Full support is of the utmost importance - look for a package providing 24x7 full access, as anything less will not satisfy and will also put a damper on the speed you move through things. Many only provide email support (too slow), and so-called telephone support is normally just routed to a call-centre which will make some notes and then email an advisor - who will attempt to call you within 24-48 hrs, at a time suitable for them. This is not a lot of use if you're sitting there confused over an issue and only have a specific time you can study.

We recommend that you search for providers that utilise many support facilities across multiple time-zones. These should be integrated to offer a simple interface and round-the-clock access, when it's convenient for you, without any problems. Seek out a company that goes the extra mile. As only true 24x7 round-the-clock live support provides the necessary backup.

Make sure that all your certifications are commercially valid and current - forget courses that lead to in-house certificates. From the viewpoint of an employer, only the major heavyweights such as Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA or Adobe (for example) give enough bang for your buck. Anything less just won't hit the right spot.

Several companies have a handy Job Placement Assistance service, to assist your search for your first position. In reality it's not as difficult as you may be led to believe to find a job - as long as you're correctly trained and certified; because there's still a great need for IT skills in the UK today.

CV and Interview advice and support might be provided (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). It's essential that you polish up your CV straight away - not when you're ready to start work! It's not unusual to find that you'll land your initial role while still studying (even in the early stages). If your CV doesn't say what you're learning (and it isn't in the hands of someone with jobs to offer) then you won't even be considered! If you'd like to keep travelling time and costs to a minimum, then it's quite likely that a local IT focused recruitment consultancy may serve you better than a national service, as they are much more inclined to be familiar with the jobs that are going locally.

Various men and women, so it seems, put a great deal of effort into their studies (for years sometimes), and just give up when it comes to trying to get a good job. Introduce yourself... Work hard to let employers know about you. Don't expect a job to just fall into your lap.

Finding job security these days is problematic. Companies will throw us from the workplace at the drop of a hat - whenever it suits. Security only exists now via a swiftly growing marketplace, fuelled by a shortfall of trained staff. These circumstances create the correct background for market-security - a far better situation.

The IT skills shortfall throughout the United Kingdom clocks in at approximately 26 percent, as shown by the 2006 e-Skills study. Accordingly, for each four job positions that exist across computing, organisations are only able to locate properly accredited workers for 3 of them. Accomplishing the appropriate commercial computer accreditation is correspondingly a 'Fast Track' to achieve a long-lasting and enjoyable career. Quite simply, gaining new qualifications in IT during the years to come is very likely the finest choice of careers you could make.

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