It’s really great that you’re reading this article! A small number of workers say they enjoy their work, but a huge number simply moan about it and that’s it. As you’ve reached this page we can guess that you’ve a personal interest in re-training, which means you’re already ahead of the pack. The next step is to discover where you want to go and get going.
We suggest that you discuss your ideas first – talk to someone who’s familiar with your chosen field; an advisor who can get to the bottom of what you’ll like in a job, and offer only the learning programs which will get you there:
* Is having company at work important to you? Is it meeting new people or being part of a team? Maybe you like to deal with tasks that only you know how to deal with?
* Have you given much thought to which area you choose to work in? (In this economy, it’s even more crucial to get it right.)
* Once you’ve qualified, are you hoping your new skills will give you the ability to see you to retirement age?
* Would you like your training course to be in an area where you believe you’ll remain employable until your pension kicks in?
The biggest industry in the UK that fulfils the above criteria is Information Technology. There is a requirement for greater numbers of qualified staff in IT, simply have a look at a local jobsite and you will find them yourself. Don’t let people tell you it’s only geeky nerds sitting in front ofscreens all day – there’s a lot more to it than that. Large numbers of the people in the computer industry are just like you and me, and they have very interesting and well paid jobs.
If you’re considering a training academy that still provides ‘in-centre’ days as a feature of their programme, then take note of these problems experienced by almost all students:
* The amount of travel required – multiple visits and quite often 100’s of miles each time.
* Asking for frequent time off work – many training providers will only provide availability during weekdays – typically grouping 2 or 3 days together. This is generally difficult for those of us who work for a living, and it’s made more problematic if you include the travel time on top.
* Lost annual leave – most IT hopefuls are given only twenty days of leave annually. If over half of it is swallowed up by study workshops, vacation time is going to be quite short for students and their families.
* Because of the cost involved, a lot of schools really push the size of the class – certainly not ideal (and much less personal).
* There is often tension in classes as most students want to move at a pace comfortable for them.
* Let’s not disregard the added expense of driving or bed and breakfast for the night either. This may well run to many hundreds of pounds more – sometimes thousands. Take some time to add it all up – it’ll shock and surprise you.
* We all enjoy our privacy. We don’t want to risk throwing away any potential advancement that we’re owed while we retrain.
* It’s really not that uncommon for students to hide the fact that they want to raise a question – purely because they’re with their peers.
* For students working away from home occasionally, you face the added difficulty that events are now difficult to get to – but unfortunately, the fees were paid along with everything else at the start.
Many students discover a more flexible approach is to make use of ready-made, videoed lessons at home, in comfort – taking them when it’s convenient to you – not someone else.
Think… If you’ve got a notebook PC you have the ability to learn in any location you choose. And 24×7 support is an online click away if you hit challenges.
All the lessons can be repeated at any time you need to brush up – memory is aided by repetition. And note-taking is a thing of the past – it’s already laid on for you.
Could it get any simpler: No wasted time or money, travelling is avoided; and you end up with a more comfortable study setting.
Commencing from the viewpoint that we need to locate the area of most interest first, before we can even consider which training program would meet that requirement, how can we choose the correct route?
How can we possibly grasp the tasks faced daily in an IT career when we’ve never done it? Maybe we don’t know someone who works in that sector anyway.
Arriving at the right conclusion will only come from a meticulous analysis of several varying key points:
* Your hobbies and interests – as they can show the possibilities will give you the most reward.
* Do you want to obtain training for a specific reason – e.g. do you aim to work based at home (working for yourself?)?
* Your earning needs you may have?
* Learning what the main job areas and sectors are – and what differentiates them.
* Having a serious look at the level of commitment, time and effort that you’re going to put into it.
For the average person, getting to the bottom of each of these concepts tends to require the help of a professional who can explain things properly. And we don’t just mean the qualifications – but also the commercial requirements and expectations also.
(C) 2009. Visit LearningLolly.com for smart ideas on Supervise People and Advice Interviews Questions.
