An advisor that doesn't ask you a lot of questions - it's more than likely they're actually nothing more than a salesman. If they wade straight in with a specific product before looking at your personality and experience, then you know it's true. Often, the training start-point for someone experienced in some areas is hugely dissimilar to the student with no experience. Opening with a foundation course first is often the best way to get up and running on your computer training, but depends on your skill level.

For the most part, a normal person has no idea what way to go about starting in a computing career, or what market they should look at getting trained in. What chances do most of us have of understanding the day-to-day realities of any IT job when it's an alien environment to us? We normally don't know someone who works in that sector anyway. Ultimately, the right answer will only come from a systematic examination across many unique key points:

- Your personality can play a significant role - what gives you a 'kick', and what are the things that really turn you off.

- Are you driven to get qualified for a precise motive - for example, are you looking at working from home (maybe self-employment?)?

- Does salary have a higher place on your list of priorities than other requirements.

- Because there are so many markets to choose from in Information Technology - it's wise to gain some key facts on what differentiates them.

- Taking a serious look at how much time and effort that you're going to put into it.

At the end of the day, the most intelligent way of checking this all out is via an in-depth discussion with a professional that through years of experience will provide solid advice.

There is a tidal wave of change washing over technology in the near future - and this means greater innovations all the time. We're barely starting to get to grips with how this will truly impact our way of life. The way we correlate with the world as a whole will be significantly affected by computers and the web.

And don't forget salaries also - the typical remuneration in the UK for an average person working in IT is a lot more than remuneration packages in other sectors. It's likely you'll bring in a much greater package than you would in most other jobs. Due to the technological sector emerging year on year, it's looking good that the requirement for professionally qualified and skilled IT workers will continue to boom for a good while yet.

Quite often, students have issues with one area of their training which doesn't even occur to them: The method used to 'segment' the courseware before being couriered to your address. You may think that it makes sense (with training often lasting 2 or 3 years for a full commercial certification,) for many training providers to send out one module at a time, as you pass each element. Although: With thought, many trainees understand that their providers typical path to completion doesn't suit. They might find varying the order of study will be far more suitable. Perhaps you don't make it at the pace they expect?

In all honesty, the best solution is to have a copy of their prescribed order of study, but get all the study materials at the start. Meaning you've got it all in case you don't finish as fast as they'd like.

Review the points below in detail if you believe the sales ploy of examination guarantees seems like a good idea:

You're paying for it by some means. One thing's for sure - it isn't free - they've just worked it into the package price. It's everybody's ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Going for exams when it's appropriate and paying as you go makes it far more likely you'll pass first time - you put the effort in and are conscious of what you've spent.

Don't you think it's more sensible to find the best exam deal or offer when you're ready, not to pay the fees marked up by the training course provider, and also to sit exams more locally - rather than in some remote centre? What's the point in paying early for exam fees when you don't need to? Big margins are secured by training companies getting money in early for exam fees - and then hoping that you won't take them all. Most companies will insist that you take mock exams first and hold you back from re-takes until you've completely proven that you're likely to pass - which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.

Paying maybe a thousand pounds extra on 'Exam Guarantees' is naive - when hard work, commitment and the right preparation via exam simulations is what will get you through.

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