Selecting an IT training program that equates to commercial requirements is essential in these uncertain times. But it's also just as relevant to select a course that you'll enjoy, that is pitched at the right level for you personally. Whether it's office skills you're looking to polish up on, or dream of getting professional IT certifications, there are plain-speaking courses and assistance to help you get where you want to go.

By minimising their overheads, training companies now exist with the latest courses that feature outstanding training and mentoring for a fraction of the prices asked for by old-style trainers.

Getting into your first IT role sometimes feels easier to handle if you're supported with a Job Placement Assistance facility. Having said that, occasionally this feature is bigged up too much, as it's relatively easy for a well trained and motivated person to get work in this industry - because companies everywhere are seeking trained staff.

Whatever you do, don't leave it until you've finished your training before getting your CV updated. The day you start training, mark down what you're doing and place it on jobsites! You might not even have passed your first exam when you'll secure your initial junior support role; yet this isn't going to happen unless your CV is with employers. If you'd like to get employment in your home town, then you'll often find that a local IT focused recruitment consultancy can generally be of more use than a national service, because they're far more likely to know what's available near you.

Not inconsiderable numbers of students, so it seems, conscientiously work through their course materials (sometimes for years), only to do nothing special when looking for the right position. Introduce yourself... Make an effort to get yourself known. A job isn't just going to bump into you.

For the most part, your average trainee has no idea in what direction to head in IT, or even what area they should look at getting trained in. Flicking through long lists of different and confusing job titles is next to useless. The majority of us don't really appreciate what our own family members do for a living - so we have no hope of understanding the complexities of any specific IT role. The key to answering this question appropriately lies in an in-depth conversation around a number of areas:

* Your hobbies and interests - often these highlight what things will satisfy you.

* Why it seems right stepping into IT - maybe you'd like to achieve a long-held goal such as being your own boss for example.

* Any personal or home requirements that guide you?

* Many students don't properly consider the work expected to achieve their goals.

* You have to take in what is different for each area of training.

The bottom line is, your only chance of understanding everything necessary is via an in-depth discussion with an experienced advisor that through years of experience will give you the information required.

A lot of training providers only give basic 9am till 6pm support (maybe a little earlier or later on certain days); most won't answer after 8-9pm at the latest and frequently never at the weekends. You'll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and telephone support is usually to a call-centre which will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team - who will call back over the next day or so (assuming you're there), at a time suitable for them. This isn't a lot of good if you're sitting there confused over an issue and have a one hour time-slot in which to study.

The very best training providers utilise several support facilities active in different time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to join them all seamlessly, no matter what time you login, help is at hand, without any contact issues or hassle. If you accept anything less than direct-access 24x7 support, you'll regret it very quickly. You might not want to use the service late at night, but you may need weekends, early mornings or late evenings.

Charging for examination fees upfront then including an exam guarantee is popular with a number of training colleges. Consider the facts:

Thankfully, today we tend to be a tad more knowledgeable about sales gimmicks - and generally we cotton on to the fact that we are actually being charged for it (it's not a freebie because they like us so much!) Qualifying on the first 'go' is what everyone wants to do. Entering examinations when it's appropriate and paying as you go makes it far more likely you'll pass first time - you revise thoroughly and are conscious of what you've spent.

Why pay the college early for exams? Hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you're ready, don't pay mark-ups - and do it in a local testing centre - rather than possibly hours away from your area. Paying upfront for examinations (plus interest - if you're financing your study) is bad financial management. It's not your job to boost the training company's account with extra money of yours just to give them more interest! A lot bank on the fact that you won't get round to taking them - but they won't refund the cash. Most companies will insist on pre-tests and with-hold subsequent exam entries from you until you've proven conclusively that you can pass - so an 'Exam Guarantee' comes with many clauses in reality.

Paying maybe a thousand pounds extra on an 'Exam Guarantee' is remiss - when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is what will really guarantee success.

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