So, why might we choose qualifications from the commercial sector instead of traditional academic qualifications obtained from schools and Further Education colleges? As we require increasingly more effective technological know-how, the IT sector has of necessity moved to specific, honed-in training only available through the vendors themselves - for example companies such as Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA. Often this saves time and money for the student. Vendor training works through honing in on the skills that are really needed (alongside a proportionate degree of background knowledge,) rather than trawling through all the background non-specific minutiae that computer Science Degrees are prone to get tied up in (to fill up a syllabus or course).

The crux of the matter is this: Authorised IT qualifications tell an employer precisely what skills you have - everything they need to know is in the title: as an example - I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Windows XP Administration and Configuration'. Therefore employers can identify exactly what they need and which qualifications are required to perform the job.

It's important to understand: the actual training program or a qualification is not the ultimate goal; the career that you want to end up in is. Far too many training organisations place too much importance on the piece of paper. It's a sad fact, but thousands of new students begin programs that seem great in the marketing materials, but which gets us a career that is of no interest. Try talking to typical college graduates and you'll see where we're coming from.

You also need to know your feelings on career progression and earning potential, plus your level of ambition. You need to know what the role will demand of you, which exams will be required and in what way you can develop commercial experience. Talk to an experienced industry professional who has a commercial understanding of the realities faced in the industry, and who can give you a detailed description of what you're going to be doing in that job. Contemplating this long before beginning a study programme makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?

Always expect the current Microsoft (or any other key organisation's) authorised exam preparation and simulation materials. Ensure that the practice exams aren't just asking you the right questions in the right areas, but additionally ask them in the way the real exams will ask them. This really messes up students if the phraseology and format is completely different. For many reasons, it's very important to be confident that you're completely ready for your commercial exam prior to doing it. Revising 'mock' tests will help to boost your attitude and helps to avoid wasted exam attempts.

The way in which your courseware is broken down for you is usually ignored by most students. How is the courseware broken down? What is the order and what control do you have at what pace it arrives? Many companies enrol you into a 2 or 3 year study programme, and drop-ship the materials to you piecemeal as you get to the end of each exam. Sounds reasonable? Well consider these facts: It's not unusual for trainees to realise that the company's usual training route isn't the easiest way for them. They might find it's more expedient to use an alternative order of study. Perhaps you don't make it within their exact timetable?

For the perfect solution, you want everything at the start - giving you them all to come back to at any time in the future - whenever it suits you. This also allows you to vary the order in which you move through the program if another more intuitive route presents itself.

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