The key MS qualification paths were brought up to date a short while ago, as they transferred from the old MCAD/MCSD ('Microsoft Certified Application/Solutions Developer') to the more recent 'MCTS' (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) & MCPD (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer) examinations. Before you can undertake the full MCPD examination, make sure you complete two 'MCTS' programs initially. If programming is new to you, it's a good idea to start with a programming introductory course first - even though MS label their first module a 'foundation module'. We would also suggest taking a support qualification ahead of this, in order to acquire a decent understanding of software-environments & support. You can then enter the industry doing support work whilst you remain on your training. A complete career track will take roughly six to seven hundred hrs of training time, which means if you're studying part-time you will be able to do the whole thing within roughly 12 to 18 months.

A service offered by some training providers is a programme of Job Placement assistance. It's intention is to steer you into your first IT role. With the great demand for appropriately skilled people in this country at the moment, it's not necessary to make too much of this option though. It isn't so complicated as you might think to get the right work once you're trained and certified.

Work on polishing up your CV right away however - you should get plenty of help from your training provider on this. Don't procrastinate and leave it for when you're ready to start work. Quite frequently, you'll secure your first position whilst you're still studying (even in the early stages). If your course details aren't on your CV (and it hasn't been posted on jobsites) then you don't stand a chance! If you'd like to get employment in your home town, then you'll often find that a specialist locally based employment agency can generally be of more use than the trainer's recruitment division, because they are much more inclined to have insider knowledge of local employment needs.

Not inconsiderable numbers of students, apparently, spend evenings and weekends on their training and studies (sometimes for years), and then just stop instead of looking for a job. Sell yourself... Do everything you can to put yourself out there. Don't expect a job to just fall into your lap.

Be watchful that any accreditations you're considering doing are recognised by industry and are up-to-date. The 'in-house' certifications provided by many companies are not normally useful in gaining employment. You'll discover that only industry recognised examinations from the major players like Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA and Cisco will mean anything to employers.

Consider the following points carefully if you're inclined to think that old marketing ploy of an 'Exam Guarantee' sounds great value:

It's very clear we're still being charged for it - obviously it has been inserted into the gross price invoiced by the course provider. It's certainly not free - don't think these companies are so generous with their money! We all want to pass first time. Going for exams one at a time and funding them one at a time sees you much better placed to get through first time - you revise thoroughly and are aware of the costs involved.

Do your exams at a local pro-metric testing centre and look for the very best offer you can at the time. Many questionable training providers make huge profits by getting in the money for exam fees early and cashing in if they're not all taken. Most companies will require you to do mock exams and hold you back from re-takes until you've completely proven that you're likely to pass - which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.

Exams taken at local centres are approximately 112 pounds in Britain at the time of writing. What's the point of paying huge fees for 'exam guarantees' (usually wrapped up in the course package price) - when a quality course, support and exam preparation systems and a dose of commitment and effort are what's required.

Make sure you don't get caught-up, as a lot of students can, on the certification itself. Your training isn't about getting a plaque on your wall; this is about employment. You need to remain focused on where you want to go. It's possible, in many cases, to get a great deal of enjoyment from a year of study and then spend 20 miserable years in a job you hate, as an upshot of not doing the correct research when you should've - at the outset.

Stay focused on what it is you're trying to achieve, and create a learning-plan from that - don't do it the other way round. Stay on target - making sure you're training for an end-result that'll reward you for many long and fruitful years. Before setting out on a particular learning programme, it's good advice to talk through individual job needs with an experienced industry professional, in order to be sure the learning program covers all that is required.

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