PC and network support technicians are constantly sought after in the UK, as organisations become progressively more dependent on their technical advice and ability to fix and repair. Whereupon our society becomes progressively reliant on technology, we simultaneously become more reliant on the well trained IT networkers, who maintain those systems.

The somewhat scary thought of getting your first IT job can be eased by some companies, via a Job Placement Assistance programme. Often, people are too impressed with this facility, because 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.

You would ideally have help with your CV and interview techniques though; additionally, we would recommend everybody to bring their CV up to date as soon as training commences - don't procrastinate and leave it until you've graduated or passed any exams. Being considered a 'maybe' is more than not being regarded at all. Often junior positions are offered to people (who've only just left first base.) The best services to help get you placed are most often independent and specialised local recruitment services. Because they make their money when they've found you a job, they have the necessary incentive to try that bit harder.

Do ensure you don't spend hundreds of hours on your training and studies, and then do nothing more and leave it in the hands of the gods to sort out your employment. Take responsibility for yourself and get on with the job. Channel the same energy and enthusiasm into finding a good job as you did to get trained.

The old fashioned style of teaching, using textbooks and whiteboards, is often a huge slog for most of us. If you're nodding as you read this, look for learning programmes that are on-screen and interactive. We see a huge improvement in memory retention when we use multiple senses - learning experts have been saying this for many years.

Courses are now available via DVD-ROM discs, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Through video streaming, you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how to perform the required skill, followed by your chance to practice - via the interactive virtual lab's. It's imperative to see courseware examples from the company you're considering. They have to utilise instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab's.

Many companies provide training that is purely available online; sometimes you can get away with this - but, consider how you'll deal with it when you don't have access to the internet or you get intermittent problems and speed issues. A safer solution is the provision of actual CD or DVD ROMs that will not have these problems.

Have you recently questioned the security of your job? For most of us, we only think of this after something goes wrong. But really, The cold truth is that true job security is a thing of the past, for most of us. But a quickly growing market-place, where staff are in constant demand (through a massive shortage of commercially certified workers), opens the possibility of true job security.

Looking at the IT market, a key e-Skills survey highlighted an over 26 percent shortfall of skilled workers. Or, to put it differently, this means that the UK can only find three qualified staff for every 4 jobs existing now. Highly trained and commercially educated new workers are accordingly at a complete premium, and it looks like they will be for a long time to come. Because the IT sector is developing at such a quick pace, it's unlikely there's any better area of industry worth taking into account as a retraining vehicle.

An effective training course package will also include accredited exam preparation packages. Don't fall foul of relying on unauthorised preparation materials for exams. Their phraseology can be completely unlike authorised versions - and this could lead to potential problems when it comes to taking the real exam. For many reasons, it is vital to ensure that you are completely prepared for the real exam before taking it. Revising mock-up exams logs the information in your brain and will save a lot of money on failed exams.

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