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| Course Guides |
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| Choosing the Best Course For You |
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Today there are thousands of courses for you to choose from. An easy way to find out what you want to do, is to choose something you like. You will tend to be good at what you like and you will get great satisfaction from your job.
However, don't let yourself get taken up by a glamorous job, that you might not like in the end. A good way to find out what a job is really about is to 'shadow' someone in that profession.
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That means you follow and observe someone in that job during a typical day at work.. Don't be shy to call up the company, your future is at stake here. You might even try doing this with a friend if it will help boost your confidence.
You might also want to see a career counselor who will give you a test to determine which career could be suitable for you.
Once you know more or less what you want to do, there are a few questions you should ask yourself:
1. What do you want from the course you've chosen?
2. What type of course should you choose?
3. How can you tell the quality of a course?
4. Which method of study suits you?
1. What do you want from the course you've chosen?
If you already know what you want to do, then finding out about the course contents, which will tell you whether this course will really help you learn what you want.
But be careful, most employers look for people with a wide set of skills, so unless you are really sure about what you want to do, don't go for a very specialised course. |
2. What type of course should you choose?
By now you should know whether you want to choose an academic course or a vocational course.
A vocational course (such as a diploma) gives you practical skills which employers look for. A good course would also aim to send you on industrial placement for 6 months to a year.
A theoretical course ('A' levels or a degree) might not be so attractive to employers unless the job you want to get into requires you to have such a background e.g. teaching, research .
Completing a course does not guarantee you a job, but it will show the employer that you have the analytical skills and the determination required to complete that course.
3. How can you tell the quality of a course?
Reading about the school's reputation in newspapers, or looking at the school's ranking is always helpful. Also find out what results the students get and what they proceed to do when they graduate (work, continue studying.). Also consider whether the course you want to do is accredited by a professional body.
If you read the school's prospectus, you will be able to get a lot of information, but don't believe everything you read, as prospectuses are often marketing tools. Speak to former students if you can, and ask tutors as many questions as possible. If the school is a good one, their answers will be upfront and they will be very happy to answer you. If you see some hesitations, then they might be trying to hide something.
4. Which method of study suits you?
Personal and financial circumstances might affect the way you study. If you have the time and money, you might want to go for a full-time course. If you need to work to support yourself, a part-time course that allows you to work will be better for you. If you travel a lot or have family responsibilities, then a correspondence course might be the best for you.
Ensure that the course you are taking up is recognised in your country. Loans are generally available if you are unable to self-finance your studies (HSBC or DBS).
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