Online Courses, are they worth it?

pelirocco

valacky wrote: »

Hi.

If you are claiming benefits then ask the Jobcentre for advice on free training. Also, have a look around the web. Some companies offer free trial versions of their software programs with tutorials included. Sage accounting software is a good example.
How about your local college? I had a great experience by taking college courses despite being in my late 40's at the time. That was my first educational course since leaving school in 1977. I also did an online IT course through Learn Direct which was good for me.

Val.

Sage tutorial will help you with using Sage , it will not give you accountrancy or even bookeeping skills

You may lean what to put where , but its much more valuable to know why , and what will happen if you do .......( can you tell its one of my pet peeves lol )

fruitedeli

pelirocco wrote: »

Sage tutorial will help you with using Sage , it will not give you accountrancy or even bookeeping skills

You may lean what to put where , but its much more valuable to know why , and what will happen if you do .......( can you tell its one of my pet peeves lol )

I did a 5 day (8hr per day including 30 minutes lunch) Sage course and I did learn some basic accountancy things. After that I spent 6 months on unpaid work experience and kept making mistakes for the first 2 months. It took about 4-5 months before I learned properly how to do bookkeeping and use Sage thoroughly without needing assistance. During the work experience I was expected to calculate everything manually before entering data to Sage to make sure it all matches. I got a decent job based on this work experience, not the course.

Laurajo_2

For £19 can't do much harm - I wouldn't employ someone in an accounts role on the basis of doing this course, but if I was looking for a junior/trainee role, it shows a bit of initiative and enthusiasm and if you interviewed well, might tip the scales.

That said I don't think it will be of any practical use - we occasionally get AAT students come for a couple of weeks work experience, and where they haven't had any exposure to accounts or bookkeeping before, they really aren't much more use then someone with no experience.

valacky

fruitedeli wrote: »

And did this 'great experience' materialise into a job? A couple of days worth of Sage is of no use without actual work experience using it. The course might be useless for self confidence issues, or brushing up very basic accountancy skills, but don't expect employers to give you a job based on this so valued qualification.

Err? If you are going to be negative at least read the comment properly before responding. I said I had a great experiencee doing the college course - not Sage.

fruitedeli

valacky wrote: »

Err? If you are going to be negative at least read the comment properly before responding. I said I had a great experiencee doing the college course - not Sage.

Since this thread is about the Sage course, and you didn't say what college courses they were, it's only rational to assume you meant Sage courses. And what 'great experience' did you have? Is this only for self-confidence? Did any of the 'great experience' help you get a job? Let's face it, several days courses are useless.

valacky

fruitedeli wrote: »

Since this thread is about the Sage course, and you didn't say what college courses they were, it's only rational to assume you meant Sage courses. And what 'great experience' did you have? Is this only for self-confidence? Did any of the 'great experience' help you get a job? Let's face it, several days courses are useless.

No,its not a Sage thread, its about courses in general. Read the 1st post.

I met new people and and completed various courses over some months. I gained qualifications that are nationally recognised, and some of the new skills I learnt are for use in every day life, not just work. I took CLAIT, Customer Service, Business administration.
I am self-employed.

Now tell us about yourself: Why are you so set on trying to put me down? Or is it that you think nobody should do courses?

fruitedeli

valacky wrote: »

No,its not a Sage thread, its about courses in general. Read the 1st post.

I met new people and and completed various courses over some months. I gained qualifications that are nationally recognised, and some of the new skills I learnt are for use in every day life, not just work. I took CLAIT, Customer Service, Business administration.
I am self-employed.

Now tell us about yourself: Why are you so set on trying to put me down? Or is it that you think nobody should do courses?

I think nobody should do ONLINE COURSES worth £19 that last SEVERAL DAYS. Do I need to word it simpler for you?

Your courses lasted several MONTHS, not days. You are self-employed and thus do not know whether the things you learned actually benefited you, and in OP's case, he's looking for a job, not to be self-employed, and he needs something that will help and not just teach him half baked skills that's useless in applying for a job.

The courses you listed only teach soft skills, and CLAIT is a basic IT course isn't valued by employers because in modern society the majority is IT literate enough not to need a course lasting months to teach them the basics.

I don't have a grudge against anyone here. You are placing too much value on short courses when they have no real value to employers.

Liz3yy

Afternoon all,

Many thanks for your thoughts and comments. On the face of it would appear courses of this nature aren't worth anyones time or money, no matter how cheap they are. Think I will give this one a miss

Thanks again