There are four specialised areas of training in the A+ syllabus, of which you need to pass two for competency in A+. However restricting yourself to two of the study sections is likely to leave your knowledge base somewhat light. Look for training that covers all the specialist areas - this will give you the edge in the working environment.

As well as being taught about building and fixing computers, trainees of A+ will be taught how to work in antistatic conditions, as well as diagnostics, fault-finding and remote access. Were you to add Network+ to your A+ course, you'll also have the ability to take care of networks, giving you the facility to apply for more senior positions.

Several companies offer a Job Placement Assistance service, designed to steer you into your first job. Don't get caught up in this feature - it's easy for companies marketing departments to overplay it. Ultimately, the still growing need for IT personnel in Great Britain is why employers will be interested in you.

One important thing though, don't wait till you've completed your exams before bringing your CV up to date. The day you start training, mark down what you're doing and tell people about it! Quite often, you'll secure your first position while still studying (even in the early stages). If you haven't updated your CV to say what you're studying (and it's not being looked at by employers) then you're not even going to be known about! The most efficient companies to help you land that job are normally specialist locally based employment services. As they will get paid by the employer when they've placed you, they have the necessary incentive to try that bit harder.

A slight grievance for many training companies is how hard trainees are focused on studying to pass exams, but how little effort that student will then put into getting the role they've trained for. Get out there and hustle - you might find it's fun.

Exam 'guarantees' are sometimes offered as part of a training package - inevitably that means paying for the exams when you pay for the rest of your course. However, prior to embracing this so-called guarantee, think about this:

Everyone knows they're still paying for it - it's quite obvious to see that it's already been included in the overall price charged by the training company. Certainly, it's not a freebie (although some people will believe anything the marketing companies think up these days!) It's everybody's ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Progressively working through your exams one at a time and funding them as you go puts you in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt - you prepare appropriately and think carefully about the costs.

Doesn't it make more sense to find the best exam deal or offer at the time, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance to the training company, and also to sit exams more locally - instead of the remote centre that's convenient only to the trainer? A lot of extra profit is secured by many training colleges that take the exam money up-front. Many students don't take them for one reason or another but no refunds are given. Surprising as it sounds, providers exist who actually rely on students not sitting all the exams - as that's where a lot of their profit comes from. Re-takes of any failed exams through training companies who offer an 'Exam Guarantee' are always heavily controlled. You will be required to do mock exams to make sure they think you're going to pass.

With the average price of Pro-metric and VUE examinations costing in the region of 112 pounds in this country, 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.