Are certificates just a "bit of paper"?

There are many differing views towards short course qualifications, with some people seeing them as a waste of time. We are going to look at the positives though - we'd be interested to hear your thoughts too!

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Reasons to enrol on a short course.

1. Learning something new

It is often easy to become complacent in our daily tasks at work and get into routine of simply doing things on autopilot. But I'm sure there is something you do in your job that you don't know exactly why you do it, you just know that you do it! Undertaking a short course in a specific area can help you to understand exactly why you do (or don't do) certain things. Learning about certain conditions, ailments or difficulties can't help you to understand and empathise with people, meaning that by learning about something, you've improved your ability to do your job. And the more you know about your job, the more you'll enjoy it!

2. Demonstrates competence

That certificate, that "bit of paper" is your way of showing that you understand and can do something. If you are going for a promotion at work, a new position or even a new job, a certificate shows that you have demonstrated understanding and awareness of a subject. It's not always easy to prove experience, but a certificate proves your knowledge and it's always important to know what you are doing in your job!

3. Shows character

Committing to a course, no matter how long or short, demonstrates character and dedication. It shows you have the discipline to self-study, meet deadlines, a desire to learn and a genuine interest in what you are doing. Even a course lasting 12 weeks requires maturity and drive to complete and this will not go unnoticed by current and future employers.

4. They are a great stepping-stone

Getting back into the swing of studying and learning can be tricky, especially of it's been a little while! By committing to and completing a short course, you'll show yourself that you can do it and studying isn't that awful! A Level 2 short course can be a good foundation for going onto longer, higher level courses. It's all about getting that confidence to start!

Lastly and my personal favourite:

4. It feels fantastic!

Getting a qualification and a certificate to display, feels great! When you've put the hard work in, it feels amazing to get something which says "I did this!"

Not everyone leaves school with a bagful of qualifications and for many, getting a certificate is a moment of real achievement. Even for those with bagfuls of qualifications, having your work recognised is always nice! Starting something and seeing it through is something to be proud of and there is no shame in doing something for yourself!

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Well, I have put my thoughts forward, it's time to thank you for reading and just ask one thing:

Which course are you going to do first?!

https://stuartgomes.wixsite.com/stuartgomestraining/

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