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Because you’re looking at information about Microsoft MCSE’s, the chances are you’re in one of the following categories: You could be considering a radical change of career to the IT sector, and you’ve discovered a massive need for qualified people. Alternatively maybe you’re an IT professional already – and you need to formalise your skill-set with the Microsoft qualification.

As you try to find out more, you will discover training providers that short-change you by not providing the current Microsoft version. Stay away from such training providers as it will create challenges for you with the present exams. If you are studying an out-of-date syllabus, it is going to be hugely difficult to get qualified. Avoid businesses that are just interested in your money. You deserve time, expertise and advice to verify that you are registering on the correct course. Guard against being rushed into their standard course by some pushy sales person.

Any program that you’re going to undertake should always lead to a nationally accepted exam as an end-result – definitely not some ‘in-house’ printed certificate to hang in your hallway. Unless your qualification is issued by a big-hitter like Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA or Adobe, then you’ll probably find it won’t be commercially viable – because it won’t give an employer any directly-useable skills.

Many companies only concern themselves with gaining a certificate, and forget the reasons for getting there – which will always be getting the job or career you want. Always start with the final destination in mind – too many people focus on the journey. It’s quite usual, for instance, to find immense satisfaction in a year of study but end up spending 10 or 20 years in a job you hate, entirely because you stumbled into it without the correct level of soul-searching at the outset.

Be honest with yourself about what you want to earn and what level of ambition fits you. Usually, this will point the way to which particular accreditations will be expected and what you can expect to give industry in return. We’d recommend you seek advice from an experienced industry professional before settling on a study path, so there’s no doubt that the chosen route will give you the skills necessary.

So, why ought we to be looking at qualifications from the commercial sector as opposed to more traditional academic qualifications obtained from tech’ colleges and universities? As demand increases for knowledge about more and more complex technology, industry has moved to the specialised core-skills learning that can only be obtained from the actual vendors – in other words companies like CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. This frequently provides reductions in both cost and time. The training is effectively done through concentrating on the skills that are really needed (together with a relevant amount of background knowledge,) instead of covering masses of the background detail and ‘fluff’ that degrees in computing often do (to fill up a syllabus or course).

Just like the advert used to say: ‘It does what it says on the tin’. Employers simply need to know what they need doing, and then advertise for someone with the specific certification. They’ll know then that all applicants can do what they need.

Training support for students is an absolute must – look for a package offering 24×7 direct access to instructors, as anything less will not satisfy and will also hamper your progress. Many only provide email support (too slow), and phone support is usually just a call-centre who will chat nicely with you for 5 minutes to ask what the issue is and then simply send an email to an instructor – who will attempt to call you within 24-48 hrs, when it’s convenient to them. This is no good if you’re lost and confused and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.

Keep your eyes open for training schools that have multiple support offices active in different time-zones. These should be integrated to provide a single interface together with 24×7 access, when it’s convenient for you, without any problems. Never settle for less than you need and deserve. Direct-access round-the-clock support is the only way to go with computer-based courses. Maybe late-evening study is not your thing; often though, we’re working during the provided support period.

Those that are drawn to this type of work are often very practical, and won’t enjoy sitting at a desk in class, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If this is putting you off studying, try the newer style of interactive study, where you can learn everything on-screen. If we can get all of our senses involved in our learning, then we normally see dramatically better results.

Courses are now available via DVD-ROM discs, where everything is taught on your PC. Using video-streaming, you can watch instructors demonstrating how to do something, with some practice time to follow – via the interactive virtual lab’s. You really need to look at the type of training provided by the company you’re considering. You’ll want to see that they include full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab’s to practice the skills in.

It’s folly to opt for on-line only training. Connection quality and reliability varies hugely across all internet service providers, make sure you get disc based courseware (On CD or DVD).

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