There are two A+ exams and study sections, and your requirement is to pass both of them to qualify for your A+. As well as learning how to build and fix computers, students on an A+ training course will have instruction on how to work in antistatic conditions, along with remote access, fault finding and diagnostics. If you're considering being someone who is involved with a big team - supporting, fixing and maintaining networks, you should include CompTIA Network+ to your training package, or follow the Microsoft route - MCP's, MCSA or MCSE because it's necessary to have a wider knowledge of how networks function.

Doing your bit in the cutting-edge of new technology really is electrifying. You become one of a team of people creating a future for us all. It's a common misapprehension that the increase in technology we've been going through is cooling down. Nothing could be further from the truth. Massive changes are on the horizon, and the internet in particular is going to dominate how we conduct our lives.

Incomes in IT are not a problem also - the income on average in Great Britain for an average IT employee is noticeably greater than in other market sectors. It's a good bet that you'll receive a much better deal than you'd typically expect to bring in elsewhere. It's evident that we have a significant nationwide demand for professionally qualified IT workers. In addition, with the constant growth in the marketplace, it seems this pattern will continue for years to come.

The perhaps intimidating chore of finding your first job is often eased because some trainers offer a Job Placement Assistance service. However sometimes too much is made of this feature, as it is genuinely quite straightforward for well qualified and focused men and women to find work in this industry - because companies everywhere are seeking skilled employees.

Help with your CV and interview techniques should be offered (if not, see one of our sites for help). Make sure you bring your CV right up to date right away - not when you're ready to start work! Quite often, you'll secure your initial role whilst still on the course (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 don't stand a chance! Generally, you'll receive quicker service from an independent and specialised local recruitment consultancy than you will through a training course provider's centralised service, because they'll know the local area and commercial needs better.

A constant aggravation for some course providers is how hard trainees are prepared to work to get top marks in their exams, but how little effort that student will then put into getting the position they're qualified for. Don't falter at the last fence.

Now, why might we choose qualifications from the commercial sector rather than the usual academic qualifications gained through tech' colleges and universities? The IT sector is of the opinion that for an understanding of the relevant skills, official accreditation from the likes of CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA is closer to the mark commercially - for considerably less. Patently, an appropriate amount of closely linked detail has to be covered, but essential specialisation in the particular job function gives a vendor trained student a real head start.

Assuming a company knows what work they need doing, then they simply need to advertise for the exact skill-set required to meet that need. Vendor-based syllabuses all have to conform to the same requirements and aren't allowed to deviate (in the way that degree courses can).

Don't get hung-up, as a lot of students can, on the training course itself. Training for training's sake is generally pointless; you should be geared towards the actual job at the end of it. Stay focused on what it is you want to achieve. It's possible, in some situations, to find immense satisfaction in a year of study and then spend 20 miserable years in a job you hate, as an upshot of not doing the correct level of soul-searching at the beginning.

Get to grips with what you want to earn and the level of your ambition. Usually, this will point the way to what particular qualifications will be required and how much effort you'll have to give in return. Take advice from a professional advisor, even if there's a fee involved - as it's a lot cheaper and safer to find out at the beginning if something is going to suit and interest you, rather than realise following two years of study that you've picked the wrong track and have to start from the beginning again.

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