What To Study

The question may arise to exactly what to study. There are so many courses available out there, that it can become a nightmare to choose the right course.

One must ask a few questions before enrolling for course training:

  • What qualifications do I need?

By asking this question, you will need to establish the need for the training. If you are for instance a school leaver with no further training, you will for instance need a college qualification to start working as a web designer in the IT industry. If you are already working as a debtor’s clerk, you may only need some additional training by means of a financial course to allow you to climb the ladder in your financial department. Your specific situation and goals will determine which course to study.

  • What will I learn?

You must read all the details about the course in the college prospectus or gather as much information from the training facility. What you will learn ultimately depends on your course. This does not mean just skimming the course summary – you need to look at what the module options are and their content, as these can vary considerably. Although a particular course may have the same or similar title at two different training institutions, the content can vary largely. Each course may place importance on different areas of the subject, so find out exactly what you will be learning. You may also find it useful to make a list of your academic strengths and weaknesses, so you can see which courses you think you will be better at and enjoy more.

  • How will they teach the course?

There are different ways in which courses can be taught – be it through class attendance, via distant learning or internet based. The teaching style can also play a role in your decision making process. Some courses will be more practical, others will be marked via assignments or group work while some will have more examinations that are formal.

  • What work placement is available?

Some courses will consist of practical work experience during the course. Some courses will have facilities where you can find work with a corporation after completion of the course, depending on the skills shortage and the relationship between the training provider and the corporations where the skills are required. You do not have to work only in South Africa either – some courses offer students the chance to take a job at a company abroad.

  • How many modules can I choose?

With some courses, the modules may be fixed, or may be compulsory in the first year of studies. Other courses may give you an option to choose certain subjects as you go along.

  • Make the final decision.

If you consider these factors when choosing which course to undertake, you will find it easier to make the right decision and you will be happy with your choice once you have started your training. It is important to try to pick the right course first time. If not, you could end up wasting a lot of money on a course that you will not even use in your career once you have finished the course. If you already have a career path in mind, such as IT, bookkeeping,  photography or some kind of management course then this should make your decision much easier.

Here is a few useful links to visit to help you make the choice:

http://www.skillsportal.co.za

http://www.mydreamcourse.co.za/ 

www.collegesa.co.za

http://www.careertest.co.za

www.careerplanet.co.za

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