Get the skills you need for work worldwide

9:58am Friday 11th July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

ARE you waiting for your degree results?

Perhaps you are simply planning to take a break from the rat race?

Most people who take a gap year, finance at least part of their trip by working abroad. But whether people end up doing telesales in Sydney or teaching in Tokyo they still need to have the practical skills employers are looking for - wherever they end up.

So, for those who have bought a back-pack and planning to book a flight, how can you make sure your CV will be attractive to employers on the other side of the world?

Bahman Jamshidnejad, centre manager of Pitman Training in Colchester, said: "Many academic and professional qualifications are very specific to their country of origin. You might find when reaching the chosen destination you are not as employable as hoped."

"But practical IT and office skills are valuable wherever there is a computer. For example, Microsoft software packages such as Word, Excel and Access are used throughout the world and good touch-typing speeds are in demand wherever there is a QWERTY keyboard."

Bahman and his team of experienced training advisers work with many people who want to refresh or streamline their skills ready for a new challenge.

For people who are embarking on a gap year, Bahman has the following advice: "Think about how a CV may translate in a different country, or even in a different language. What internationally recognised skills could you add? Do you have certificates to prove how good your computing and keyboard skills are?

These will be of interest to any call centre manager - many of whom employ people on a temporary basis.

"Confidence is one of the key things travelling abroad in a gap year will help you develop," explained Bahman. "But having belief in your own abilities thanks to a good skills set before setting off will give a distinct advantage"

"Our way of learning is flexible. You can start as soon as you are ready and decide when, and how frequently, you want to study. This means you can complete your chosen course in a matter of days if you want to," Bahman added.

"All of our courses are computer-based and accompanied by a comprehensive and easy to follow workbook plus audio tuition. Because a training adviser is always on hand to answer questions and provide encouragement, learners need not feel isolated"

Every Pitman Training course is work-focused; helping people develop the practical skills employers are looking for - wherever in the world they might be.