Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always proper direct-access 24x7 support from trained professional instructors and mentors. Far too often we see trainers who only seem to want to help while they're in the office (9am till 6pm, Monday till Friday usually) and nothing at the weekends. You'll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and so-called telephone support is normally just routed to a call-centre who will chat nicely with you for 5 minutes to ask what the issue is and then simply send an email to an instructor - who will attempt to call you within 24-48 hrs, when it suits them. This isn't a lot of good if you're lost and confused and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.

The best trainers use multiple support centres around the globe in several time-zones. By utilising an interactive interface to join them all seamlessly, irrespective of the time you login, help is just a click away, avoiding all the delays and problems. If you accept anything less than online 24x7 support, you'll regret it. You may avoid using the support throughout the night, but what about weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.

Corporate communications internationally are led by Microsoft Network and Server Operating Systems. The standard platform for around eight to nine out of ten business networks is believed to be Windows Server. It began as NT server but has been enhanced over time to Server 2000, Server 2003 and most recently 'Server 2008'. The majority of commercial establishments still utilise Server 2003, and up-dating to 2008 is not likely for a lot of them. There are companies with NT or '2000' installations, and they are the organisations with the biggest requirement to update to '2008'. If you refer to our 'MCSA' & MCSE pages, you'll find out more about Networks, Servers & the dilemma of 'Server 2003' verses Server 2008.

The somewhat scary thought of getting your first IT job can be relieved because some trainers offer a Job Placement Assistance service. The honest truth is that it isn't so complicated as you might think to find employment - as long as you're correctly trained and certified; employers in this country need your skills.

Work on polishing up your CV right away however - look to your training company for advice on how to do this. Don't put it off until you've graduated or passed any exams. Having the possibility of an interview is more than not being regarded at all. A surprising amount of junior jobs are got by trainees (sometimes when they've only just got going.) If you'd like to get employment in your home town, then you may well find that an independent and specialised local employment service might work much better for you than the trainer's recruitment division, as they're going to be familiar with the local job scene.

Many trainees, it would appear, are prepared to study their hearts out (for years sometimes), and just give up when it comes to looking for the right position. Introduce yourself... Make an effort to let employers know about you. A job isn't just going to bump into you.

There are a glut of job availability in the IT industry. Picking the right one for you often proves challenging. How can we possibly grasp the many facets of a particular career when it's an alien environment to us? Maybe we haven't met someone who is in that area at all. Often, the key to unlocking this issue correctly stems from a deep discussion of several areas:

- The sort of person you are - what kind of jobs you really enjoy, plus of course - what you hate to do.

- What is the time-frame for the retraining?

- Have you thought about travelling time and locality vs salary?

- Getting to grips with what the main work roles and sectors are - and what makes them different.

- What effort, commitment and time you'll spend on getting qualified.

To be honest, it's obvious that the only real way to research these matters is through a chat with an advisor or professional that has experience of IT (as well as the commercial needs and requirements.)

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