part time courses worth doing while unemployed

CHARDONNAY_3

I'm currently volunteering at a primary school & doing an NVQ for teaching assistants, but after this & jobsearching, I still have alot of free time.

I'm also concerned that I wont be able to get a job in a school when my course finishes as jobs rarely come up & competition is fierce.

I'm looking into doing another course but not sure what - it would have to just be for a few hours a week, so as not to effect my JSA & pref something that will help with getting work (not necessarily in a school)

Does anyone have any ideas/experiences of courses that are worthwhile?

doobiesis_2

Most placed now require computer usage, maybe you could do a course on updating your skills, as most employers can see from your CV you're trying to better yourself and this might one day be the reason they employ you over anyone else.

Good luck.

CHARDONNAY_3

Thanks

I have to admit computers scare me a little, think that's why I've never looked into related courses in the past, I'll look into doing a basic course at my local college tho.

I had thought about literacy & numeracy too, as I've seen ads for these but not sure what they involve. Any experience of these? I've got GCSE maths & English, but from 10 yrs ago, so could poss do with updating.

kingfisherblue

Our local community centre runs accredited teaching assistant courses. the staff there advise you to update your maths, English and IT skills if possible. Following that, any other courses that could help you are handy to have - first aid, sports coaching, sign language, modern foreign language.

Fruitloops

CHARDONNAY wrote: »

I'm currently volunteering at a primary school & doing an NVQ for teaching assistants, but after this & jobsearching, I still have alot of free time.

I'm also concerned that I wont be able to get a job in a school when my course finishes as jobs rarely come up & competition is fierce.

I'm looking into doing another course but not sure what - it would have to just be for a few hours a week, so as not to effect my JSA & pref something that will help with getting work (not necessarily in a school)

Does anyone have any ideas/experiences of courses that are worthwhile?

May I just ask where you're based and how you went about starting the NVQ and how you secured the volunteering in a school?

Also, KINGFISHERBLUE, where is that local community centre?

kingfisherblue

I'm in St. Helens, but community centres all over the country have courses. They obviously don't all run at the same time. At the moment, the centre I'm referring to runs maths and English levels 1 and 2, plus various IT courses including computer maintenance. It will shortly, subject to funding, start running more IT courses that are accredited, the TA course (which is always popular), first aid and several other courses.

Sports coaching is offered by the local council at different times of the year, often in school holidays so that young people can attend.

The local Deaf Centre runs sign language and Makaton courses - some are free if you meet certain criteria.

The local college has a wide range of courses, including languages (I think St. Helens College offer 13 different ones), sign language, and loads of others. Although most of these are charged, there is often some small print sayingt hat if you are on certain benefits, they are free.

Other community centres offer a range of courses as well, not all the same as the ones at my local centre.

I think that if you attend courses, it doesn't just give you additional knowledge and/or qualifications, it also shows future employers that you are willing to learn and keen to do something. It can show you in a very positive light and that might give you the extra edge that employers are looking for.

Oldernotwiser

CHARDONNAY wrote: »

Thanks

I have to admit computers scare me a little, think that's why I've never looked into related courses in the past, I'll look into doing a basic course at my local college tho.

I had thought about literacy & numeracy too, as I've seen ads for these but not sure what they involve. Any experience of these? I've got GCSE maths & English, but from 10 yrs ago, so could poss do with updating.

If you already have English and Maths at grade C or over, don't bother.If you haven't,this would definitely be the best thing to do.

Gazing_On_Sunsets

Definitely IT as mentioned above.

Do you have any skills or talents or interests? Getting a qualification in something you like doing means you could offer to run a club at school. I used to teach in Secondary, and being able to say you were willing to do netball or recorder or a science club, or whatever, really helped: of course, anyone can SAY that so having a bit of paper showing you've done a course in it will PROVE it. It's got to be something you enjoy though. Or it will become an hour of hell every week.

CHARDONNAY_3

Fruitloops - I'm based in the North East.

I attended an info evening at my local college, before having an informal interview for the course & filling in paperwork for CRB check.

Then I just phoned my local primary school & asked if I could do my placement with them, which they agreed to, saying they could always do with assistance.

I spend 3 hours at college 1 day a week & 1 day on placement, both of which I really enjoy & it's something to put on my C.V.

I've just signed up to do a free literacy & numeracy course as the TA at the school where I volunteer advised up to date quals will be a requirement for TA's in the next year or so.

I was good at languages at school - GCSE French & Spanish, so may look into pursuing these further. I'm also interested in health & fitness, I go to the gym at least 3 times a week & I do yoga & pilates (although those are only from DVD'S at home!) so maybe those sorts of things are another option.