The CCNA qualification is your entry level for training in Cisco. With it, you'll learn how to work on maintaining and installing routers and network switches. The internet is made up of many routers, and many large organisations who have several locations use them to connect their computer networks.

Because routers are linked to networks, it's important to understand how networks work, or you will be out of your depth with the qualification and be unable to understand the work. Look for a course that includes basic networking skills (CompTIA is a good one) prior to starting your CCNA.

It's a good idea to find a tailored route that covers everything you need to know prior to starting your Cisco CCNA course skills.

One useful service offered by some training providers is a Job Placement Assistance program. This is designed to steer you into your first IT role. Because of the great need for more IT skills in Britain even when times are hard, there's no need to make too much of this option though. It isn't so complicated as you might think to secure a job as long as you've got the necessary skills and qualifications.

CV and Interview advice and support should be offered (if it isn't, consult one of our sites). It's essential that you bring your CV right up to date today - not when you're ready to start work! Getting onto the 'maybe' pile of CV's is far better than not even being known about. A surprising amount of junior positions are given to students (who've only just left first base.) Normally you'll get better results from a specialist independent regional employment service than you will through a course provider's national service, as they'll know the area better.

Fundamentally, if you put the same amount of effort into securing your first job as into studying, you won't find it too challenging. A number of men and women bizarrely put hundreds of hours into their training and studies and do nothing more once they've got certified and appear to be under the impression that jobs will come to them.

Get rid of the typical salesman that just tells you what course you should do without performing a 'fact-find' so as to understand your abilities as well as experience level. They should be able to select from a expansive array of training from which they could provide you with what's right for you. Of course, if you have some relevant work-experience or certification, then you can sometimes expect to start at a different point than someone new to the industry. If this is your initial effort at studying to take an IT exam then it may be wise to practice with some basic PC skills training first.

Those that are drawn to this type of work are often very practical, and don't really enjoy classrooms, and slogging through piles of books. If this is putting you off studying, opt for more involving, interactive learning materials, where learning is video-based. Memory is vastly improved when multiple senses are involved - this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for as long as we can remember.

Locate a program where you're provided with an array of DVD-ROM's - you'll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, and be able to practice your skills in interactive lab's. It would be silly not to view examples of the courseware provided before you purchase a course. The minimum you should expect would be video tutorials, instructor demo's and audio-visual elements backed up by interactive lab's.

Go for actual CD or DVD ROM's in all circumstances. This then avoids all the potential pitfalls with broadband 'downtime' or slow-speeds.

You have to be sure that all your qualifications are what employers want - don't bother with programs which end up with a useless in-house certificate or plaque. All the major commercial players such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco all have nationally renowned proficiency programmes. These heavyweights will give some sparkle to your CV.