The Cisco training is intended for individuals who want to learn about network switches and routers. Routers connect computer networks via dedicated lines or the internet. We’d recommend that initially you should go for your CCNA. Don’t be tempted to go straight for a CCNP as it’s a considerable step up – and you need to work up to it to have a go at this.

Because routers are linked to networks, it is vital to have prior knowledge of how networks function, or you will be out of your depth with the course and not be able to do the work. Look for a course that features the basics on networks (CompTIA is ideal) before you start the CCNA.

Getting your Cisco CCNA is the right level to aim for; at this stage avoid being tempted to do the CCNP. After gaining experience in the working environment, you’ll know whether CCNP is something you want to do. If you decide to become more qualified, you’ll have the knowledge you need to tackle the CCNP – which is quite a hard qualification to acquire – and shouldn’t be looked upon as otherwise.

A fatal Faux-Pas that we encounter all too often is to concentrate on the course itself, and take their eye off the end result they want to achieve. Training academies are stacked to the hilt with direction-less students who chose a course based on what sounded good – in place of something that could gain them an enjoyable career or job.

You may train for one year and then end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Don’t make the error of opting for what may seem to be a program of interest to you only to waste your life away with a job you hate!

You’ll want to understand the expectations of your industry. What precise accreditations you’ll need and how to gain experience. It’s definitely worth spending time assessing how far you reckon you’re going to want to go as it will force you to choose a particular set of accreditations.

It’s good advice for all students to talk with highly experienced advisors before they embark on a learning course. This helps to ensure it features what is required for the chosen career.

Have you recently questioned how safe your job is? For most of us, this issue only becomes a talking point when something dramatic happens to shake us. Unfortunately, the lesson often learned too late is that true job security doesn’t really exist anymore, for nearly everyone now.

Security can now only exist via a quickly increasing market, pushed forward by a shortage of trained workers. This shortage creates the correct background for market-security – a far better situation.

Recently, a national e-Skills study showed that more than 26 percent of all IT positions available remain unfilled because of an appallingly low number of trained staff. Meaning that for each four job positions available in Information Technology (IT), we’ve only got three properly trained pro’s to fulfil that role.

This one notion alone highlights why the UK urgently requires many more new trainees to become part of the IT industry.

Because the IT sector is evolving at such a speed, it’s unlikely there’s any better sector worth looking at for a new future.

Many students come unstuck over a single courseware aspect usually not even thought about: How the training is broken down and couriered to your address.

Training companies will normally offer some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and deliver each piece one-by-one as you finish each section. If you think this sound logical, then consider this:

Sometimes the steps or stages offered by the provider doesn’t suit. It may be difficult to get through all the modules inside their defined time-scales?

To avoid any potential future issues, it’s normal for most trainees to have all their training materials (which they’ve now paid for) couriered out in one package, all at the beginning. It’s then up to you in what order and how fast or slow you’d like to work.

Throw out a salesman who just tells you what course you should do without a thorough investigation to better understand your current abilities as well as level of experience. Always check they have access to a generous range of products so they’re actually equipped to provide you with what’s right for you.

If you’ve got any work-based experience or certification, it may be that your starting point of study is very different to someone completely new.

For those students embarking on IT studies anew, it can be useful to avoid jumping in at the deep-end, by working on a user-skills course first. This is often offered with most accreditation programs.