Be alert that all accreditations that you're considering are commercially relevant and are up-to-date. Training companies own certificates are not normally useful in gaining employment. All the major IT organisations like Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA have widely approved skills courses. These big-hitters will ensure your employability.

Commencing with the idea that we need to find the employment that excites us first and foremost, before we can weigh up which development program meets that requirement, how are we supposed to find the right direction? Reading a list of odd-sounding and meaningless job titles is a complete waste of time. Most of us don't even know what our next-door neighbours do at work each day - so what chance do we have in understanding the complexities of a specific IT job. Arriving at a well-informed resolution can only grow from a methodical investigation across many shifting areas:

- Our personalities play a starring part - what gets you 'up and running', and what are the areas that you really dislike.

- Are you aiming to achieve an important objective - like becoming self-employed sometime soon?

- Where is the salary on a scale of importance - is an increase your main motivator, or does job satisfaction rate higher up on the scale of your priorities?

- With everything that IT covers, you'll need to be able to understand the differences.

- You should also think long and hard about what kind of effort and commitment you're going to invest in gaining your certifications.

The bottom line is, your only chance of covering these is via a good talk with someone that through years of experience will be able to guide you.

All those at the very start of their PC user learning-curve should elect to complete the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL). The majority of home computers operate on a system known as Microsoft 'Windows', and the ECDL covers the way to operate its basic elements. You'll also discover the way to login to the net, and the way to get into and find your way around web-sites and manage e-mail. A small amount is also covered on how to use spreadsheets and do some word processing.

A further stage is to get a bit more formal instruction to further improve your CV or prepare you for other functions at the office. A comprehensive knowledge of 'Microsoft Office' is most likely the skill-set most people require at this grade. By far the most practical professional accreditations covering Office are 'Microsoft Office Specialist' & 'Microsoft Certification Application Specialist' (recognised recognised in industry as 'MOS' & MCAS). 'MOS' has been in use for longer and works with 'Office' 2003 & XP, which is still very well utilised in business. 'MCAS' works with 'Office' 2007 and Vista, so obviously carries increased longevity. Both accreditation paths contain individual examinations around the key Microsoft Office applications: 'Excel' for 'spreadsheets', 'Access' for databases, 'Powerpoint' for 'presentations' and "Word" for word processing. Both are well respected examinations & help to make things simple for recruiters to recognise your in depth expertise with the applications.

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