How important is it for you to continue learning and develop new skills?
If it’s not high on your agenda, you could be missing out on many things. Not least, the ability to increase your annual and lifetime income, employability and sense of personal achievement.
We live in a time of tremendous advances in technology. This brings with it many opportunities to learn, improve our skills and find new employment in places and sectors we may never have heard of it wasn’t for the internet.
As the web grows and technology becomes cheaper, the number of places to learn and study online for officially recognised qualifications increases. One company providing training and support for business professionals is Kaplan. They specialise in the financial sector and can help people who want a career in accountancy, tax and finance to reach their goals. Popular courses in this sector include ACCA, CIMA, AAT and CFA.
Check the #AFutureYouCanCountOn hashtag on social media to see what’s happening.
Other popular websites offering plenty of opportunities to increase your knowledge and skills include Udemy (a diverse range of subjects – far too many to list here), LinkedIn Learning (business, online marketing, new media etc), Treehouse (coding and technology) and the Open University.
What format do the courses take?
Kaplan provides different study formats to accommodate the preferences of the students. For example, you can do it all online without any kind of printed material, or you can ignore the online offerings and take the more traditional classroom route.
Let’s look at four ways to study in a bit more detail.
- Distance learning – You use printed and online materials to work through at your own pace. When you need it, you have the ability to engage with a tutor for personal advice. This kind of course is ideal for people who have a full-time job, family commitments or a busy social life. It’s usually the cheapest option too.
- On Demand – On Demand courses are usually accessible via the internet only, with no printed materials available. For some people, this is ideal as you’ll never lose the material you need to study – it’s all online. (Currently only available for AAT & CIMA.)
- Live Online – This way of studying could only be dreamed of just a few short years ago. You sit in the comfort of your home while watching and listening to a tutor deliver a lesson that forms part of your course. You also have the ability to speak with your tutor during the lesson. The whole setup is very much like a traditional classroom except it’s all online.
- Classroom – For some people, the classroom is still the best place to learn. Kaplan, the company I mentioned earlier, has 21 local training centres in the UK including the Isle of Man and Dublin, many of which are conveniently located in larger cities.
Once you’re close to completing the course, you can book an exam online. The exams take place offline, but booking early will ensure you get the best time and location for you.
So, if you’re interested in improving your skill set and want to stay ahead of the competition, it’s in your best interest to always be learning. There are no excuses these days, as we’ve seen, there are plenty of opportunities to study online and offline. All you have to do is go out there and find them.