Congratulations! Reading this subject matter proves you must be pondering over your options, and if you're considering retraining you've already done more than most. It's a frightening thought that just one in ten of us describe ourselves as fulfilled in our working life - but the majority will do absolutely nothing about it. We encourage you to be different and move forward - those who do hardly ever regret it.

Before we even think about any career courses, seek out someone who can talk you through the right type of training for you. A person who will get an understanding of your personality, and find out the best career for you to work towards:

* Are you happier left to your own devices at work or is being part of a team an important option?

* Building and Banking are a little shaky at the moment, so which sector would give you the most options?

* Once your training has been completed, would you like your skills to see you to retirement age?

* Do you want the course you're re-training in to be in a market sector where as far as you can see you will be able to work until your pension kicks in?

A predominant industry in the UK that can satisfy a trainee's demands is the IT industry. There is a requirement for greater numbers of skilled technicians in the industry, just check out any job site and you will find them yourself. However, it's not only geeky nerds looking at their computerscreens the whole time - there's a lot more to it than that. The majority of the people in the computer industry are just like you and me, with jobs they enjoy and better than average salaries.

It's not uncommon for companies to offer inclusive exam guarantees - this always means exams have to be paid for upfront, when you pay for the rest of your course. Before you jump at guaranteed exams, look at the following:

Thankfully, today we tend to be a tad more knowledgeable about sales gimmicks - and usually we know that for sure it is actually an additional cost to us (it's not a freebie because they like us so much!) We all want to pass first time. Progressively working through your exams one by one and funding them as you go has a marked effect on pass-rates - you take it seriously and are aware of the costs involved.

Take your exams as locally as possible and look for the very best offer you can at the time. Is there a good reason to pay interest on a bigger loan than is necessary because you've paid early for examinations when you don't need to? Huge profits are made by companies getting money in early for exam fees - and banking on the fact that many won't be taken. The majority of companies will require you to sit pre-tests and not allow you to re-take an exam until you've proven conclusively that you can pass - which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.

With the average price of Pro-metric and VUE exams coming in at approximately 112 pounds in Great Britain, it makes sense to pay as you go. Not to fork out thousands extra in up-front costs. Consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.

Each programme of learning has to build towards a fully recognised major certification as an end-result - and not some unimportant 'in-house' diploma - fit only for filing away and forgetting. Unless your qualification is issued by a company like Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco, then chances are it will have been a waste of time - as no-one will have heard of it.

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