Ignore any salesman who recommends a training program without a decent chat so as to understand your abilities and level of experience. They should be able to select from a generous range of products from which they could solve your training issues. With some work-based experience or qualifications, you could discover that your appropriate starting-point is not the same as someone new to the industry. Starting with a basic PC skills module first is often the best way to commence your IT studies, but depends on your skill level.

In first place for the top potential problem for IT students is often the 'in-centre' workshop requirement. Many trainers wax lyrical on the 'benefits' of going in to their classes, it's almost certain though that you'll find them a burden to be carried because of:

- Lots of back and forth visits - sometimes hundreds of miles at a time.

- Taking constant holidays or time off - a lot of schools can only give Monday to Friday workshop availability and link several days together. This isn't ideal for most people who work, and this is made worse when travel time is included.

- I think you'd agree that we usually think 4 weeks holiday each year is not really enough. Sacrifice a good 50 percent of that for educational days and you'll experience even more problems.

- 'In-Centre' days can become over subscribed.

- You may prefer to move at a different pace to others in the class. Sometimes this causes the tension often found in classrooms.

- You shouldn't disregard the increased cost of driving or taking public transport and bed and breakfast either. Don't be surprised to find this become many hundreds of pounds more - sometimes thousands. Sit down and add it up - you may be surprised.

- All of us want some privacy. We shouldn't risk giving up any possible promotion at our current place of work just because we're retraining.

- Most of us avoid posing questions while sitting with our fellow students - so we don't appear ignorant.

- Often, workshops are basically unreachable, if you live or work away from home for some part of the year.

A more flexible training route is to use videoed lessons in the comfort of your own home - and do it when it's convenient to you - not anyone else. You can study from home on your desktop computer or why not in the garden on a laptop. Any questions; then logon to the 24x7 support facility (that should come with any technical program.) You could re-watch and re-cover the elements at any time you want to. There's also no need to write any notes as you have the lesson indefinitely. Could it be simpler: No wasted time or money, travelling is avoided; plus you have a far more peaceful study environment.

If you're specifically interested in Messaging or 'Security', then MS have specialist MCSEs available to address these areas. It could be that CompTIA Security+ would be best for you, so that you can move on to the CISSP - 'Certified Information Systems Security Professional'. You'll find there are rigid 'experience' specifications for the CISSP, & these need talking about & getting to grips with before you decide to take this route. As always, we advise that you speak with a skilled IT training advisor to prevent any kind of mishaps.

CompTIA Front Line Support PC Certification Training >>