job or course?

skintpaul

Just got onto a funded accounts course, which I have wanted to do, to improve knowledge / chances of career prospects in general..

It is part time day study, 4 hours a week.

As during the day, it will be tricky finding a job that allows time off for this. I would happily take shorter lunches, or do early / late shifts, to cover the time out..

One option is to switch to an evening group, though funding n/a for those, and I could not afford to make even part payments, until salary starts coming in..

Options? If drop course completely, may have cancel fees to pay,,

Flyonthewall

So right now you don't have any job, correct? Do the course. That's a guarantee (as in you can do it, there's no guarantee of getting a job), it will help you to get a job and shows you're doing something while trying to get a job.

Might make it harder for hours unless you'd be willing to give up the course for work, but worry about that if and when it happens. Your start date may not be right away and you may not have to pay fees, but you'd be able to afford them easier if working and you're not going to cancel if not.

How long is the course?

tomtontom

I'm sure you can fit four hours a week study around a full time job, you still have 164 hours spare.

What course are you taking? You could probably teach yourself what you'd learn in that time, then just pay to sit the exam.

skintpaul

It's a year long AAT accounts course. Need to find a firm that supports staff doing study, which will ultimately benefit them too!

I could understand reluctance, if a company was asked to pay for the course, but I got full funding from the college, as on JSA..

Afraid may have to drop out, if a good paid job comes along, with no time off..

agrinnall

How is the study done, is it a 4 hour block on one day or shorter periods on more than one day? The former may be easier to accommodate if you can find a job that works 7 days a week as you can just make the studying day one of your days off (or work 4 days a week rather than 5).

If you're looking for a job that relates to your accounts training then you may find an employer who will allow you to take the time off to study, and if you're really lucky they'll pay you for it, but it would need to match with their own training policies. If you find such a job and they won't let you do it then you haven't lost anything as you're not paying, and they would hopefully recognise that you are keen to learn and put you through their own training programme.

tomtontom

Honestly, you should be able to teach yourself levels 2 and 3. Focus on job seeking and if you need to give up your course get a decent textbook (Kaplan are very good) and sit the exams independently.

skintpaul

Any idea on cost of course books, exam fees / registration for AAT, if i just did from home?

Doing the course at college is £900 normally, including above (borrowing help books from library = free)..

skintpaul

Well, today is a good day-

Just had a job offer!

Good money and benefits, too good to turn down in favour of the course, me thinks..

Waiting on references etc, and have emailed the college, to see if can get bumped to an evening class..

Have mentioned the funding mess up that THEY caused last year, which caused my course (and others, I think) to be cancelled..

Just hope the guilt trip works!

skintpaul

college course is one 3 hour session, with short break, per week. some homework if we don't finish all scheduled tasks in class.

I am OK with home study, but will miss out on the 'live' tutor support / feedback..

missbiggles1

skintpaul wrote: »

It's a year long AAT accounts course. Need to find a firm that supports staff doing study, which will ultimately benefit them too!

I could understand reluctance, if a company was asked to pay for the course, but I got full funding from the college, as on JSA..

Afraid may have to drop out, if a good paid job comes along, with no time off..

You may well have to pay the fees as well if the concession was based on your being on means tested benefits.

xapprenticex

id be surprised if dwp let you do a day course. you may have to do it in the evenings. Also, a aat qual is a good first step but you may find that everyone wants experience, so youll have to try and get that too.

easiest way is getting an office job and if you impress the boss, ask to assist finance with basic tasks.

im opposite, i have experinece, now i need the quals to go further. as stated, ill self study and sit exams. cheaper and can get done in 6 months.