There also are 2 specialist subjects on the MCSE track - security and messaging. These require either two additional 'MCP' examinations, or a single extra examination where one of the first 7 has been suitably chosen. This implies you should consider exactly which 7 you choose with care if you're likely to specialise in security or messaging - appropriate selections will then mean 8 instead of 9 exams. The Server 2008 'Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist' ('MCTS') upgrade examination has also been released by Microsoft - the 'MCSA' is exam 70/648 and the MCSE is exam 70-649. We'd advise that you should consider including one of the above into your training package. If you do, you'll increase your eligibility to get more jobs, and be future-proofed to a certain degree.

We'd hazard a guess that you've always enjoyed practical work - the 'hands-on' individual. If you're anything like us, the unfortunate chore of reading reference guides can be just about bared when essential, but it's not ideal. Consider interactive, multimedia study if learning from books is not your thing. Studies in learning psychology have shown that much more of what we learn in remembered when we involve as many senses as possible, and we put into practice what we've been studying.

The latest audio-visual interactive programs utilising video demo's and practice lab's will turn you off book-based study for ever more. And you'll find them fun and interesting. You must ensure that you see courseware examples from your chosen company. Be sure that they contain instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab's.

Plump for disc based courseware (On CD or DVD) if possible. This then avoids all the potential pitfalls with the variability of broadband quality and service.

One useful service that several companies offer is a programme of Job Placement assistance. This is designed to steer you into your first IT role. Often, this feature is bigged up too much, for it's relatively easy for any motivated and trained individual to land a job in the IT environment - as there is such a shortage of qualified personnel.

One important thing though, avoid waiting until you have finished your training before getting your CV updated. Right at the beginning of your training, mark down what you're doing and place it on jobsites! Many junior support roles have been bagged by trainees who're still on their course and have yet to take their exams. This will at the very least get you into the 'maybe' pile of CV's - rather than the 'No' pile. If you'd like to keep travelling time and costs to a minimum, then it's quite likely that a specialist locally based employment agency can generally be more appropriate than the trainer's recruitment division, for they're far more likely to have insider knowledge of what's available near you.

A regular grievance for many training course providers is how hard people are prepared to work to get qualified, but how un-prepared they are to work on getting the position they're studied for. Don't falter at the last fence.

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