Financial challenges encouraging women back to the workplace

Financial challenges encouraging women back to the workplace

The number of women planning a return to the workforce is on the increase with 1 in 3 enquiries to Pitman Training Swords from women considering returning to work after taking a career break.

“Changes in financial circumstances thanks to Budget 2011 and increases in the cost of living are encouraging many women back into the workforce,” said Maria Lalor of Pitman Training Swords. “Over the past few weeks we have seen an increase in enquiries and uptake on our secretarial and PA courses from women in this position,” she added, “with that in mind we’re offering 5 tips to get these women over the line and into employment.”

1. Upskill and empower:
Everyone knows that these days jobs are harder to come by, but you will dramatically improve your chances by upskilling. Pitman Training Swords offer over sixty courses from secretarial and PA courses to IT, web skills and Book-keeping and we’ve a 90% success rate when it comes to our graduates gaining employment as a result. Perhaps you’re an experienced PA but want to add Payroll management to your skill set? Or maybe you’d like to have certified Microsoft skills? At Pitman Training you can obtain your qualification in less then 3 months or you can study at your own pace - flexibility is key to our success.

2. Boost your confidence:
Lack of confidence is often one of the main barriers preventing women from returning to the workforce. A skills shortfall can be one of the factors affecting confidence, but once you have addressed that you need to sit down and identify the pros and cons of hiring you from an employer’s point of view. Write them out - work out ways to overcome the cons and read the pros out aloud to get them into your head. If you have trouble coming up with pros get another opinion!

3. Refresh your CV:
It’s probably been a while since you prepared a CV so dust it off and give it a make-over. Get it proof read by a second person who has good spelling as spell check does not pick up every error, e.g. collage instead of college is a definite no-no.
4. Seek a temporary position to begin with:
Many mothers returning to the workplace are concerned with how the change will affect the family. A temporary or part-time position or a maternity leave position can be a good way of seeing if it works for you and your family. Pitman Training Swords can help you arrange work placement while you do your diploma.

5. Improve your interview technique:
For many women returning to work after a career break, a successful interview is a distant memory. At Pitman Training Swords we hold mock interviews with all our students and graduates. A mock interview with someone in the know is a great way to experience the pitfalls and brush up on technique.


About Pitman Training Swords:
Pitman Training are the computer training experts in Ireland and offer the biggest range of computer courses and vocational training modules to ensure your career gets off to a flying start. We are still the experts for typing training and shorthand, as well as Computerised Accounts, Book-keeping courses and Secretarial Training. This includes Legal Secretarial training courses, Medical Secretarial training courses and Exec PA for those wishing to achieve a top level qualification. At many centres you can even choose online study and distance learning options to complete your Pitman Training Diploma.  Pitman Training Swords is run by Dublin husband and wife team Maria and Roy Lalor.

Get contact details and more info about Pitman Training Swords.