What are the best things to look for when you're shopping for IT training? This article gives you five surefire ways you can tell if your IT training will be the best it can be - before you spend any money!

1. Try Before You Buy. Request free samples of the training if possible, so you know what youre buying before you get it. Make sure that the content youre getting will give you the training you need.

2. Check the Content. Most training only focuses on exam knowledge. This type of training wont help much on the job because it doesnt teach you how to apply your certification in the real world. Also, be wary of training thats nothing more than a thinly-disguised electronic copy of a book. This training is a high-cost alternative that doesnt give you more than you would get by reading the book yourself.

   The best training will give you complete certification knowledge, then show you how to apply that knowledge on the job to do your work successfully.

3. Research the Company. Look for customer comments on the training companys website, brochures, etc. Also, do a Google search to see what customers have to say when theyre not being featured in promotional material.

4. Look for Engaging Training. Compare the free samples youve found: which are engaging and easy to learn from? Because training can be a long process, you want an instructor that holds your attention, gives a great learning experience, and delivers tons of content without sounding like theyre reading from a textbook.

5. Find Training That Works For You. There are many types of training out there, such as books, classes, sample tests and videos. Books are usually the cheapest option, but they can be hard to follow and many people find themselves easily distracted when studying with them. Because classes are instructor-led, they can be engaging and easy-to-follow, but they can be very expensive and inconvenient. Sample tests often only determine if you know the material or not, and are better used to test the knowledge you have than for actually learning.

   Training videos are a great option for many people because they are instructor-led and easy to follow. They are a cost-effective alternative to classes, plus theyre very convenient, allowing you to train on your own time and to keep the content so that you can use it as an ongoing reference.

Copyright 2005, CBT Nuggets, Inc.