Some training providers will only offer support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; It's rare to find someone who offers late evening or full weekend cover. Be wary of any training providers that use 'out-of-hours' call-centres - with the call-back coming in during office hours. This is useless when you're stuck and want support there and then.

Top training companies use multiple support centres from around the world. By utilising an interactive interface to seamlessly link them all, irrespective of the time you login, help is just seconds away, with no hassle or contact issues. Unless you insist on direct-access 24x7 support, you'll end up kicking yourself. You might not want to use the service late at night, but consider weekends, early mornings or late evenings.

Many training companies have a handy Job Placement Assistance service, designed to steer you into your first job. Don't get caught up in this feature - it isn't unusual for companies marketing departments to make it sound harder than it is. The fact of the matter is, the massive skills shortage in Britain is the reason you'll find a job.

However, what is relevant is to have help and assistance with preparing a CV and getting interviews though; also we would encourage all students to bring their CV up to date as soon as they start a course - don't delay for when you're ready to start work. You might not even have taken your exams when you land your first junior support position; but this can't and won't happen unless you've posted your CV on job sites. If you'd like to get employment in your home town, then you may well find that a local (but specialised) recruitment consultancy might serve you better than a national service, because they're far more likely to know what's available near you.

A slight frustration for many training course providers is how much men and women are prepared to work to get qualified, but how un-prepared that student is to get the job they've trained for. Get out there and hustle - you might find it's fun.

A subtle way that training companies make a big mark-up is by charging for exams up-front and offering an exam guarantee. It looks like a good deal, but let's just examine it more closely:

You'll pay for it somehow. One thing's for sure - it isn't free - it's simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole. The honest truth is that when trainees fund their relevant examinations, at the time of taking them, the chances are they're going to get through on the first attempt - since they are conscious of their payment and so will prepare more thoroughly.

Hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take the exam, and hang on to your cash. You'll then be able to select where you do your exams - meaning you can choose a local testing centre. Huge profits are made by many training colleges who get money for exam fees in advance. Many students don't take them for one reason or another and so the company is quids-in. Believe it or not, there are companies around that actually rely on students not sitting all the exams - and that's how they increase their profits. The majority of organisations will require you to sit pre-tests and hold you back from re-takes until you've demonstrated an excellent ability to pass - so an 'Exam Guarantee' comes with many clauses in reality.

Exams taken at local centres are around 112 pounds in Great Britain. Why pay exorbitant charges for 'Exam Guarantees' (usually wrapped up in the course package price) - when the best course materials, the right level of support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

How the program is actually delivered to you can often be overlooked. How is the courseware broken down? What is the order and how fast does each element come? Drop-shipping your training elements stage by stage, taking into account your exam passes is the typical way that your program will arrive. Of course, this sounds sensible, but you must understand the following: Many students find that the trainer's typical path to completion is not what they would prefer. They might find varying the order of study will be far more suitable. Perhaps you don't make it within their exact timetable?

For future safety and flexibility, it's normal for most trainees to request that all their modules (now paid for) are delivered immediately, and not in stages. It's then up to you at what speed and in which order you want to finish things.