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What are the best short courses?

What do you want to do with your life? Something many of us will have been asked at a Christmas party by a distant relative in a bold sweater. Some of us may still find ourselves being asked that question, but here at My Learning Online, we believe that everyone moves at their own pace, and it is never too late to start a career you love.

The choice of what career to follow can seem like a daunting one. There are hundreds of thousands of jobs in the world, each with its own pros and cons, and then when you throw salary into the mix, it all becomes quite overwhelming! We hold the firm belief that if you are doing what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.

To make things a little easier on your job-finding journey, we have put together a simple guide to steer you in the right direction, helping you to strive toward a fulfilling and exciting career.

The first steps

So, the first and most important thing to consider when choosing which career you want to pursue is: what inspires me? Ask yourself what you love to do, what types of career do you think you would find both fulfilling and challenging enough that it keeps you on your toes? 

Perhaps you have already answered this question and are starting to look at the practicalities of following your chosen path. Others of us may still be working things out. Either way, we’ve got your back! Here are some helpful factors to consider, whichever stage you are at:

What inspires you infographic

I know what I want to do, but how do I start?

Probably the hardest step is figuring out what you want to do; once you have a trajectory it is easier to start making a plan for your future.

Whether you want to enhance the skills you already have or do something completely new, a great place to start is by looking into courses that will set you up to have the best chance at success. Perhaps you prefer to learn in person, and therefore looking at short courses at your local university or college could be beneficial. There are often career counsellors on hand to guide and support you in your learning endeavours.

On the other hand, maybe you are someone who needs a bit more flexibility and can’t commit to regular face-to-face learning. Online courses are an excellent way of expanding your learning from the comfort of home. It is easier to work your studies around your schedule, giving you the freedom to learn at your own pace and in a way that suits you. Every one of us is different and we will require different learning styles to reach our fullest potential.

How will it impact your current life infographic

I’m still figuring things out

Not quite sure where you’re going? No problem! We just need to do a little brainstorming, in that case.

Ask yourself what your strengths are. Are you a practical person? Organised? Creative? Personable? Relaxed? Seeing your personal traits as strengths is a sure-fire way to lead you to a career that you will excel in. Trying to go against your nature and make yourself into something you’re not will likely lead to unhappiness in the workplace.

We wouldn’t have the sweet without the sour, and so it is important to also acknowledge areas where you perhaps struggle in your work. Maybe numbers aren’t your thing, organisation is tricky for you or writing emails makes you nervous. Knowing the areas of your work you wish to improve on will give you an incentive to focus on these skills and enhance them so they no longer feel like a struggle.

Most jobs require a level of social skill and face-to-face interaction. It is important to recognise in yourself how you like to work. Would you thrive meeting people and networking in busy environments, or would you be more suited to working alone? Perhaps you prefer animals to people and would excel in a job where our four-legged friends do most of the talking. However you like to work, there is sure to be a career path to suit your needs and wants when it comes to working style.

Financial stability may be a significant factor in the career you choose. Researching which careers pay well or which jobs are currently in high demand in your area are great places to start. Seek offers a fantastic list of some of the most in-demand jobs in New Zealand.

‘The best job’ will mean something different to everyone. For some ‘best’ could mean financial stability or promotional opportunities, for others ‘best’ could mean workplace happiness or creative fulfilment. Looking for the best jobs in New Zealand will vary from person to person, and once you know what you want to do, you can refine your search to suit what inspires you.

Ideas of your personal skills infographic

What do you want to offer?

Once you feel more settled in your choice of career, it’s time to start thinking about branding. Whether your chosen career is entrepreneurial, corporate, creative or therapeutic, it is important to consider what effect you want your work to have. What are your core values? What message do you want to give out with the products or services you provide? Do you want to inspire, teach and help through your work?

Ensuring that your career is built on the solid foundation of strong, driving values will always stand you in excellent stead. Once we know what we want to say to the world, we can start finding where we fit, and where our services may be most required and best received.

How are you going to get there?

Now for the practicalities – the part all dreamers hate! But they are necessary if we want our dreams to become a reality.

Before completely committing to a career it is important to look at how it will impact your current life. Does it need to be flexible to work around a busy lifestyle? Is there the option to work from home or would it require an external workspace? Will you need to supplement with other work to support yourself financially until your new career or business takes off?

Now that’s out of the way, onto the exciting bit! The JOURNEY.

The best way to start your career off with a bang is to do a short course in your chosen profession. Completing a course will solidify your skills, whether you are learning something new or enhancing skills you already have, starting from a refreshed state of learning will give you the best springboard to launch your career.

Could we have the course for you?

It just so happens we might have what you’re looking for. Here at My Learning Online, we have an abundance of online short courses in many different work sectors. The clue is in the name – all of our courses are online, meaning you can have the flexibility to pursue your career whilst maintaining your lifestyle. Why not look at our short courses in nutrition? Carefully craft your career as a professional makeup artist? Or dive into our marine studies course?

Still struggling to decide what you want to do? Not to worry. Why not speak to one of our course consultants for some guidance on the courses we have available, and which course might be a good fit for you.

All our courses come with a downloadable brochure with further information about course content, accessing your learning online and tutor support. We also have course fee payment plans available, making financing your future that little bit less daunting.

Enrol today and discover your highest potential.

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