Why you should take a short professional course to accelerate your career

Want to find success, increase your mental wellbeing and future-proof your career? There are many reasons why it’s a good idea to take a short professional course. Here we explore some of the benefits.

You can keep up with technological advances

Rapid advances in technology mean there is an increasing need for workers to up-skill across many industries. If you can stay ahead of the curve and learn the skills needed for the future of your industry you will be more attractive to employers and boost your career.

You can start an entirely new career

Technological advances are also creating jobs that didn’t exist just a few years ago – especially in the IT industry but also in areas like social media, medicine and engineering. Taking a short professional course in one of these areas can hugely boost your earning potential for the future.

Of course, there are many industries that you can go into purely because you find them interesting and enjoyable and are looking to take your career in a new direction.

There are a number of reasons why you might decide to change your career:

• You’re stuck in a routine and you need a new challenge. Learning the new skills and knowledge you need to start a new career is a great way to add purpose, engagement and passion to your life.
• Your career no longer lines up with your values. When you started your current career, perhaps money was the most important thing in your life, and now you want to create a better balance between your work and your life. Maybe the need to chase bigger pay cheques has transformed into a desire to make a meaningful difference in the world – or maybe it’s the other way around! Maybe you just want a job with more financial security to support your family.
• You want to turn your hobby or passion into your full-time career.
• You’re unhappy in your job and just want a change. If you’re dissatisfied with your working life this feeling can trickle into your personal life too, affecting your overall happiness.

Growing your current career

Whether you’re thinking about setting up your own business, or want to improve your skills to get that promotion, a short business course can make a huge difference. You can learn skills such as management, administration, accounting, problem-solving and team work to help you thrive in a professional environment.

Lifelong learning can make you better at your job in general

Both the Mental Health Foundation and the NHS recommend lifelong learning to improve mental wellbeing, life satisfaction and ability to cope with stress. This can have positive knock-on effects in all aspects of your life, including your professional life. Taking short courses throughout your career can lead to you becoming more skilled, more productive and ultimately, more successful and happy.