Train the Same Way You Work

Pass rates for classroom training in IT certifications are under 50%. Lecture theatres just don't cut it for many people, who prefer to learn by 'getting their hands dirty'.

Across all IT certificates, training through SEEK Learning has a pass rate above 94%. This isn't just marketing hype: 24/7 support and high-quality training ensures outcomes way above industry standard. Learning is delivered online, and is completed at your own pace.

Interactive, On-screen Learning

Learning is typically achieved using on-screen simulations that exactly mirror real world interfaces. For example, if you're learning to connect nodes in Exchange Server, you're not just reading about it or watching a lecturer do it for you: You're using an interface that is exactly like Exchange Server's administrative interface. You actually do it. You build experience with the training, not just theoretical knowledge.

Start a Career

While the Microsoft Desktop Support certificate (MCDST) is a common and widely recognised entry-level certificate (and well worth your time), the most popular IT certification is (and always will be) the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer). It's a recognised pre-requisite for entry-level tech and helpdesk jobs at some of the largest companies in the world. And while there's well over 250,000 people globally with the MCSE certification in Microsoft 2000, there remains a crucial lack of certified Systems Engineers in MS 2003. While the IT industry changes at a famously furious rate, the MCSE remains the industry's stable backbone.

The MCSE is the logical first step to a successful career in IT.

And Then What?

As we know, though, there's more to the IT world than Microsoft. The MCSE again is a good start here, offering electives in areas as diverse as security design, project management systems and more. Following that qualification, though, many opt for Cisco's CCNA certification. This course in networking fundamentals marries in nicely with the MCSE. It covers emerging areas such as VoIP and wireless security, creating a broad base for your career in IT.

A few basic building blocks can boost your career.

An optional - but very useful - add-on early in an IT career is a security-specific certification. Security is increasingly important as more transactions (both financial and data) take place online. A security qualification would no doubt enhance any IT professional's value in the market, and a qualification such as Cisco's CCNA Security gives you a globally recognised security specialisation.

As with any career, learning the fundamentals and gaining globally-recognised qualifications is the best way to start out. Don't play catch-up throughout your career; start on a secure footing.