Should you be aspiring to become Cisco accredited, and you’ve not yet worked with routers, you should first attempt a CCNA course. This will give you the necessary skills to set up and maintain routers. Vast numbers of routers make up the internet, and large companies with many locations also rely on them to allow their networks to talk to each other.

The sort of jobs available with this type of knowledge mean you’ll most probably work for large companies that have several different sites but need to keep in touch. Or, you may move on to working for an internet service provider. Jobs requiring these skills are plentiful and well remunerated.

Having the right skills and knowledge ahead of starting the CCNA is very important. Therefore, it’s probably necessary to speak to an advisor who can fill you in on any gaps you may have.

Students who consider this area of study are usually quite practically-minded, and don’t really enjoy classrooms, and endless reading of dry academic textbooks. If this is putting you off studying, opt for more involving, interactive learning materials, with on-screen demonstrations and labs.

Many studies have proved that we remember much more when we use all our senses, and we get practically involved in what we’re studying.

Courses are now available via DVD-ROM discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Video streaming means you can watch instructors demonstrating how something is done, with some practice time to follow – via the interactive virtual lab’s.

Each company you’re contemplating should be able to show you some simple examples of the materials provided for study. You’re looking for evidence of tutorial videos and demonstrations and interactive areas to practice in.

You’ll find that many companies will only provide training that is purely available online; sometimes you can get away with this – but, think what will happen if your access to the internet is broken or you get a slow connection speed. A safer solution is the provision of physical CD or DVD discs which removes the issue entirely.

Getting your first commercial position sometimes feels easier to handle if you’re offered a Job Placement Assistance program. In reality it isn’t so complicated as you might think to find employment – as long as you’re correctly trained and certified; the growing UK skills shortage sees to that.

Help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews may be available (if it isn’t, consult one of our sites). Ensure you work on your old CV immediately – don’t leave it till you pass the exams!

You may not have got to the stage where you’ve taken your exams when you will be offered your first junior support role; yet this can’t and won’t happen unless you’ve posted your CV on job sites.

Generally, an independent and specialised local recruitment consultant or service (who will, of course, be keen to place you to receive their commission) should get better results than any recruitment division from a training organisation. It also stands to reason that they’ll know the local industry and employment needs.

Certainly ensure you don’t invest a great deal of time on your training course, and then just stop and expect somebody else to secure your first position. Take responsibility for yourself and make your own enquiries. Channel as much energy and enthusiasm into landing your new role as you did to gain the skills.

Don’t accept anything less than an authorised exam preparation system as part of your training package.

Don’t go for training programs depending on non-accredited exam preparation systems. The way they’re phrased is sometimes startlingly different – and this could lead to potential problems once in the actual exam.

Obviously, it is really important to make sure you’re absolutely ready for the real exam prior to doing it. Revising mock-up exams logs the information in your brain and helps to avoid thwarted exam entries.

Review the facts below carefully if you believe that old marketing ploy of an ‘Exam Guarantee’ sounds great value:

It’s become essential these days that we are a bit more aware of hype – and generally we know that for sure we’re actually paying for it – they’re not just being charitable and doling out freebies!

Students who take exams one at a time, funding them one at a time are in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt. They are aware of their investment and revise more thoroughly to ensure they are ready.

Isn’t it in your interests to hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take the exam, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance to a training company, and to do it locally – rather than in some remote centre?

Buying a course that includes payments for exam fees (plus interest – if you’re financing your study) is insane. Resist being talked into filling the training company’s account with extra money of yours just to give them more interest! There are those who hope that you don’t even take them all – but they won’t refund the cash.

It’s worth noting that exam re-takes with companies who offer an ‘Exam Guarantee’ inevitably are heavily regulated. They will insist that you take pre-tests first to make sure they think you’re going to pass.

On average, exams cost about 112 pounds twelve months or so ago via UK VUE or Prometric centres. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra to have ‘Exam Guarantees’, when it’s no secret that the responsible approach is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.

Written by Scott Edwards. Check out SQL Training Courses or www.CareerChangeTraining.co.uk/wcachtr.html.