What kind of things do you expect the top of the range training companies certified by Microsoft to give a student in Britain in this day and age? Patently, the ultimate in Microsoft authorised training routes, supplying a selection of courses to take you towards various areas of industry. Additionally you might want to have a discussion on the jobs you might go for once you have passed your exams, and the kind of person such positions could suit. Lots of people prefer to discuss what would be best for them. Having selected your career path, you'll need an appropriate course matched to be right for your current level of knowledge and ability. The standard of teaching should be second to none.

Commercially accredited qualifications are now, undoubtedly, beginning to replace the older academic routes into the IT industry - why then has this come about? With a growing demand for specific technological expertise, industry has been required to move to specialist courses that the vendors themselves supply - namely companies such as Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe. This usually turns out to involve less time and financial outlay. University courses, for instance, often get bogged down in too much background study - and a syllabus that's too generalised. This prevents a student from learning the core essentials in sufficient depth.

In simple terms: Authorised IT qualifications provide exactly what an employer needs - everything they need to know is in the title: i.e. I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Windows XP Administration and Configuration'. Therefore employers can identify just what their needs are and which qualifications are required to perform the job.

The world of information technology is one of the more thrilling and changing industries you could be involved with. Being a member of a team working on breakthroughs in technology is to do your bit in the gigantic changes that will affect us all over the next generation. Technology, computers and communication through the web will dramatically change our lifestyles over future years; overwhelmingly so.

If earning a good living is up there on your scale of wants, you will welcome the news that the income on average for the majority of IT staff is a lot greater than salaries in other market sectors. It's evident that we have a great UK-wide need for professionally qualified IT workers. And with the marketplace continuing to expand, it appears there's going to be for the significant future.

Finding your first job in the industry sometimes feels easier to handle if you're supported with a Job Placement Assistance service. With the growing need for more IT skills in the UK right now, it's not too important to become overly impressed with this service however. It isn't so complicated as you might think to get employment as long as you've got the necessary skills and qualifications.

You would ideally have help with your CV and interview techniques though; and we'd recommend everybody to bring their CV up to date as soon as training commences - don't put it off until you've qualified. It's not unusual to find that you will get your first role while still studying (occasionally right at the beginning). 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! Normally you'll get better performance from an independent and specialised local recruitment consultancy than you'll get from a course provider's recruitment division, because they will understand the local industry and employment needs.

Please be sure that you don't put hundreds of hours of effort into your studies, then call a halt and leave it up to everyone else to land you a job. Stand up for yourself and get out there. Channel as much time and energy into finding your new role as it took to pass the exams.

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