If Cisco training is your aspiration, but you've not yet worked with routers or network switches, we'd recommend taking a CCNA course. This will provide you with the necessary skills to set up and maintain routers. The world wide web is built up of many routers, and big organisations with several locations also rely on them to allow their networks to talk to each other.

Routers are linked to networks, therefore it's necessary to know how networks work, or you'll struggle with the program and not be able to do the work. Seek out a program that teaches the basics (for example CompTIA) before you get going on CCNA.

Getting your Cisco CCNA is where you should be aiming; don't be cajoled into attempting your CCNP. After gaining experience in the working environment, you'll know whether you need to train up to this level. If you decide to become more qualified, you will have developed the skills you need to tackle the CCNP - which is quite a hard qualification to acquire - and mustn't be entered into casually.

Frequently, a typical IT hopeful doesn't know in what direction to head in IT, or which market is worth considering for retraining. As with no commercial skills in Information Technology, how can most of us be expected to understand what any job actually involves? Reflection on several factors is most definitely required when you need to dig down the right solution that will work for you:

* Which type of individual you reckon you are - what kind of jobs you enjoy, and conversely - what makes you unhappy.

* What sort of time-frame do you want for retraining?

* What are your thoughts on job satisfaction vs salary?

* Because there are so many ways to train in Information Technology - there's a need to get a solid grounding on what differentiates them.

* Taking a cold, hard look at the level of commitment, time and effort that you're going to put into it.

To cut through the industry jargon, and find what'll really work for you, have an informal chat with an industry-experienced advisor; someone that appreciates and can explain the commercial realities whilst covering each certification.

Be on the lookout that any accreditations you're studying for will be recognised by employers and are current. 'In-house' exams and the certificates they come with are not normally useful in gaining employment. All the major commercial players like Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco each have widely approved proficiency programmes. These big-hitters will give some sparkle to your CV.

A expert and specialised consultant (in contrast with a salesperson) will cover in some detail your current experience level and abilities. There is no other way of calculating the starting point for your education. If you've got any real-world experience or qualifications, it may be that your starting point of study is now at a different level to a new student. If this is going to be your opening stab at studying for an IT examination then it may be wise to cut your teeth on a user-skills course first.

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