Blog: Where Can Technical Courses Take Me?
The ‘future’. It sounds big, it might sound a little scary, especially if (like most of us) you don’t have it all mapped out, and it’s definitely unknown. 2020 has proven that!
But, as the weeks left of the summer holidays dwindle and A-Level and GCSE results have been announced, young people up and down the country are planning, preparing or panicking about the future.
So, let’s take a breath and look at your options.
If you’re super academic and aspire to be a Doctor, a Vet or a Lawyer then it’s a good bet that A-Levels followed by university is the most likely route for you.
But what if you’re not sure what the future holds, or you’re much better at hands-on and practical tasks? Well, then technical courses or the apprenticeship route might be better suited to you.
Thinking about the future is tricky, isn’t it!
Let’s take a look at where technical courses can take you including, how you learn, who you learn from and where you’ll learn.
How do you learn?
If you enjoy learning hands-on a technical course could be perfect for you. As well as learning the theory, on a technical course, you’ll gain the skills to ‘do the doing’. By gaining a technical qualification you’ll be showing employers that you’ve already got valuable experience of working in an environment like theirs. This can give you a great lead and kickstart your career with sought-after skills and self-confidence.
Former Retford Post 16 Centre Theatrical Media Make-up student Jody Stanton now works as a successful Key Workshop Technician at Millenium FX, Europe’s leading supplier of prosthetics, animatronics and special make-up FX for film, television, commercials, music promos, theatre and much more.
She says: “I really enjoyed my time at Retford Post-16 Centre. I learnt so many different skills and techniques that come into my work that I’d be lost without.
“When I was younger me and my dad used to watch the Michael Jackson Thriller video and I didn’t realise that you could get a job in making monsters and creatures until I discovered the Retford Post-16 Centre; that’s where my journey began.
“I get paid to do my hobby. I’m living my dream. I love my job.”
Who do you want to learn from?
There’s an old adage that ‘those that can’t do, teach’. At North Notts College that couldn’t be further from the truth.
A lot of our tutors have worked in the industry in which they teach, we’ve got tutors who have been business owners, Marketing Managers, Bricklayers, Plumbers, Games Designers and many more.
What’s more, many of our tutors are still actively involved in the industry in which they teach.
So, what does that mean for you? It means that our talented team of teachers bring with them expert knowledge in their fields and a breadth of experience to their teaching. It also means that they maintain excellent links with employers and can provide opportunities for you to put what you learn at College into practise in business.
Former North Notts College student Nicola White studied a Level 3 course in Business. Nicola is now the owner of her own business, NicoFit and a certified Personal Trainer, Nutritionist and Fitness Instructor.
Nicola says: “It’s great to get out of the school environment and learn from tutors…who are all very patient and knowledgeable. College allowed me to move into a more mature student environment and gave me the opportunity to be more independent.”
Where do you want to learn?
If the thought of spending time in a classroom whilst a teacher talks in front of a whiteboard fills you with dread, a technical course could be the answer. There will still be times where you learn in a classroom, but you’ll also find yourself swapping traditional classrooms for environments that simulate a typical work setting. Whether you find yourself in our modern motor vehicle workshops, our fully-equipped computer studios, or our clinical health suite, you’ll have access to facilities that allow you to get hands-on and showcase your skills.
Not only that, but we make sure we’re using industry-standard equipment so that when you move to the workplace you don’t need to learn entirely new systems and software.
Last but not least – what motivates you?
We hope the above helps break down how a technical course can help you reach your personal and professional aims, but the most important thing to consider is what motivates you.
If you don’t yet know what career you’d like then that’s alright. If you’re still unsure, our advice would be pick something you enjoy, or that you’re good at. Your dream career, like Jody’s or Nicola’s, may be waiting for you at the end of a technical course.