The CCNA qualification is the usual starting point for all Cisco training. With it, you'll learn how to work on the maintenance and installation of routers and switches. The internet is made up of many routers, and big organisations that have different locations need them to allow their networks to keep in touch.

Because routers are linked to networks, find a course that includes basic networking skills (maybe the CompTIA Network+, possibly with A+ as well) and then do a CCNA course. It's essential to have a basic grasp of networks before you commence any Cisco training or you'll probably struggle. Once qualified and looking for work, companies will expect good networking skills to complement your CCNA.

The appropriate skill-set and knowledge before getting going on the Cisco CCNA is vital. So talk to someone who will know what you need.

The world of information technology is one of the most stimulating and innovative industries that you could be a part of. To be working on the cutting-edge of technology means you're a part of the huge progress affecting everyone who lives in the 21st century. We're only just starting to get to grips with how this will truly impact our way of life. How we interrelate with the rest of the world will be massively affected by computers and the web.

And don't forget that typical remuneration in the world of IT in Great Britain is a lot greater than the national average salary, therefore you'll most likely gain noticeably more once qualified in IT, than you'd expect to earn elsewhere. The need for certified IT specialists is guaranteed for a good while yet, because of the constant expansion in the technology industry and the huge skills gap that we still have.

Charging for examination fees upfront then including an exam guarantee is a popular marketing tool with a number of training colleges. Consider the facts:

You're paying for it by some means. One thing's for sure - it isn't free - it's simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole. It's well known in the industry that if students pay for each examination, at the time of taking them, there's a much better chance they'll qualify each time - because they're aware of what they've paid and will therefore apply themselves appropriately.

Isn't it in your interests to go for the best offer at the appropriate time, not to pay the fees marked up by a training course provider, and to do it in a local testing office - rather than in some remote centre? Paying upfront for exams (and interest charges if you're borrowing money) is bad financial management. Resist being talked into filling the training company's account with additional funds just to give them more interest! There are those who hope that you will never make it to exams - so they get to keep the extra funds. Don't forget, with the majority of Exam Guarantees - they control when and how often you can do your re-takes. They'll only allow a re-take once completely satisfied.

Paying maybe a thousand pounds extra on an 'Exam Guarantee' is naive - when hard work, commitment and the right preparation via exam simulations is actually the key to your success.

We're regularly asked to explain why qualifications from colleges and universities are less in demand than the more commercially accredited qualifications? With 3 and 4 year academic degree costs spiralling out of control, and the IT sector's recognition that key company training often has more relevance in the commercial field, we have seen a large rise in Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA based training programmes that create knowledgeable employees at a fraction of the cost and time involved. Of course, a certain degree of relevant additional knowledge needs to be taught, but focused specialised knowledge in the exact job role gives a commercially trained person a distinct advantage.

It's a bit like the TV advert: 'It does what it says on the label'. Employers simply need to know what they're looking for, and then request applicants with the correct exam numbers. That way they can be sure they're interviewing applicants who can do the job.

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