The CompTIA A+ training program covers four areas of training; you're qualified as an A+ achiever when you've passed the test for two of the four areas. This is the reason that it's usual for colleges to only have two of the courses on their syllabus. The truth is you will need the teaching in all areas as industry will be looking for an awareness of the whole A+ program. You don't have to pass exams in all of them, but it seems common sense that you take tutorials in all 4 subjects.

A+ certification by itself will set you up to repair and fix stand-alone PC's and MAC's; ones which are usually not part of a network - which means the home or small business market. Were you to add Network+ training to your A+, you will additionally be able to assist with or manage networks of computers, giving you the facility to apply for more senior positions.

Massive developments are flooding technology over the next generation - and it becomes more and more thrilling each day. We're in the very early stages of beginning to get an inclination of how technology will influence everything we do. Computers and the Internet will profoundly revolutionise how we regard and interrelate with the rest of the world over the next few years.

Wages in the IT sector aren't to be ignored also - the usual income throughout Britain for an average man or woman in IT is significantly better than in other market sectors. Chances are that you'll receive a whole lot more than you'd expect to earn doing other work. As the IT industry keeps increasing with no sign of a slow-down, the chances are that the requirement for certified IT specialists will remain buoyant for years to come.

So many training providers only concern themselves with gaining a certificate, and completely miss what you actually need - which is a commercial career or job. You should always begin with where you want to get to - don't make the vehicle more important than the destination. Students often train for a single year but end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Don't make the mistake of taking what may be an 'interesting' training program only to spend 20 years doing something you don't even enjoy!

Set targets for earning potential and whether you're an ambitious person or not. This will influence which particular exams will be expected and how much effort you'll have to give in return. We recommend that students take advice from an experienced industry professional before you begin some particular training programme, so you're sure from the outset that a program provides the skills for the job being sought.

Some training providers will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance program, to help you get your first job. But don't place too much emphasis on it - it's easy for eager sales people to overplay it. At the end of the day, the need for well trained IT people in the United Kingdom is what will enable you to get a job.

Help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews may be available (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). It's essential that you update that dusty old CV today - don't wait until you've finished your exams! Being considered a 'maybe' is more than not being known. A decent number of junior support roles are got by people (sometimes when they've only just got going.) If you'd like to keep travelling time and costs to a minimum, then it's quite likely that a specialist locally based employment agency could be more appropriate than a centralised service, because they are much more inclined to be familiar with what's available near you.

Various trainees, it seems, invest a great deal of time on their training course (for years sometimes), only to do nothing special when trying to get a job. Market yourself... Work hard to get in front of employers. Good jobs don't just knock on your door.

One of the most important things to insist on has to be 24x7 round-the-clock support from professional mentors and instructors. 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. Try and find training where you can access help at all hours of the day and night (irrespective of whether it's the wee hours on Sunday morning!) You'll need direct access to tutors, and not a call-centre that will take messages so you're parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back during office hours.

Top training providers tend to use an internet-based 24x7 system involving many support centres over many time-zones. You're offered an environment which seamlessly selects the best facility available any time of the day or night: Support when you need it. Look for a training company that gives this level of learning support. Only true live 24x7 round-the-clock support provides the necessary backup.