If you're looking for training in Cisco, the chances are you're looking for a CCNA. Cisco training is designed for people who wish to get to grips with routers and switches. Routers connect computer networks to another collection of computer networks over dedicated lines or the internet.

Jobs that use this knowledge mean the chances are you'll work for national or international corporations who have many locations but still want internal communication. Or, you may move on to joining an internet service provider. Jobs requiring these skills are plentiful and well remunerated.

Qualifying up to the CCNA level is where you should be aiming; at this stage avoid being tempted to do the CCNP. With experience, you can decide whether you need to train up to this level. If you decide to become more qualified, you'll have the experience you need to master your CCNP - because it's far from a walk in the park - and mustn't be entered into casually.

Charging for examinations up-front then giving it 'Exam Guarantee' status is a common method with many training course providers. However, let's consider what's really going on:

Certainly it's not free - you're still footing the bill for it - the cost has just been rolled into the whole training package. It's well known in the industry that if a student pays for their own exams, one at a time, they'll be in a better position to get through on the first attempt - as they'll be conscious of what they've paid and their application will be greater.

Why should you pay a training college up-front for examinations? Find the best deal you can at the appropriate time, instead of paying any mark-up - and do it in a local testing centre - instead of miles away at the college's beck and call. Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on exams when there's absolutely nothing that says you have to? A great deal of money is netted by organisations getting money in early for exam fees - and banking on the fact that many won't be taken. Re-takes of previously unsuccessful exams with training companies with an 'Exam Guarantee' are always heavily controlled. You'll be required to sit pre-tests to make sure they think you're going to pass.

Due to typical VUE and Prometric tests costing in the region of 112 pounds in this country, by far the best option is to pay for them as you take them. It's not in the student's interests to fork out hundreds or thousands of pounds for exams when enrolling on a course. Study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.

It's likely that you're a practical sort of person - a 'hands-on' individual. If you're anything like us, the painful task of reading endless manuals would be considered as a last resort, but it's not ideal. You should use video and multimedia based materials if book-based learning really isn't your style. Research over recent years has consistently shown that an 'involved' approach to study, where we utilise all our senses, is far more likely to produce long-lasting memories.

Study programs now come via DVD-ROM discs, where everything is taught on your PC. Through video streaming, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how it's all done, and then have a go at it yourself - in a virtual lab environment. Each company you're contemplating must be pushed to demo a few samples of their courseware. Make sure you encounter videos of instructor-led classes and a wide selection of interactive elements.

Avoid training that is purely online. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where possible, enabling them to be used at your convenience - you don't want to be reliant on your internet connection always being 'up' and available.

It's essential to have an accredited exam preparation programme as part of your course package. Some students can be thrown off course by practising exam questions that aren't from authorised sources. Often, the question formats and phraseology is startlingly different and you need to be ready for this. Ensure that you have some simulated exam questions so you'll be able to test your knowledge whenever you need to. Practice or 'mock' exams log the information in your brain - so the real thing isn't quite as scary.

It can be a nerve-racking task, but landing your first IT job is often relieved by some companies, via a Job Placement Assistance service. However sometimes people are too impressed with this facility, for it is actually not that hard for any focused and well taught person to get work in this industry - because companies everywhere are seeking trained staff.

One important thing though, don't procrastinate and wait until you have passed your final exams before polishing up your CV. As soon as you start studying, enter details of your study programme and get promoting! It's not uncommon to find that junior support jobs have been bagged by students who are still learning and have yet to take their exams. This will at least get your CV into the 'possible' pile and not the 'no' pile. If it's important to you to find work near your home, then it's quite likely that a local (but specialised) recruitment consultancy might work much better for you than a centralised service, because they're going to know the local job scene.

Various students, it seems, are prepared to study their hearts out (sometimes for years), only to do nothing special when attempting to secure a job. Sell yourself... Do your best to get yourself known. Don't expect a job to just fall into your lap.