Those that are drawn to this type of work often have a very practical outlook on work, and don't always take well to classrooms, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If you identify with this, opt for more involving, interactive learning materials, where everything is presented via full motion video. Our ability to remember is increased when all our senses are brought into the mix - learning experts have been saying this for many years.

Search for a course where you'll get a host of DVD-ROM's - you'll be learning from instructor videos and demo's, followed by the chance to use virtual lab's to practice your new skills. It's imperative to see some example materials from the company you're considering. You'll want to see that they include full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab's to practice the skills in.

Go for physical media such as CD or DVD ROM's where possible. This then avoids all the potential pitfalls with broadband outages, failure and signal quality issues etc.

A question; why might we choose commercial certification instead of traditional academic qualifications gained through tech' colleges and universities? The IT sector now acknowledges that for mastery of skill sets for commercial use, certified accreditation supplied for example by Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe often is more effective in the commercial field - and a fraction of the cost and time. In a nutshell, only that which is required is learned. It's not quite as straightforward as that, but the most important function is always to focus on the exact skills required (including a degree of required background) - without overdoing the detail in every other area (as degree courses are known to do).

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty: Accredited IT qualifications let employers know exactly what you're capable of - it says what you do in the title: as an example - I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Windows XP Administration and Configuration'. So companies can look at the particular needs they have and what certifications will be suitable to deal with those needs.

A so-called advisor who doesn't ask many questions - it's more than likely they're just trying to sell you something. If someone pushes specific products before understanding your background and experience, then you know it's true. Often, the level to start at for a trainee with a little experience can be hugely different to the student with no experience. Working through a basic PC skills module first will sometimes be the most effective way to commence your IT training, but really depends on your level of familiarity with computers.

Watch out that all accreditations that you're considering are commercially relevant and are up-to-date. 'In-house' exams and the certificates they come with are not normally useful in gaining employment. From a commercial standpoint, only top businesses such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco (for example) give enough bang for your buck. Nothing else will cut the mustard.

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