.::.Easy Mind Reading.::.

There are four A+ exams and specialised sectors, but you're just expected to achieve certification in two to be thought of as qualified. For this reason, many educational establishments simply offer two. Yet learning about all 4 will give you a far deeper level of understanding of your subject, which you'll find a Godsend in the commercial world.

In addition to learning how to build and fix computers, students on A+ courses will have instruction on how to work in antistatic conditions, along with remote access, fault finding and diagnostics.

If you would like to be a man or woman who works for a larger company - fixing and supporting networks, build on A+ with Network+, or consider an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft to give you a wider knowledge of how networks work.

It's usual for students to get confused with one area of their training which doesn't even occur to them: The way the training is divided into chunks and physically delivered to you.

Often, you will join a program staged over 2 or 3 years and get posted one section at a time - from one exam to the next. This sounds logical on one level, until you consider this:

What if there are reasons why you can't finish every single section? And what if you find the order of the modules counter-intuitive? Because of nothing that's your fault, you may go a little slower and therefore not end up with all the modules.

Truth be told, the best option is to obtain their recommendation on the best possible order of study, but to receive all the materials up-front. You then have everything in the event you don't complete everything as fast as they'd like.

Many men and women are under the impression that the traditional school, college or university path is still the most effective. Why then is commercial certification becoming more in demand?

As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, the IT sector has been required to move to specific, honed-in training only available through the vendors themselves - in other words companies like Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA. Frequently this is at a far reduced cost both money and time wise.

Many degrees, for instance, often get bogged down in too much background study - with a syllabus that's far too wide. Students are then held back from understanding the specific essentials in enough depth.

When an employer is aware what areas they need covered, then they simply need to advertise for the exact skill-set required to meet that need. The syllabuses are all based on the same criteria and can't change from one establishment to the next (in the way that degree courses can).

Some training providers supply a practical Job Placement Assistance service, to assist your search for your first position. Don't get overly impressed with this service - it isn't unusual for eager sales people to overplay it. At the end of the day, the still growing need for IT personnel in the UK is the reason you'll find a job.

Having said that, it's important to have help with your CV and interview techniques though; also we would encourage everyone to get their CV updated the day they start training - don't procrastinate and leave it for when you're ready to start work.

Quite often, you'll secure your first role while still studying (even when you've just left first base). If your course details aren't on your CV (and it hasn't been posted on jobsites) then you're not even going to be known about!

The top companies to get you a new position 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.

Many men and women, it seems, are prepared to study their hearts out (for years sometimes), only to give up at the first hurdle when looking for a good job. Promote yourself... Do your best to get yourself known. Don't think a job's just going to jump out in front of you.

Traditional teaching in classrooms, utilising reference manuals and books, is often a huge slog for most of us. If you're nodding as you read this, dig around for more practical courses which feature interactive and multimedia modules.

Learning psychology studies show that much more of what we learn in remembered when we involve as many senses as possible, and we get physically involved with the study process.

Modern training can now be done at home via easy-to-use DVD or CD ROM's. Instructor-led tutorials will mean you'll learn your subject via the expert demonstrations. Then you test your knowledge by interacting with the software and practicing yourself.

Every company that you look at should be able to show you a few examples of the materials provided for study. You should hope for instructor-led videos and a wide selection of interactive elements.

It doesn't make sense to opt for on-line only training. Because of the variable quality and reliability of most broadband providers, you should always obtain CD or DVD ROM based materials.