Whether you're looking to achieve an entry level knowledge of these systems & packages, or a more complete professional level comprehension to help you support other people, there are several accreditations that could help. For in-depth training on how to get the most from 'Office' yourself, consider the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) or the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS). A degree up from 'MOS' & 'MCAS' is MCDST - Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician, which provides you with the skill set to support other users in an office.

You may also be thinking about a more senior job within the I.T. market, which would mean rather more in depth & technical Microsoft accreditation study. MS have just lately re-vamped their accreditation structure, & whilst you will still find quite a number of tracks based on the MCP accreditations, we're increasingly looking at the move to MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional) & 'MCTS' (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) packages. MCTS learning packages are typically taken as building-blocks towards the 'MCITP'.

We'd all like to believe that our jobs will always be secure and our work futures are protected, but the growing reality for most jobs around the UK at the moment appears to be that security just isn't there anymore. It's possible though to reveal security at market-level, by probing for high demand areas, tied with shortages of trained staff.

The IT skills shortfall around Great Britain clocks in at approximately 26 percent, as reported by a recent e-Skills survey. Showing that for each 4 job positions existing around computing, we've only got three properly trained pro's to do them. This fundamental concept shows an urgent requirement for more technically certified computer professionals throughout Great Britain. It's unlikely if a better time or market circumstances is ever likely to exist for gaining qualification for this hugely growing and blossoming market.

The age-old way of teaching, involving piles of reference textbooks, is an up-hill struggle for the majority of us. If all this is ringing some familiar bells, check out study materials which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts. If we can get all of our senses involved in our learning, then the results are usually dramatically better.

Search for a course where you'll receive a library of CD or DVD ROM's - you'll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, and then have the opportunity to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions. It would be silly not to view some examples of the kind of training materials you'll be using before you sign the purchase order. You should expect video tutorials, instructor demo's and a variety of audio-visual and interactive sections.

Often, companies will only use online training only; and while this is acceptable much of the time, imagine the problems if internet access is lost or you get intermittent problems and speed issues. A safer solution is the provision of actual CD or DVD ROMs which will not have these problems.

One interesting way that training companies make extra profits is via an 'exam inclusive' package and then including an 'Exam Guarantee'. It looks impressive, but is it really:

We all know that we're ultimately paying for it - it's obviously already in the gross price invoiced by the training provider. It's certainly not free (although some people will believe anything the marketing companies think up these days!) Evidence shows that when students fund each examination, when they're ready to take them and not before, they will be much more likely to pass first time - as they are conscious of their payment and will therefore apply themselves appropriately.

Don't pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you at the appropriate time, and keep hold of your own money. You'll then be able to select where you do the examinations - so you can choose somewhere closer to home. Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on exams when there's absolutely nothing that says you have to? Huge profits are made by companies charging upfront for all their exams - and banking on the fact that many won't be taken. The majority of companies will insist on pre-tests and with-hold subsequent exam entries from you until you've completely proven that you're likely to pass - so an 'Exam Guarantee' comes with many clauses in reality.

The cost of exams was about 112 pounds last year via UK VUE or Prometric centres. Therefore, why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra to have 'Exam Guarantees', when it's no secret that the most successful method is a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools.

In amongst the top nominees for the most common difficulty for IT students is often the 'in-centre' workshop requirement. A lot of trainers wax lyrical on the positive points of taking part in these events, but most students end up finding them a burden to be carried because of:

- Constant travelling to and from the workshops - often 100's of miles.

- Requesting time out of work - typical schools can only give weekday availability and typically group 2-3 days together. If you're working then this can be difficult, especially when travel time is included.

- Let us not overlook lost holiday time. Usually we're lucky to have twenty days annual leave. If at least half is sacrificed to learning, then we haven't got much left for ourselves.

- Training events often are over-subscribed, giving us the only option of the '2nd best' solution.

- Often, tension develops in mixed classes because the right pace for one student is not the same as another.

- You shouldn't overlook the extra financial outlay of travelling or several days accommodation either. Often, this will cost hundreds and even thousands of pounds extra. Work it out - you'll get a shock.

- Not wanting employers to know about the training can be very important to many attendees. Why would you want to throw away potential advancement, pay-rises or success at work just because you're retraining. When your boss discovers you're putting yourself through qualification in a different industry, what will they think?

- Raising questions in front of other class-mates sometimes makes us feel self-conscious. Would you admit that you've occasionally avoided posing a question because you were worried it might make you look silly?

- It should be remembered that classes frequently become simply undoable, when you work elsewhere in the country for part of the week.

It would be better to simply watch and study with tutors one-on-one through pre-filmed lessons, taking them when it's convenient for you, not someone else. You can study anywhere you want. If your PC is a laptop, why not catch a bit of fresh air outside at the same time. If you have any difficulties then utilise the 24x7 Support. You don't have to worry about any note-taking - you have the lessons and accompanying information ready-made for you. If you want to re-do anything, it's there. The bottom line: Reduced hassle, more money in the bank, and you've got no travelling to do.

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