ECDL - disparity in prices

patchwork_cat

Hi
I am hoping to return to work soon and have noticed that some want OCR level1 text processing. After being put through to about half a dozen different advice companies upshot is this course isn't available in my area and is probably too basic. Advised to do ECDL, again lots of different companies offer this both locally and with distance learning - prices vary from £115 + 7 x 11.50 to £527! Feeling overwhelmed by the level of options I also have tried to do a distance learning course before and a flexible drop in centre as well both of which I didn't take to very well. Can someone help me to clarify the different options and experiences of the drop in type centres, maybe if I approached it differently as I always felt like I was an imposition at the drop in centre.

KimYeovil

They're a waste of time and money. The only jobs they help are scummy scammy 'trainer' posts.

Find employment with a decent employer. They will, if necessary, pay for you to sit the test. (The training can be done trivially on the job.)

If you do not have the background or skills or aptitude or luck to get such a decent job from a decent employer in the first place, an ECDL is not going to help you anyways with your job search.

patchwork_cat

Well I disagree Kim - both the NHS and local govt are asking for level 1 keyboard skills. I can demonstrate them, but as I haven't worked for 13 years felt that I need to make myself more employable. If it is an essential requirement for the job you won't even get the interview without them.

Horace

Patchwork - are you in Unison? I ask because they offer ECDL courses to their members either at retduced rate or free.

I have never done ECDL as I have my RSA qualifications - not that any of them are needed now that I am self employed.

I wish you well with your course though - try your local college too as they may have courses that are separate from the ECDL but give you the same level of qualification.

wishface

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Well I disagree Kim - both the NHS and local govt are asking for level 1 keyboard skills. I can demonstrate them, but as I haven't worked for 13 years felt that I need to make myself more employable. If it is an essential requirement for the job you won't even get the interview without them.

if you have the knowledge then just pretend you have the qualification. What's the harm?

patchwork_cat

That would be fraud wishface.

Shazmar_2

Have a look at the http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm website Education and Learning section and see if you can find a suitable course on there in your area. I used the site and did the ECDL course for free in my area. Also ask at the job centre for suitable courses in your area. If you can prove it is a requirement of getting a job they are obliged to help.

ohreally

wishface wrote: »

if you have the knowledge then just pretend you have the qualification. What's the harm?

Falsely claiming to hold a qualification is a criminal offence under the Fraud Act 2006.
The person making the claim is guilty of fraud by false representation under Section 2.

MadDogWoman_2

Hi,

I hold RSA 3 word processing but didn't have anything to show my experience in the other Microsoft applications. So I have signed up with my local council's learning zone for the ECDL.

It's 2 hours on a Wednesday evening, then self study the rest of the week. It's costing me £195 including tests. I had to purchase the course book instead. I am able to pay in instalments as well, buy log book (£35) to register, then per test (£23).

It's also a drop-in centre during the day if I needed it.

I've signed up less than a month ago, and have just completed level 1 (modules 1, 2 and 7).

I'm using it as a way of my brain not atrophying whilst I look for a job as well.

Yes I do know a lot of the stuff but as I'm completely self taught it's filling in a lot of the blanks.

As it's a drop in it means that if DH is on late shift it doesn't cause any hassles with a missed session.

It's suiting me as I don't need a tutor telling me what to do, that would be really frustrating for me, but it means I can go along assess whether I'm ready with pre-tests and arrange my tests with the tutor that's there.

MDW

DCFC79

wishface wrote: »

if you have the knowledge then just pretend you have the qualification. What's the harm?

yeh i can imagine if i were to claim i had certain qualifications and what would happen, id be asked to provide proof which i dont have and id dig a very very deep hole which id require a long rope to get out of

crockpot

I have been looking at this aswell as several jobs have been asking for it.

When i went to sign on and asked why I had not applied for any jobs, I told them is was because I did not have an ECDL o could not apply. I rang my local collage who said I could do 1 in sept for free as I was on JSA.

I asked job center if they could find me a course now, its a long time til sept and they said they could only offer help with basic maths and english!