Only one in ten people in the United Kingdom are claiming to be happy in their job. Inevitably, huge numbers will do nothing about it. The reality of your getting here if nothing else tells us that change is beckoning.

For those thinking of re-training, it's essential to first define what you want and don't want from the career you're looking to get into. Ensure that the grass actually is greener before your energies are focused on altering your life's plans. Prudence suggests looking at the end goal first, to steer clear of regrets:

* Is having company at work important to you? Do you like to deal with the public? Maybe you like to deal with tasks that you can get on with on your own?

* What criteria are fundamentally important when considering the market sector you're looking to get into?

* Would you like this to be the last time you will need more qualifications?

* Is it important for your study to be in an industry where as far as you can see your chances of gainful employment are high up to retirement age?

When listing your options, it's relevant that you don't overlook Information Technology - it's well known that it's getting bigger. IT isn't all techie geeks staring at computers constantly - we know those jobs exist, but most jobs are filled with people like you and me who get on very well.

A service that many training companies provide is job placement assistance. It's intention is to steer you into your first IT role. The honest truth is that it's not as hard as some people make out to land the right work - once you're trained and certified; because there's still a great need for IT skills in the UK today.

Help with your CV and interview techniques may be available (if not, see one of our sites for help). It's essential that you work on your old CV immediately - not after you've qualified! You may not have got to the stage where you've taken your exams when you will be offered your first junior support job; but this won't be the case unless your CV is with employers. You can usually expect better performance from a specialist independent regional employment service than you'll get from a course provider's employment division, because they will be more familiar with the area and local employers.

Do ensure you don't conscientiously work through your course materials, just to give up and imagine someone else is miraculously going to sort out your employment. Stop procrastinating and start looking for yourself. Channel as much focus into finding your new role as it took to get qualified.

One crafty way that training companies make more money is through up-front charges for exams and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. This sounds impressive, until you think it through:

We all know that we're still being charged for it - it's not so hard to see that it's already been included in the overall price charged by the college. It's definitely not free (it's just marketing companies think we'll fall for anything they say!) People who take exams one at a time, paying for them just before taking them are much more likely to pass. They're mindful of the cost and prepare more appropriately to ensure they are ready.

Do the examinations somewhere close to home and don't pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you're ready. What's the point in paying early for examination fees when you don't need to? A lot of profit is made because training colleges are charging all their exam fees up-front - and banking on the fact that many won't be taken. It's worth noting, with 'Exam Guarantees' from most places - they control when and how often you are allowed to have another go. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company's say so.

With average Prometric and VUE examinations in the United Kingdom costing around 112 pounds, 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.

Many individuals don't comprehend what information technology can do for us. It's electrifying, revolutionary, and puts you at the fore-front of developments in technology affecting everyones lives in the 21st century. We've barely started to get a feel for how technology is going to shape our lives. Computers and the Internet will significantly transform the way we view and interrelate with the entire world over the coming years.

And don't forget that income in the world of IT over Britain as a whole is significantly greater than remuneration packages in other industries, so you'll most likely gain a lot more with professional IT knowledge, than you'd expect to earn elsewhere. The good news is there is no easing up for IT industry expansion throughout this country. The industry continues to develop enormously, and we don't have anywhere near enough qualified skilled IT professionals to fill current job vacancies, so it's not likely that it will even slow down for quite some time to come.

It's likely that you're quite practically minded - a 'hands-on' personality type. If you're anything like us, the trial of reading reference books and manuals can be just about bared when essential, but it's not ideal. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if you'd really rather not use books. Memory is vastly improved when we use multiple senses - this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for as long as we can remember.

Find a course where you'll receive a library of CD and DVD ROM's - you'll begin by watching videos of instructors demonstrating the skills, and then have the opportunity to use virtual lab's to practice your new skills. Make sure to obtain a training material demonstration from any training college. The materials should incorporate expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and interactive labs where you get to practice.

You should avoid purely online training. Ideally, you should opt for CD and DVD ROM courseware where offered, enabling them to be used at your convenience - ISP quality varies, so you don't want to be totally reliant on your internet connection always being 'up' and available.

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