Working in the Legal Environment

“As I was due to retire from teaching within a few months, I was looking to update my computer skills in order to facilitate a move to part time work in administration/ reception. After a chat with Linda, I decided upon the Fast Track Microsoft Office Diploma. This enabled me to remember work I had previously done in class using Word and PowerPoint and to also extend my use of the programs. The three others modules covered were Outlook, Excel and Access. I have to say Access was the most challenging for me, even though I could see the logic in it!!
I thoroughly enjoyed working through the modules as you are able to work at your own pace and go over areas again and again until you feel comfortable with your understanding. Another very positive aspect to going in to the Centre to work is the invaluable help given by the staff who are friendly and on hand to iron out any little problems; they calm you down when frustration levels begin to rise at your inability to see where you have gone wrong and expertly set you back on the right pathway!
I am delighted to say that I completed the course with Distinction.
At the moment I am not working but am now veering towards working within the NHS. In order to further my chances with this I am currently studying Medical Terminology. Again a bit of a refresher for me as I have previously studied Anatomy and Physiology, but am enjoying it none the less as it makes me use my brain cells. Not a bad thing!
Although not working I have been looking at the Show Website for NHS workers and will also be looking to find temporary work through an agency, if the first option does not work out, in order to gain experience back in an office environment.
I am glad I made the decision to call Pitman and chat to Linda about options. I can be a bit of a learning junkie and once I have the bit between my teeth I may well find another area to study and keep me at Pitman that bit longer.
Very satisfied client”

“I studied the Microsoft Fast Track Diploma and the computer keyboard skills course two years ago. At the time I was completing my Open University degree, and panicking because I had to submit a properly- bound word-processed project, including diagrams taken from scientific journals and I barely knew how to switch the computer on! In my first session I was advised to undertake the introduction to Windows course first because I didn’t have even the very basics.
Having overcome that first hurdle, I really enjoyed the course. The supervisors were really helpful and patient, and never made me feel that I was being stupid, even when I was! I got a distinction for the diploma, and first class honours for the degree. I am now studying for an MSc at Edinburgh University, and I don’t know how I’d cope without the IT skills I gained through the diploma. Even though I’ve forgotten a lot of what I learned through lack of use, I feel I have so much more confidence to try things I would not have attempted before.
My typing speed will never set the world alight, but compared to my former two-fingered jabbing it’s brilliant. Even my teenage daughters have stopped laughing at my efforts!
Thanks to Pitman for a real confidence boost!”

“I enrolled with Pitman in August 2008, having been made redundant from my job as a Legal Secretary in July 2008. I studied the Pitman Upgrade to Fast Track Microsoft Skills Diploma. When I returned to work in 2000 having raised my family, I was unfamiliar with computers I undertook a very basic computer course and was lucky to be offered a part time job with a local Solicitors, but I always felt there was so much more to Word and Excel that I did not know. Having spent six months at Pitman doing the above course, I was lucky enough to get a part time job as a typist/receptionist with W R Hall, Chartered Surveyors. Although this job is very different to my last one, I have been able to make use of the skills I learned on your course, especially with Word and Excel.
Having been a volunteer with the Citizens Advice Bureau for many years, in August 2009 I was offered an admin job. I needed to use Access and could confidently do this having completed my training in that as well. I now have two part time jobs which keeps me very busy! I feel sure that I would not have been offered the second admin job if I had not learned Access, as this takes up a great part of my working hours.
I really enjoyed my time at Pitman. The staff were really friendly and helpful and it was a very professional environment to be in. It certainly got me through the six months I was unemployed, as it felt almost like going out to work on the days I attended the Training Centre.”

“I would just like to say thank you to yourself and all your staff for the wonderful training I received at Pitman Training!
I did the Microsoft Office Plus Diploma which took me through the whole Microsoft Office package and gave me a firm understanding in all the different areas such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc. It even allowed me to take electives in different areas such as book-keeping which widened my skills and knowledge in areas I hadn’t looked at before.
I undertook the training whilst I was studying at University and the confidence and experience the courses gave me during my degree and also when going for job interviews was priceless. The job market is terribly competitive at the moment but with the training I received at Pitman I had that something extra that employers were looking for, and the ability to talk about the courses and my experience at Pitman Training.
In particular, I had an interview where they tested my skills in Microsoft Excel. If I had not done the course this would have been a very daunting experience, however, knowing what I had learnt from the Excel course within the Diploma I was very confident in my skills with Excel. I even managed to spot a mistake in their test which I pointed out to them and no other candidate in the past had spotted it!
Consequently I got offered the job as a consultant in a pensions company. However, I did not take this job as an even better job came along within risk management in the banking industry and so I will be starting this in September. I know that they use a lot of Excel and other Microsoft packages and so I am looking forward to being able to show my skills in these areas and it makes starting my new job a more exciting prospect as opposed to one which before I may have been slightly worried about.
Thank you again!”