Have you ever watched a home improvement show on TV and thought to yourself ‘I could be doing a much better job than Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen’?

Can you see yourself as your own boss? Would like to learn how to become a plumber or electrician? Or perhaps you want to get more involved in the construction industry and need to gain the appropriate certificates and qualifications?

Are you a bit of a petrol head who would wants to understand how to effectively maintain or repair cars and bikes – and make your passion your career?

Perhaps you’re a ‘people’ person and want to develop and utilise your skills so that you can work in the travel, hospitality or retail sectors? Or maybe you see yourself in the beauty industry pampering your clients for a living? If fitness is your thing, can you see yourself becoming an aerobics instructor?

Are you interested in working in social care and love the thought of working with children, the elderly or individuals with specific social needs?

If the answer is yes to any of these questions, you should research what a distance learning institute has to offer as there are many great vocational courses out there, covering a large range of subjects. You can achieve the necessary skills and ‘know how’ from the comfort of your own home and gain the qualification whether its for your chosen career or a new hobby.

The internet has changed our lives in many ways.  It was only a matter of time before it was effortlessly incorporated into everyday education.  ’Traditional’ teaching and methods still have their place however students are now enhancing their knowledge and qualifications with online learning. Some have been quick to dismiss the merits of online learning, some think that its just a quick way of getting a qualification, so I thought that this would be a good opportunity to address some of these preconceived ideas and set the record straight.

Online learning is easier because it doesn’t take as long.

To sign up for any online course needs a great deal of commitment. Individuals have to be focused and dedicated.  Students have to be prepared to get through vast amounts of study materials which are demanding.  Many distance learning students are already in employment and have family commitments so time is precious.  Students usually study alone so have to also be highly motivated in order to get through the course work and the exams.  The course work may be done in a shorter period of time, but the level of knowledge required to pass is the same. Distance learning is no short cut.

The quality of online courses is lower than traditional class taught courses.

Most online courses cover the same amount of course work in a shorter period of time.  Many professional qualifications and degrees can be undertaken online and these meet exactly the same criteria in terms of content, structure, course work and examinations as the traditional classroom syllabus. Its important that any student thinking of applying to study via distance learning does their own research to find a reputable distance learning body.  Remember online educational institutions have their reputation to consider.  They have to maintain standards of excellence and will not pass students if these standards are not met.

There is no-one to help me if I have questions about my course.

Participating in distance learning does involve alot of autonomous study but students are not just left to their own devices.  Most reputable online institutions provide full study guides, comprehensive technical support and now interaction with other students studying the same course on blogs and forums.  Its up to the individual to get involved and interact.  Distance learning is much more about community now.  A collective of people interested in the same subject coming together to share and learn.

Online education is only for those who live in remote areas.

At one time this was the case, however now its more about lifestyle.  Many students wish to gain qualifications to further their career but perhaps can’t afford to become a full time student. Distance learning is a fantastic option for those looking to further their career and maintain their life balance.  Distance learning is more about career building than remote learning.

I need to be computer literate to undertake an online study course.

Distance Learning institutions understand that some of their students on some of their courses may have limited web / pc knowledge.  Therefore many course modules have been developed to make the online tuition completely user friendly they include helpful hints and tips for the users. Usually you will find you have online tech support and also access to an online tutor so any issues can be addressed quickly and effectively.

Finding the right career is vitally important as, lets face it, a huge proportion of your time is spent at work.  Therefore it’s essential to identify a career which is both stimulating and rewarding on all levels – with careful planning you can achieve that optimum work / life balance.

Rather than dive in feet first and start looking at specific careers its worth taking a step back and think about yourself as a person – our lives are so hectic that this is something we don’t often do.

In order to identify a suitable career for yourself, its essential that you spend some time really analysing yourself to identify what motivates, excites and interests you both in and outside work.  Also, think about what you actually are looking for from your career. From the list that you compile, you can then begin to match careers to your specific skills and interests.

For people who are considering their first leap onto the career ladder or those who are thinking of a change in career it can be difficult knowing where to start as there are so many options available.

As a starting point, you could try sitting down with a piece of paper and listing:

• all qualifications you have or are currently studying for.  Also include any courses that you have completed – even things like presentation skills, computer courses, team building courses are all valid here.
• all the jobs you have had including any voluntary work you may have participated in.
• your interests, hobbies, clubs or groups that you are involved with outside the working environment.
• all other significant life experiences – have you ever done something that you now look back on as changing or confirming the direction of your life? Think about things like travelling, relationships, family etc.

Once you have compiled this initial list ask yourself the following questions:

• Why did you choose to do these things? What was your motivation for each?
• Which experiences in each have you really enjoyed and as a consequence made you feel happy and fulfilled?
• Likewise, which experiences frustrated or bored you?
• What do you think challenged you in each and brought out the best in your character and abilities?
• What aspects did others state that they valued your input and valued you for your involvement?
• What do your friends, family and colleagues think you are good at – sometimes its hard to see this for yourself so ask them! Their opinions can help.

From making these lists and analysing each aspect you should start to see some patterns emerging: you should be able to identify the skills that you are great at and that you enjoy using, the environment that you find stimulating and which you perform at your optimum level and the people you like to surround yourself.  This will give you some clarity and will assist you matching a career to your personality and skill set.