Training in Cisco is designed for people who wish to work with routers. Routers join up networks of computers via the internet or dedicated lines. It's advisable that you should start with your CCNA. It's not advisable to launch directly into your CCNP because it is very complex - and you really need experience to take on this level.

It's vital that you already know a good deal about computer networks and how they operate and function, because networks are linked to routers. If not, it's likely you'll run into difficulties. You might find a course teaching the basics (for example Network+, perhaps with A+) before getting going with CCNA. Look for a training provider that can offer this as a career package.

The CCNA qualification is all you need at this stage - at this stage avoid being tempted to do the CCNP for now. Get a couple of years experience behind you first, then you will have a feel for if this next level is for you. If so, you'll have a much better chance of succeeding - because you'll have so much more experience.

Many training companies have a handy Job Placement Assistance service, to help you into your first commercial role. Ultimately it's not as hard as some people make out to secure your first job - as long as you're correctly trained and certified; the growing UK skills shortage sees to that.

Ideally you should have help with your CV and interview techniques though; and we'd recommend all students to update their CV the day they start training - don't put it off until you've graduated or passed any exams. It can happen that you haven't even taken your exams when you land your first junior support job; however this won't be the case if interviewers don't get sight of your CV. The best services to get you a new position are most often specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. Because they get paid commission to place you, they have more incentive to get on with it.

Various people, apparently, put a great deal of effort into their studies (sometimes for years), and then just stop instead of attempting to secure a good job. Market yourself... Work hard to get yourself known. Good jobs don't just knock on your door.

We can't make a big enough deal out of this point: Always get full 24x7 support from professional instructors. You'll definitely experience problems if you don't heed this. Many only provide email support (too slow), and phone support is often to a call-centre that will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team - who'll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, at a suitable time to them. This is no use if you're sitting there confused over an issue and can only study at specific times.

World-class organisations tend to use an online access round-the-clock facility involving many support centres across the globe. You get an environment that switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres no matter what time of day it is: Support when you need it. Never make do with less than you need and deserve. Online 24x7 support is really your only option when it comes to computer-based study. Perhaps you don't intend to study during the evenings; but for most of us, we're working while the support is live.

Technology and IT is one of the most stimulating and innovative industries you could be involved with. Being up close and personal with technology is to do your bit in the gigantic changes that will impact the whole world for generations to come. We're only just starting to scrape the surface of how technology will affect our lives in the future. The internet will massively alter how we view and interact with the world as a whole over the coming decades.

Should lifestyle be high on your goal sheet, you'll welcome the news that the regular income of the majority of IT staff is considerably greater than with much of the rest of industry. The need for appropriately qualified IT professionals is assured for a good while yet, because of the continuous development in this sector and the vast skills gap still in existence.

Quite often, students have issues with one aspect of their training which is often not even considered: How the training is broken down and packaged off through the post. Usually, you will purchase a course that takes between and 1 and 3 years and receive a module at a time. It seems to make sense on one level, but consider these issues: How would they react if you didn't complete each section at the speed they required? Often the staged order doesn't work as well as some other structure would for you.

To be straight, the very best answer is to get an idea of what they recommend as an ideal study order, but get everything up-front. Everything is then in your possession in case you don't finish as fast as they'd like.