The time has come for the Celtic Phoenix to stop parading its flash (green?) coat and surgically reshaped shiny beak and step up to the plate, we face stiff competition for investment, from Eastern Europe and Asia in particular. A call for upskilling across all branches of the Irish economy has rang out, and the warning from the EGFSN (Expert Group on Future Skills Needs) is clear: either we become a very skilled and educated high-end economy or face losing our competitiveness. That is the big-budget historical viewpoint; on an individual level however, it just makes good sense in today’s competitive environment, to improve your career prospects by enrolling in a business and finance night course.
Why Study Business and Finance?
Many individuals choose to invest in their own education. They seek to gain extra training and boost their skills, either to obtain a new job or to position themselves for promotion. New practices and developments are constantly being introduced into the market, and many who don’t keep up will be left behind. Many people, especially early in their careers, move positions and companies, and keeping your skills and qualifications up to date is key to taking the direct route up the corporate ladder.
Business training is constantly developing to keep up with the competitive climate. As well as traditional courses in the areas of management, human resources management and sales, there are classes available in subjects such as leadership skills, neuro-linguistic programming, communications skills, 360-degree feedback, presentation skills, and project, change and time management.
Training Available
People working in areas such as accountancy, marketing and public relations may be interested in the courses run by the different professional societies and organisations. It is no longer enough to qualify in your mid-twenties and be set up for life – professional and career development programmes are now the norm.
Often, people decide to take a night course in a business discipline that is not strictly related to their primary degree or qualification. For example, somebody working in sales might enrol in a marketing course by night, or a human resources professional might take classes in industrial relations. Career development often entails a certain amount of creative lateral thinking, and those who build well-rounded CVs are often best placed to progress.
Finding the Right Course
Courses have become dynamic, not just in content, but also in delivery. Providers, in a competitive environment themselves, have been forced to think ‘outside the box’ and come up with training that really offers value for money. Traditional course delivery has been improved, now featuring guest lectures from management gurus and life coaches, outward-bound training and the creative use of multimedia.
The desire for lifelong learning is being picked up on by progressive companies, who are increasingly providing education programmes for staff. This workplace training not only improves efficiency and morale, but is also a major selling point when the company seeks to attract new staff. Workers can find that employers will contribute towards their learning initiatives, and should also do some research to determine if they are eligible for funding from FAS or other similar organisations.
Modern business programmes focus on producing well-rounded graduates who, not only have a firm grasp of their chosen subject, but who can also observe, listen, question and analyse the needs of a changing economy. Many of the courses listed on Nightcourses.com are dedicated to ensuring that today’s business professionals continue their success well into the future.
