Thinking of taking an MCSE? If the answer's 'yes', there's a good chance that you'll fall into one of the following categories: You're someone with a certain amount of knowledge and you'd like to consolidate your skill-set with a qualification such as MCSE. Alternatively you might be just about to enter commercial IT, and you've found there's a huge demand for certified networking professionals.

As you do your searches, you'll come across training companies that short-change you by failing to use the current Microsoft version. Avoid these companies as you will face problems with the present exams. If you are studying the wrong syllabus, it will be hard to pass. Don't be pushed into a computer course without the right advice. Find a training provider that will ensure you are on the best course for you.

Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always full 24x7 support from expert mentors and instructors. Far too often we see trainers who only provide office hours (or extended office hours) support. Don't buy training that only supports you with a message system outside of normal office hours. Trainers will give you every excuse in the book why you don't need this. The simple fact of the matter is - you want to be supported when you need the help - not at times when they find it cheaper to provide it.

We recommend looking for training programs that use several support centres around the globe in several time-zones. These should be integrated to provide a single interface and 24x7 access, when it suits you, with the minimum of hassle. If you fail to get yourself direct-access round-the-clock support, you'll end up kicking yourself. You may avoid using the support late in the night, but you're bound to use weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.

A number of trainees think that the tech college or university route is still the best way into IT. So why are commercially accredited qualifications slowly and steadily replacing it? Corporate based study (in industry terminology) is most often much more specialised. The IT sector has realised that such specialised knowledge is vital to service the demands of a technologically complex marketplace. Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA are the big boys in this field. In essence, only that which is required is learned. It's slightly more broad than that, but the principle objective is to master the precisely demanded skill-sets (alongside some required background) - without trying to cram in every other area - in the way that academic establishments often do.

Just like the advert used to say: 'It does what it says on the tin'. The company just needs to know what they need doing, and then match up the appropriate exam numbers as a requirement. Then they know that anyone who applies can do the necessary work.

A typical blunder that we encounter all too often is to concentrate on the course itself, and not focus on where they want to get to. Schools are stacked to the hilt with direction-less students that chose an 'interesting' course - in place of something that could gain them the job they want. It's a sad fact, but a great many students kick-off study that often sounds great in the sales literature, but which provides a job that is of no interest at all. Try talking to typical university students and you'll see where we're coming from.

Take time to understand what your attitude is towards career progression and earning potential, and if you're ambitious or not. It makes sense to understand what (if any) sacrifices you'll need to make for a particular role, which particular certifications they want you to have and in what way you can develop commercial experience. Chat with a skilled advisor who knows about the sector you're looking at, and could provide a detailed run-down of the kind of things you'll be doing on a daily basis. Contemplating this well before commencement of any study programme has obvious benefits.

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