If you forget everything else - then just remember this: Always get full 24x7 support from professional instructors. You'll severely regret it if you don't adhere to this. Avoid, like the plague, any organisations that use messaging services 'out-of-hours' - where an advisor will call back during normal office hours. This is no use if you're stuck and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.

The most successful trainers have many support offices from around the world. Online access provides the interactive interface to seamlessly link them all, any time of the day or night, help is just a click away, without any problems or delays. Never make do with anything less. Direct-access round-the-clock support is the only kind that ever makes the grade for IT training. Perhaps you don't intend to study during the evenings; but for most of us, we're out at work during the provided support period.

With regards to Network+ , the previous 'N10-003' has today been updated by the N10-004, the 2009 edition. Along with maintaining its focus on network infrastructure and management, the up-graded 2009 exam points to an increased importance on security, wireless-networking skills & network-design concepts.

Several companies will provide a useful Job Placement Assistance service, designed to steer you into your first job. It can happen though that people are too impressed with this facility, as it's really not that difficult for a well trained and motivated person to land a job in IT - as there is such a shortage of skilled employees.

Having said that, it's important to have help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews though; additionally, we would recommend everyone to update their CV the day they start training - don't delay for when you're ready to start work. Various junior support roles have been bagged by trainees who are still studying and haven't got any qualifications yet. At least this will get you into the 'maybe' pile of CV's - rather than the 'No' pile. If you'd like to keep travelling time and costs to a minimum, then you may well find that a local (but specialised) recruitment consultancy could be of more use than the trainer's recruitment division, as they are much more inclined to have insider knowledge of the jobs that are going locally.

Various people, so it seems, conscientiously work through their course materials (for years sometimes), only to give up at the first hurdle when looking for a job. Sell yourself... Make an effort to let employers know about you. Don't expect a job to just fall into your lap.

The market provides a myriad of professional positions up for grabs in the IT industry. Picking the right one for you is generally problematic. After all, without any experience in IT in the workplace, how are you equipped to know what any qualified IT worker fills their day with? Let alone decide on which training route provides the best chances for success. Generally, the way to deal with this issue correctly flows from an in-depth chat, covering some important points:

- Our personalities play an important part - what gets you 'up and running', and what are the activities that put a frown on your face.

- Are you hoping to get qualified for a certain raison d'etre - e.g. is it your goal to work at home (working for yourself?)?

- Is salary further up on your wish list than some other areas.

- Getting to grips with what typical Information technology roles and sectors are - and what differentiates them.

- What effort, commitment and time you'll have available to spend on your training.

For most people, getting to the bottom of so much data requires a good chat with a professional who has direct industry experience. And we're not only talking about the qualifications - but the commercial expectations and needs of the market as well.