We're regularly asked to explain why traditional academic studies are being overtaken by more commercial certificates? Industry is of the opinion that for an understanding of the relevant skills, the right accreditation from the likes of Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe is far more effective and specialised - for considerably less. Vendor training works by concentrating on the skills that are really needed (alongside a relevant amount of related knowledge,) rather than spending months and years on the background non-specific minutiae that academic courses are prone to get tied up in (because the syllabus is so wide).

It's a bit like the TV advert: 'It does what it says on the label'. All an employer has to do is know what they're looking for, and then advertise for someone with the specific certification. Then they're assured that a potential employee can do exactly what's required.

The age-old way of teaching, using textbooks and whiteboards, can be pretty hard going sometimes. If this describes you, look for learning programmes which feature interactive and multimedia modules. Where possible, if we can involve all our senses in the learning process, then we normally see dramatically better results.

Interactive audio-visual materials with demonstrations and practice sessions beat books hands-down. And they're far more fun. Be sure to get a look at some courseware examples from your training provider. You'll want to see slide-shows, instructor-led videos and interactive labs where you get to practice.

Some companies only have access to just online versions of their training packages; and although this is okay the majority of the time, consider how you'll deal with it if internet access is lost or you get a slow connection speed. It's preferable to have DVD or CD discs that will not have these problems.

Chat with almost any specialised advisor and they'll entertain you with many awful tales of salespeople ripping-off unsuspecting students. Make sure you deal with an experienced industry professional that quizzes you to uncover the best thing for you - not for their bank-account! Dig until you find an ideal starting-point that fits you. Sometimes, the training start-point for someone with some experience is often largely dissimilar to someone without. For those students beginning IT exams and training anew, it can be helpful to start out slowly, beginning with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. This can easily be incorporated into any educational course.

A typical blunder that students everywhere can make is to look for the actual course to take, and take their eye off where they want to get to. Training academies are stacked to the hilt with unaware students who took a course because it seemed fun - instead of the program that would surely get them the job they want. Never let yourself become part of the group who choose a training program which looks like it could be fun - and end up with a certification for an unrewarding career path.

Spend some time thinking about the income level you aspire to and what level of ambition fits you. Usually, this will point the way to what particular exams will be expected and what industry will expect from you in return. Prior to embarking on a particular training programme, it's good advice to chat over the specific career requirements with an experienced advisor, in order to be sure the training programme covers all that is required.

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