure from the outset that the chosen route will give you the appropriate skill-set.

It would be wonderful to believe that our careers will remain secure and our work prospects are protected, but the likely scenario for most sectors throughout Great Britain currently seems to be that security just isn't there anymore.

It's possible though to reveal security at market-level, by probing for areas in high demand, together with a lack of qualified workers.

Reviewing the computing sector, the recent e-Skills study highlighted a twenty six percent deficit in trained staff. To put it another way, this means that the United Kingdom can only find 3 certified professionals for every 4 jobs available currently.

This fundamental notion shows the validity and need for more appropriately trained computing professionals in the UK.

Surely, it really is a fabulous time for retraining into the computing industry.

Students who consider this area of study are usually quite practically-minded, and won't enjoy sitting at a desk in class, and poring through books and manuals. If you're thinking this sounds like you, opt for more involving, interactive learning materials, where learning is video-based.

Our ability to remember is increased with an involvement of all our senses - this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for decades now.

Top of the range study programs now offer easy-to-use DVD or CD ROM's. By watching and listening to instructors on video tutorials you'll absorb the modules, one by one, by way of the expert demonstrations. You can then test yourself by using practice-lab's.

It would be silly not to view examples of the courseware provided before you purchase a course. Always insist on instructor-led video demonstrations and interactive modules with audio-visual elements.

It doesn't make sense to select online only courseware. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from your average broadband company, make sure you get physical media such as CD or DVD ROM's.