A short course lasting between 2 days and a few weeks, might be all you need to set you on an alternative career path, nail that dream job – or even change your life.
Sometimes a short course can circumvent the need for a second degree.
Award-winning TV presenter and trainer Sally Gray MBE, founder of PresentersInc.co.uk, always knew she wanted to be a TV presenter. After her degree in Media Studies, she started as a secretary at the BBC and took a one-day course in television presenting.
Business schools offer short courses that don’t demand long periods away from work and can also work as stand-alone modules of MSc courses. The farm manager of Elveden Estate, which produces vegetables and grows some of the UK’s finest Christmas trees, attended an MBA style short management course at Cranfield Business School in 2009 and called it “life-changing”.
The London College of Communciation has just launched a short course in Personal Ethics for Media and Design – which could hardly be more timely.
Birkbeck’s short courses range from Arts Management to Organisational Psychology, while the LSE has a range of short courses in Human Rights designed for professionals in the law, government, public policy, business and civil society.
CareerBalance founder Simon Broomer attended a two-day telephone sales course early in his career, which gave him precious persuasive and selling skills which he has used in a variety of roles.
“A short course can be a little key to a door,” says Simon Broomer. “Even if you do it for fun, it shows discipline and commitment on your CV. It’s a way to dip your toe in the water and sample something you want to learn about rather than diving into a demanding course. Short courses tend to be practical and you often meet like-minded individuals who can make good new contacts and give you information about potential work in this field.”
Posted by Simon Broomer, Managing Director at CareerBlalance Ltd
