The key MS qualification tracks were brought up to date a few years ago, as they went from the earlier 'MCAD'/'MCSD' (Microsoft Certified Application/Solutions Developer) to the newer MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) & MCPD (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer) examinations. Before you take on the complete MCPD exam, make sure you finish two MCTS programs first. If programming is new to you, it's a good idea to start with a programming introductory course first of all - even though MS brand their first module a 'foundation' unit. It is best to also get a good idea of software-environments and software support first, so consider commencing your training with a support-course. A 'support' qualification will allow you to to get your first IT role. You should typically calculate for training to take a year to a year and a half if you are starting a whole career-track studying part-time. The actual amount of study time is 600 hours to 700 hours given average circumstances.

Get rid of the typical salesperson that just tells you what course you should do without performing a 'fact-find' so as to understand your abilities and also your experience level. Always check they have access to a large array of training so they can solve your training issues. Don't forget, if you've had any relevant work-experience or certification, then it's not unreasonable to expect to begin at a different level to a student who's starting from scratch. Consider starting with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. Starting there can make your learning curve a little less steep.

When did you last consider how safe your job is? Typically, this only rears its head when we experience a knock-back. However, the lesson often learned too late is that true job security simply doesn't exist anymore, for all but the most lucky of us. Of course, a fast growing sector, where staff are in constant demand (due to a massive shortfall of fully trained workers), enables the possibility of real job security.

Taking the Information Technology (IT) market for instance, the 2006 e-Skills investigation demonstrated massive skills shortages around Great Britain in excess of 26 percent. Alternatively, you could say, this clearly demonstrates that the country only has 3 trained people for every four jobs that are available today. This one truth alone clearly demonstrates why the country is in need of considerably more people to enter the IT sector. Surely, it really is such a perfect time to retrain into the computer industry.

Programmers focusing on systems use languages such as 'C'. The 'C' right now is a low level user friendly language which scarcely resembles the original release. Higher level 'languages' are used by applications programmers. All these languages (and there are plenty!) are distinctive; they each have their own instructions & rules and all are tailored to be more suitable for certain tasks. So database-programs are almost certainly going to be written in a compatible 'language' that fits the database environment, but games-programs require a low level 'language' (like 'C') to run quickly enough. With database 'applications', split-second timing really isn't a priority, but with video games 'applications' its very significant indeed! We need options that are built to make things easier for the database user, consequently a stripped down language created for speed would be wholly in-appropriate. You might compare it to the difference between a racing-car & a family estate. The 5+ seater estate car is practical & more comfortable, but it's not designed for speed. To the family on a prolonged journey though, warmth, comfort & a smooth ride are a lot more significant.

We're often asked why traditional academic studies are being replaced by more commercial certificates? Vendor-based training (in industry terminology) is most often much more specialised. The IT sector has realised that a specialist skill-set is vital to handle a technologically complex world. Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA are the big boys in this field. In a nutshell, only required knowledge is taught. It's not quite as straightforward as that, but the principle remains that students need to cover the precise skills needed (along with a certain amount of crucial background) - without going into too much detail in every other area (as degree courses are known to do).

The bottom line is: Recognised IT certifications tell an employer precisely what skills you have - the title is a complete giveaway: i.e. I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Infrastructure'. So employers can identify just what their needs are and which qualifications are required to fulfil that.

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