The Cisco training is fundamentally for those who wish to work with routers. Routers connect computer networks via dedicated lines or the internet. We’d recommend that your first course should be the CCNA. Steer clear of going immediately onto your CCNP because it is very complex – and you really need experience to take on this level.

The sort of jobs available with this type of knowledge mean it’s likely you’ll end up working for large commercial ventures who have many locations but need to keep in touch. Or, you may move on to joining an internet service provider. These jobs are well paid and in demand.

Achieving CCNA is where you need to be aiming – you’re not ready for your CCNP straight away. Get a couple of years experience behind you first, then you’ll know if you need to train up to this level. Should that be the case, you’ll have a much better chance of succeeding – because you’ll have so much more experience.

Typically, a new trainee will not know to ask about something that can make a profound difference to their results – how their company divides up the training materials, and into what particular chunks.

Students often think it makes sense (with most training taking 1-3 years to gain full certified status,) that a training provider will issue a single section at a time, as you pass each element. However:

What if you don’t finish every exam? And what if you find the order of the modules counter-intuitive? Through no fault of your own, you may go a little slower and not receive all the modules you’ve paid for.

An ideal situation would be to have all your study materials sent to your home before you even start; the entire package! Then, nothing can hinder your progress.

Exam ‘guarantees’ are sometimes offered as part of a training package – they always involve paying for the exam fees up-front, before you’ve even made a start on the course. Before you jump at this so-called guarantee, look at the following:

In this day and age, we tend to be a little more ‘marketing-savvy’ – and generally we know that for sure it is something we’re paying for – it’s not because they’re so generous they want to give something away!

If you want to qualify first ‘go’, then you should avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, give it the priority it deserves and be ready for the task.

Shouldn’t you be looking to not pay up-front, but when you’re ready, instead of paying a premium to the training college, and to do it locally – instead of the remote centre that’s convenient only to the trainer?

A lot of unscrupulous training companies secure big margins because they’re getting paid for examinations upfront then banking on the fact that many won’t be taken.

In addition to this, you should consider what an ‘exam guarantee’ really means. Many training companies won’t pay for re-takes until you can prove to them you’re ready to pass.

Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on ‘Exam Guarantees’ is foolish – when hard work, commitment and the right preparation via exam simulations is what will get you through.

All programs you’re considering should always lead to a properly recognised certification at the end – and not a worthless ‘in-house’ plaque for your wall.

Unless your qualification is issued by a big-hitter like Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco, then chances are it won’t be commercially viable – as no-one will have heard of it.

Being a part of the information technology industry is amongst the most stimulating and innovative industries you could be involved with. Being a member of a team working on breakthroughs in technology puts you at the fore-front of developments affecting everyone who lives in the 21st century.

We are really only just starting to understand how this will truly impact our way of life. How we communicate and interact with everyone around us will be significantly affected by computers and the web.

The regular IT technician in the UK has been shown to earn a lot more than fellow workers in other market sectors. Mean average salaries are amongst the highest in the country.

The search for properly certified IT professionals is assured for many years to come, due to the continuous increase in the technology industry and the vast shortage that remains.

(C) Jason Kendall. Pop to LearningLolly.com for superb career tips on CCNA Certification Courses and Cisco Course.