Well Done! As you're looking at this you're probably toying with the idea of getting re-qualified for a new job - that puts you way ahead of the crowd. Less of us than you'd think are happy and fulfilled in our work, but most just moan and do nothing about it. Why not be one of a small number who actually do something about it.

For those thinking of re-training, it's essential that you first make a list of your requirements from the career you're hoping to qualify for. Ensure that a new career would suit you better before you spend time and effort re-directing your life. Prudence suggests looking at the end goal first, to make an informed decision:

* Is collaborating with others important to you? Would you prefer to work with a small team or with a lot of new people? It could be working by yourself on specific tasks would be more your thing?

* Which criteria's are important to you regarding the industry you'll be employed in?

* Should this be a one off time that re-training is necessary?

* Are you worried about the chance of new employment opportunities, and keeping a job to the end of your working life?

Look at the IT industry, that's our recommendation - unusually, it's one of the growing market sectors in the UK and Europe. Salaries are also more generous than most.

It's essential to have an accredited exam preparation programme included in the package you choose. Make sure that the simulated exams aren't just asking you the right questions from the right areas, but also asking them in the way the real exams will ask them. It completely unsettles trainees if the phraseology and format is completely different. Clearly, it is really important to make sure you've thoroughly prepared for your commercial exam prior to going for it. Revising 'mock' exams logs the information in your brain and helps to avoid thwarted exam entries.

A lot of trainers will only offer office hours or extended office hours support; most won't answer after 8-9pm at the latest and frequently never at the weekends. Don't accept training courses that only support you via an out-sourced call-centre message system after 6-9pm in the evening and during weekends. Training companies will always try to hide the importance of this issue. Essentially - you need support when you need support - not at their convenience.

Top training providers tend to use a web-based round-the-clock facility combining multiple support operations over many time-zones. You will have a simple interface which switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres no matter what time of day it is: Support on demand. If you fail to get yourself online 24x7 support, you'll regret it very quickly. You might not want to use the service during late nights, but consider weekends, early mornings or late evenings.

How the program is actually delivered to you can often be overlooked. How many parts is the training broken down into? And in what sequence and what control do you have at what pace it arrives? Usually, you'll enrol on a course requiring 1-3 years study and get sent one module each time you pass an exam. While this may sound logical on one level, consider this: Often, the staged breakdown prescribed by the provider doesn't suit you. You may find it a stretch to finalise each and every section within the time limits imposed?

The ideal circumstances are to get every piece of your study pack packed off to your home before you even start; the entire thing! Then, nothing can hinder the reaching of your goals.

Make sure you don't get caught-up, as a lot of students can, on the certification itself. Your training isn't about getting a plaque on your wall; you're training to become commercially employable. Begin and continue with the end in mind. It's a testament to the marketing skills of the big companies, but a great many students commence training that sounds wonderful from the syllabus guide, but which provides a job that is of no interest at all. Just ask several college leavers for examples.

Set targets for what you want to earn and whether you're an ambitious person or not. Usually, this will point the way to what precise exams you'll need to attain and what you can expect to give industry in return. Seek help from a skilled advisor that understands the sector you wish to join, and who can give you 'A typical day in the life of' synopsis of what you'll actually be doing on a day-to-day basis. It just makes sense to know if this change is right for you long before the training program is started. There's really no reason in starting your training only to find you've gone the wrong way entirely.

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