One fatal mistake that we encounter all too often is to focus entirely on getting a qualification, and not focus on where they want to get to. Colleges are brimming over with direction-less students who chose a course based on what sounded good - instead of what would yield an enjoyable career or job. It's quite usual, for example, to find immense satisfaction in a year of study but end up spending 10 or 20 years in a job you hate, simply because you did it without some quality research when you should've - at the outset.

You'll want to understand what industry will expect from you. What qualifications they'll want you to gain and how you'll go about getting some commercial experience. It's definitely worth spending time considering how far you think you'll want to progress your career as it may control your selection of exams. It's worth seeking help from an advisor who knows the commercial realities of the market you've chosen, and will be able to provide 'A day in the life of' type of explanation for each job considered. This is incredibly important because you obviously have to know if you're barking up the wrong tree.

To accomplish the full 'MCSA' you need to take 4 specific 'MCP' examinations ('MCP' stands for 'Microsoft Certified Professional'). Three of these are 'core' examinations which must be taken, & one is what's known as an elective. The 'Comptia' Security+ is actually acknowledged as an elective examination, and is more and more popular with all students for various reasons. The 'MCSE' consists of 7 'MCP' examinations, which show the growing emphasis on organisational security, systems-planning and network-design.

Some training providers supply a practical Job Placement Assistance facility, to help you get your first job. Don't get overly impressed with this service - it's easy for companies marketing departments to make too much of it. Ultimately, the need for well trained IT people in the UK is what will enable you to get a job.

One important thing though, avoid waiting until you've finished your training before updating your CV. The day you start training, list what you're working on and tell people about it! Quite frequently, you'll land your first job while you're still a student (even in the early stages). If your CV doesn't say what you're learning (and it hasn't been posted on jobsites) then you won't even be considered! Generally, you'll receive better performance from a specialist independent regional employment service than you'll experience from any training company's recruitment division, as they'll know the area better.

Fundamentally, if you put as much hard work into landing your first IT position as into studying, you won't find it too challenging. A number of men and women strangely conscientiously work through their learning program and do nothing more once qualified and seem to expect employers to find them.

All programs you're considering really needs to work up to a nationally accepted certification at the end - and not a worthless 'in-house' plaque for your wall. All the major commercial players like Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or Adobe each have widely renowned skills courses. Major-league companies like these will make sure you're employable.

The MCSE track also features messaging & security as two specialist tracks. These call for either two additional 'MCP' exams, or one single additional exam if one of the main seven has been suitably selected. If you are thinking about either of these specialities then it makes sense to consider this from the start - as it then means just eight exams are required, instead of 9. Up-date examinations have also been brought in by Microsoft, (exam 70/648 for 'MCSA' and exam 70/649 for 'MCSE') for Server 2008 MCTS ('Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist'). We would suggest that you should consider including the relevant update into your training package. This will not only future proof you to a certain degree, but will also open up more job avenues.

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