Gain a New Skill

Would you like to gain a new skill? Looking for a new job can be aa bit overwhelming, especially if you aren't sure what you'd like to do. But you can take a first step towards your goal by gaining a new skill now. Take some time to consider what you would like to do and the major skills related to your ideal new career. This can help you to become more proficient in your present job, boost your confidence and increase your chances of promotion or getting hired by another company.

There are many ways in which you can learn new skills, including in house training with your current employer, professional training at college or university, evening classes at your local community college or distance learning in the form of online courses, which can be anything from short courses in it skills to an online degree or postgraduate qualification.

Evening classes are a good option if you want a change of scene and the chance to interact with the teacher and other students and it can also be a good way to make new friends with similar interests. However, it can be difficult to make a commitment to go to class every week for a full academic year or more, especially when the dark nights and snow and rain kick in. However, online learning is now a great option for many subjects and with the introduction of audio and video, it is possible to study many subjects which would have been difficult in the past, for example learning a foreign language. In fact it is also possible to have lessons via the internet, using Skype, which means you can work with a native speaker in just about any part of the world with no phone costs. So you can listen to audios online to get the pronunciation right and then test your ability with a native speaker, who can correct you and with whom you can develop your French (Spanish, Chinese or whatever your preferred language ) conversation.

Videos and audios in all subjects are extremely helpful for students who don't learn well by reading books. In addition, they can provide another tool to help explain difficult concepts in many subjects.

The first step is to decide exactly what you want to do in terms of a career change or new job and then do some research to discover the skills and qualifications which would benefit you best. If you aren't sure what you want to do, or how to do your background research, take a look at Design Your Ideal Career.

Once you know which direction your professional life is heading in, spend some time getting as much information as you can on the most important skills related to your goals. You can do this by getting application forms - no-one needs to know you won't actually be filling the form in and sending it off! The description which comes with the form should give you a comprehensive list of duties and abilities needed for the type of post you are aiming at. If you can, try talking to employers, or people already in positions similar to the one you are working towards. You can do this by by attending open days or job fairs. You may already know which areas you need to develop - do you need to improve your negotiating skills or perhaps it's your presentation skills which let you down and are stopping you get the promotion you'd really like.

Studying for job skills by distance learning, learning online at home, in your own time and at your own pace can help overcome the difficulties associated with having to go out every week in all weathers to attend class. It's also useful if you have children and find it difficult to get a babysitter. Saves money too! 21st century learning skills might be a little frightening if you haven't studied in a while, but you'll find that courses are generally well supported and will give you the opportunity to improve your it skills as well, which of course, are also much sought after in the workplace.

If you are moving from physical or predominantly outdoor work to something which is office based, you may need to improve some of your basic skills, like literacy and numeracy or perhaps it's your thinking skills which are in need of sharpening. Colleges, both on and offline should provide learning resources to help you master these and it's important to check the level of support before committing yourself. Teachers these days are aware that students of all ages respond to different learning strategies and so if you have any worries based on previous learning experiences, be sure to discuss these with your tutor.

Think about where you'd like to be in a year's time: are you looking for p promotion where you are currently working or looking for something completely different. Then do a bit of research to ascertain the type of education and training which would get you there most quickly. You might find that you could combine workplace training with web-based learning . it will also depend on what you want to learn - is it something specific to your profession a more generic skill like another language or some more advanced computer skills?

Don't forget that soft skills such as communication skills are in great demand in almost all areas of work. So if you can reach a high standard in spoken and written communication, you will boost your chances of being hired. If you are thinking about learning a completely new subject, start out with an introductory course. It will provide some basic information which can help you decide if it's something you enjoy and wish to take it further field before you dive in and spend a lot of money on something you dislike and may never use. This is also a good plan if you are considering a degree or similar level course. choosing a subject will depend on may factors , particularly the demands of the industry, but you should also plan to study a subject which holds your interest. If you don't

enjoy the course, there is a good chance you won't enjoy the profession it leads to. Of course, there will always be elements of compromise, but be sure to weight the pros and cons before making a final decision.

And as soon as you have made your decision, be sure to find out if the course you are considering is properly accredited. You can do this by checking with the appropriate organizations for course accreditation. If there are qualifications involved make sure they are valuable. Either check with the HR department where you work to see if they accept this qualification from this particular college, or if you are planning on professional training in another area, ring the professional body which governs the career. Then compare the course with equivalent courses elsewhere - just because it is the most expensive doesn't mean it's necessarily better than others and there will always be different modules and emphases within courses leading to the same end result. So make sure it fits in with your individual interests or those of your employer. Draw up a few questions and look for answers on the website. If you can't find them, email or ring the college to ask your questions and note how quickly and how thoroughly they answer you. Is it possible to get a free session to try out?

Check out how supportive the course is in terms of helping you with essays and assignments and if you need it, basic skills. If you have responsibilities at home in addition to work, you need to be sure the course is flexible enough to accommodate you. Introduce yourself gently to study and see how you get it. You might surprise yourself and find you are taking off and your dreams of a new life are more realistic than you thought.