As you're in the process of finding out about Microsoft MCSE's, you're most likely in one of two situations: Maybe you're thinking of a radical change of career to the world of IT, as it's apparent to you there is a massive need for people with the right qualifications. Or maybe you're an IT professional already - and you should formalise your skills with an MCSE.

As you discover more about training providers, don't use those that short-change you by failing to up-grade to the most up-to-date Microsoft version. Ultimately, this will frustrate and cost the student much more as they will have been studying an old version of MCSE which inevitably will have to be up-dated pretty much straight away. Avoid the companies who are only trying to make a sale. You should be given detailed advice to be sure you are on the best program for your needs. Don't be shoe-horned into a one-size-fits-all course by a second-rate college.

Kick out any salesman who pushes one particular program without a thorough investigation so as to understand your abilities and also your experience level. Ensure that they have a wide-enough range of products so they're able to solve your training issues. Of course, if you've got any previous certification, then you will often be able to begin at a different level to someone who is new to the field. For students commencing IT study from scratch, it can be useful to break yourself in gently, beginning with a user-skills course first. This can be built into most training programs.

Watch out that all certifications you're working towards will be recognised by employers and are current. Training companies own certificates are often meaningless. You'll find that only recognised certification from companies such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe and Cisco will have any meaning to employers.

Think about the points below carefully if you're inclined to think that old marketing ploy of a guarantee for your exam looks like a reason to buy:

Everybody's aware that they're still being charged for it - it's not so hard to see that it's been added into the overall figure from the training provider. It's definitely not free - don't think these companies are so generous with their money! It's everybody's ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Going for exams when it's appropriate and paying as you go sees you much better placed to get through first time - you prepare appropriately and are conscious of what you've spent.

Look for the very best offer you can when you're ready, and keep hold of your own money. You also get more choice of where you do your exams - which means you can stay local. Paying in advance for examinations (and interest charges if you're borrowing money) is insane. Why fill a company's coffers with extra money of yours simply to help their cash-flow! Some will be pinning their hopes on the fact that you will never make it to exams - so they get to keep the extra funds. In addition to this, exam guarantees often have very little value. Most companies won't pay again for an exam until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won't fail again.

Exams taken at VUE and Prometric centres are currently clocking in at an average of 112 pounds in Great Britain. Students should be very wary of forking out hundreds of pounds extra in fees for 'exam guarantees' (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when a quality course, support and study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.

For the most part, the normal trainee has no idea how they should get into a computing career, or which market to focus their retraining program on. Because without any commercial background in computing, in what way could we be expected to know what a particular job actually consists of? Achieving an informed conclusion really only appears from a detailed study across many unique criteria:

* What hobbies you have and enjoy - these can show the areas will provide a happy working life.

* Are you looking to realise a key objective - like being your own boss someday?

* Where is the salary on a scale of importance - is it the most important thing, or do you place job satisfaction a little higher on your priority-list?

* There are many ways to train in the IT industry - there's a need to get some key facts on what makes them different.

* Having a serious look at what commitment and time that you're going to put into it.

For the average person, dissecting all these ideas tends to require the help of an advisor that knows what they're talking about. And we're not only talking about the certifications - you also need to understand the commercial needs and expectations of the market as well.

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