In amongst the top nominees for the top potential problem for IT trainees is usually having to turn up to 'In Centre' days or workshops. Many training companies harp on about the plus points of attending, it's almost certain though that you'll find them a thorn in your side due to many reasons:

- Many round journeys - normally hundreds of miles each and every time.

- Mon-Fri availability to events can be usual, and getting two to three days out of work is usually problematic for most working students.

- At just 4 weeks holiday each year, spending half on training classes leaves very little time for holidays.

- Workshop days fill up quickly and often end up larger than is ideal.

- Tension is sometimes created in classes because most students want to move at a pace comfortable for them.

- Add up the cost of all the petrol, fares, accommodation, parking and food and you may be surprised (and not pleasantly). Attendees talk of increased costs of between several hundred and a couple of thousand pounds. Sit down and add it up - and understand where they're coming from.

- Many trainees want their studies to remain private to avoid any kind of repercussions at work.

- It's common to avoid posing questions in a room full of our fellow attendees - so we don't appear ignorant.

- For those who have work away from home, you have the added problem that workshops can often become awkward to keep up - and yet, the money has already been paid.

Why not simply watch and study with industry specialists one-to-one via pre-filmed classes, doing them at a time that's convenient for you and you alone. Study from home on your desktop PC or if you have laptop, why not get outside if the weather's nice. If you've got questions, then use the provided 24x7 live support (that should come with any technical program.) There's no need to take notes - every lesson is laid out for you already. Any time you want to repeat something, just go for it. Although it's impossible to take away each and every issue, it undoubtedly reduces stress and eases things. And you've reduced hassle, costs and travel.

Students who consider this area of study are usually quite practically-minded, and don't always take well to classrooms, and endless reading of dry academic textbooks. If you identify with this, use multimedia, interactive learning, where everything is presented via full motion video. Studies have time and time again verified that connecting physically with our study, will more likely produce memories that are deeper and longer-lasting.

You can now study via easy-to-use DVD or CD ROM's. Real-world classes from the instructors will mean you'll find things easier to remember by way of their teaching and demonstrations. Knowledge can then be tested by utilising the practice lab's and modules. It's very important to see the type of training provided by any company that you may want to train through. Be sure that they contain instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab's.

Avoiding training that is delivered purely online is generally a good idea. 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.

When was the last time you considered your job security? Typically, we only think of this after something goes wrong. However, the lesson often learned too late is that our job security is a thing of the past, for all but the most lucky of us. However, a sector experiencing fast growth, with a constant demand for staff (because of a massive shortfall of commercially certified professionals), opens the possibility of lasting job security.

Taking a look at the Information Technology (IT) industry, the most recent e-Skills investigation brought to light a 26 percent skills deficit. Therefore, out of each 4 positions that exist in the computer industry, organisations are only able to find certified professionals for three of the four. Highly qualified and commercially grounded new employees are correspondingly at an absolute premium, and it seems it will continue to be so for a long time. Unquestionably, this really is the very best time to train for the IT industry.

A proficient and professional advisor (as opposed to a salesman) will talk through your current experience level and abilities. There is no other way of calculating your study start-point. An important point to note is that, if you've got any previous certification, then it's not unreasonable to expect to begin at a different level to a trainee with no history to speak of. Opening with a foundation module first is often the best way to get up and running on your computer programme, depending on your current skill level.

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