In the fast-paced world we live in, support workers who are able to mend computers and networks, and offer daily advice to users, are indispensable in all areas of industry. Whilst we are getting progressively reliant on our PC's, we additionally emerge as more dependent on the commercially qualified IT networkers, who maintain those systems.

Make sure you don't get caught-up, like so many people do, on the training process. You're not training for the sake of training; you should be geared towards the actual job at the end of it. Focus on the end-goal. It's an awful thing, but thousands of new students kick-off study that often sounds wonderful from the marketing materials, but which delivers a career that doesn't fulfil at all. Just ask several university students and you'll see where we're coming from.

It's essential to keep your focus on where you want to go, and build your study action-plan from that - not the other way round. Keep your eyes on your goals - making sure you're training for an end-result you'll still be enjoying many years from now. Seek out help from an industry professional that has commercial knowledge of your chosen market-place, and who can give you 'A day in the life of' understanding of what you'll actually be doing on a day-to-day basis. It makes good sense to know if this change is right for you long before you start on any retraining programme. There's little point in starting to train and then discover you're on the wrong course.

A useful feature offered by some training providers is a programme of Job Placement assistance. The service is put in place to steer you into your first IT role. But don't place too much emphasis on it - it isn't unusual for their marketing department to overplay it. The fact of the matter is, the massive skills shortage in Great Britain is why employers will be interested in you.

Advice and support about getting interviews and your CV should be offered (alternatively, check out one of our sites for help). Make sure you bring your CV right up to date right away - don't leave it till you pass the exams! Various junior support roles have been offered to students who are in the process of training and have still to get qualified. This will at the very least get you into the 'maybe' pile of CV's - rather than the 'No' pile. You'll normally experience better results from an independent and specialised local recruitment consultancy than you'll experience from any training course provider's national service, as they will understand the local industry and employment needs.

Essentially, as long as you put the same commitment into securing your first IT position as into studying, you're not likely to experience problems. Some men and women curiously invest a great deal of time on their training course and do nothing more once they've got certified and would appear to think that businesses will just discover them.