Training for your CompTIA A+ covers 2 different sectors - you'll have to qualify in both specialities to be seen as A+ compliant. Training courses in A+ are about fault finding and diagnosing - both through hands-on and remote access, alongside building, fixing, repairing and having knowledge of antistatic conditions. It could be a good idea to consider adding Network+ training to your A+ as you'll then be in a position to look after networks of computers, which means greater employment benefits.

It's likely that you're quite practically minded - a 'hands-on' type. If you're anything like us, the trial of reading reference books and manuals can be just about bared when essential, but it doesn't suit your way of doing things. You should use video and multimedia based materials if learning from books is not your thing. If we can involve all our senses in the learning process, then we often see hugely increased memory retention as a result.

Courses are now available in disc format, so you can study at your own computer. Video streaming means you can watch instructors demonstrating how something is done, and then practice yourself - via the interactive virtual lab's. Each company you're contemplating must be pushed to demo a few examples of the materials provided for study. You should hope for instructor-led videos and a wide selection of interactive elements.

Opt for CD and DVD ROM based physical training media every time. You can then avoid all the difficulties of internet connection failure and issues with signal quality.

A proficient and practiced consultant (as opposed to a salesman) will want to thoroughly discuss your abilities and experience. There is no other way of calculating the starting point for your education. Quite often, the level to start at for a person with experience will be largely different to the student with no experience. For students commencing IT study anew, you might like to start out slowly, kicking off with some basic user skills first. This can be built into most accreditation programs.

Many trainers supply a practical Job Placement Assistance program, to assist your search for your first position. However sometimes people are too impressed with this facility, as it's relatively easy for well qualified and focused men and women to find work in the IT industry - as employers are keen to find appropriately skilled employees.

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 for when you're ready to start work. Quite often, you will be offered your first job whilst still on the course (sometimes when you've only just got going). If your course details aren't on your CV (and it isn't in the hands of someone with jobs to offer) then you aren't even in the running! In many cases, a local IT focused recruitment consultancy (who will get paid by the employer when they've placed you) will perform better than any recruitment division from a training organisation. They should, of course, also be familiar with local industry and the area better.

Certainly make sure you don't put hundreds of hours of effort into your studies, just to give up and leave it in the hands of the gods to secure your first position. Stand up for yourself and start looking for yourself. Invest the same time and energy into finding your new role as it took to pass the exams.

Finding job security in this economic down-turn is very unusual. Businesses frequently drop us out of the workforce at the drop of a hat - as long as it fits their needs. When we come across rising skills shortages coupled with rising demand however, we can find a new kind of security in the marketplace; driven by the constant growth conditions, businesses struggle to find enough staff.

The computer industry skills-gap around the country falls in at just over 26 percent, as shown by the 2006 e-Skills study. Basically, we're only able to fill 3 out of each four job positions in IT. This single idea on its own underpins why the country is in need of so many more new trainees to get into the industry. It would be hard to imagine if a better time or market conditions could exist for obtaining certification in this rapidly emerging and budding market.

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