Some training providers still use a now out-dated method of training - in-centre classes. Very often portrayed as a huge benefit, after discussion with someone who has first-hand experience, you'll most likely hear about many or most of the following problems:

- All that travelling - many visits and normally 100's of miles at a go.

- Taking constant holidays or time off - most colleges only offer Monday to Friday workshop availability and often group days together in a clump. This isn't ideal for most people who work, and it's made more problematic if you include the travel time on top.

- The majority of us find 4 weeks holiday each year is barely enough. Take away over half of it for training events and see how much more difficult it makes things.

- Workshop days normally become quickly full, giving us the only option of the '2nd best' solution.

- A lot of attendees want to progress quickly, but some like to take it easier and not be forced to adopt an uncomfortable speed for them. This causes tension and bad atmosphere in most workshops.

- Count the cost of all the fares or petrol, parking, food and accommodation and you'll be in for a big surprise. Students mention extra costs of hundreds to thousands of pounds over time. Sit down and add it up - and you'll see how.

- It's important to maintain privacy. We don't want to risk losing any advancement that could awarded to us while we're training.

- Many of us find that, at times, it's uncomfortable to raise questions in a room full of other attendees - to avoid appearing stupid.

- If your work takes you away from home, it's a fact of life that workshops can become very hard to attend - unfortunately however, the fees were paid along with everything else at the start.

The best possible solution is based on viewing a pre-made lesson - having instructor-led teaching on hand whenever it's convenient for you. Ponder this... If you have a notebook PC you can work absolutely anywhere you want (within reason!) And 24 hr-a-day support is only a web-browser click away at times of difficulty. It doesn't matter how often you have to re-cover a topic, filmed tutors can never get frustrated with you! Also, because of this, you'll never have to write notes again. It's all there for you. Though this doesn't suddenly stop each and every issue, it undeniably makes things easier, simpler and less stressful. You also have reduced hassle, costs and travel.

Many trainers supply a practical Job Placement Assistance service, to help you into your first commercial role. At the end of the day it's not as difficult as you may be led to believe to get employment - as long as you've got the necessary skills and qualifications; because there's still a great need for IT skills in the UK today.

Bring your CV up to date as soon as possible however - look to your training company for advice on how to do this. Don't procrastinate and leave it until you've graduated or passed any exams. Various junior support jobs are offered to students who're still on their course and haven't even passed a single exam yet. At least this will get you into the 'maybe' pile of CV's - rather than the 'No' pile. The top companies to get you a new position are generally specialist independent regional recruitment consultancies. As they will get paid by the employer when they've placed you, they'll work that much harder to get a result.

In a nutshell, if you put the same amount of effort into finding a job as into training, you won't find it too challenging. A number of students strangely invest a great deal of time on their learning program and just give up once they've got certified and seem to expect employers to find them.

There is a range of qualification paths to move onto after finishing your 'CCNA'. Specialist sectors like 'Security', or Wireless-technology may be thought about, or maybe the CCNP ('Cisco Certified Networking Professional' ) which is rather more advanced. It isn't advisable to think about doing the CCNP until you've entirely accomplished your CCNA. You should anticipate to be working in a Cisco environment for not less than 12 to 24 months (together with your 'CCNA' accreditation) before you started to study for your CCNP. If however you have already been in the industry for quite a while, & maybe obtained a qualification of equivalent standing to a CCNA (for instance whilst in the military) you might be able to move straight to 'CCNP'. In reality an employer won't contemplate you for any senior role when you haven't got a decent degree of 'CCNA' level working experience and understanding of networks.

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