Considering the amount of options that are available, there's no surprise that a large majority of trainees balk at what job they should even pursue. Because without any solid background in Information Technology, how could any of us be expected to know what someone in a particular job does? Often, the key to unlocking this dilemma in the best manner comes from a thorough chat, covering a variety of topics:

* Personalities play a major role - what gets you 'up and running', and what are the areas that put a frown on your face.

* Do you hope to realise an important aspiration - for instance, being your own boss someday?

* How important is salary to you - is it of prime importance, or is day-to-day enjoyment a lot higher on your list of priorities?

* There are many markets to choose from in Information Technology - there's a need to pick up some key facts on what makes them different.

* Taking a cold, hard look at how much time and effort that you're going to put into it.

When all is said and done, your only chance of understanding everything necessary is via a long chat with someone that through years of experience will give you the information required.

Without a doubt: There's absolutely no individual job security available anymore; there's really only industry and business security - as any company can remove anyone if it fits the business' trade requirements. Whereas a marketplace with high growth, with a constant demand for staff (because of a massive shortage of properly qualified professionals), provides a market for proper job security.

Looking at the IT business, a recent e-Skills survey showed a 26 percent skills deficit. So, for every 4 jobs available throughout Information Technology (IT), organisations can only find enough qualified individuals for 3 of them. Highly qualified and commercially accredited new employees are accordingly at an absolute premium, and it's estimated to remain so for many years longer. In reality, acquiring professional IT skills throughout the coming years is probably the safest career choice you could ever make.

Many companies only look at the plaque to hang on your wall, and completely avoid what it's all actually about - which will always be getting the job or career you want. Always begin with the final destination in mind - don't make the vehicle more important than the destination. Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Don't make the mistake of finding what seems like an 'interesting' course only to spend 20 years doing something you don't even enjoy!

You also need to know how you feel about career development, earning potential, and if you're ambitious or not. It's vital to know what the role will demand of you, which particular accreditations are needed and in what way you can develop commercial experience. The best advice for students is to chat with a professional advisor before they make a decision on a particular training program. This is essential to ensure it has the required elements for that career path.

Make sure that all your qualifications are commercially valid and current - you're wasting your time with programs that only give in-house certificates. If the accreditation doesn't feature a company like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco or CompTIA, then it's likely it won't be commercially viable - because it won't give an employer any directly-useable skills.

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