A very small number of men and women in the UK today are claiming to be happy in their job. The vast majority of course will just stay there. The reality of your getting here at least suggests that change is beckoning.

For those thinking of re-training, it's vital that you have in mind your expectations from the job you would like to get. It's important to discover if a new career would suit you better before you put a lot of energy into changing the direction of your life. So much better to look at the whole story first, to avoid disappointment:

* Are you hoping to be involved with others in the workplace? Would you prefer to work with a small team or with a lot of new people? Perhaps working alone with your own methodology could suit you better?

* The building trade and the banking industry are facing difficulties at the moment, so which sector would suit you best?

* Once your training has been completed, would you like your new abilities to serve you till you retire?

* Do you believe that the training program you've chosen will offer you employment opportunities, and provide the facility to work right up to the time you want to stop?

Don't overlook the IT sector, that's our recommendation - you'll find it's one of the only growth areas in Great Britain and Europe. Another benefit is that remuneration packages are much better than most.

Commercial qualifications are now, most definitely, beginning to replace the traditional routes into the IT industry - so why is this the case? Industry now acknowledges that to learn the appropriate commercial skills, official accreditation from such organisations as Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA is far more effective and specialised - and a fraction of the cost and time. Of course, a reasonable portion of relevant additional information must be learned, but precise specialised knowledge in the particular job function gives a commercially educated student a huge edge.

If an employer understands what areas need to be serviced, then all they have to do is advertise for a person with the appropriate exam numbers. The syllabuses are set to meet an exact requirement and do not vary between trainers (as academic syllabuses often do).

A subtle way that course providers make extra profits is by charging for exams up-front and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. This sounds impressive, until you think it through:

Thankfully, today we tend to be a bit more aware of hype - and most of us know that for sure we are actually being charged for it (it's not a freebie because they like us so much!) Evidence shows that when students fund their relevant examinations, one at a time, they will be much more likely to pass every time - since they'll think of their payment and will therefore apply themselves appropriately.

Take your exams somewhere local and hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take it. A surprising number of so-called credible training companies make a great deal of profit through asking for exam fees early then cashing in if they're not all 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.

Splashing out often many hundreds of pounds extra on 'Exam Guarantees' is remiss - when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is what will really guarantee success.

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