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The latest in Business, IT, Secretarial, Accountancy, Payroll, HR Training

Friday, June 25th, 2010
It’s that time of year again when we unveil our course programmes for the next academic year. This is the end of a long internal and external review process  where we listen to what our existing students say and also hopefully respond to chnaging training demands in the market place covering Gorey, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford areas.    
So what’s is New this year I hear ye all ask??..

Well. To explain..

Our courses range from individual certificate courses to longer term diploma and/or FETAC level 6 training programmes. All of our courses are part-time and certified. Our courses include Business Skills, Computer Skills, Payroll, Book-keeping, Web design, book-keeping and secretarial skills including typing and keyboard skills. 

Our training centres are accredited to offer Pitman Training courses which are all part-time learning flexible programmes designed to suit your needs including the renowned Medical Secretarial, Legal Secretarial, Executive PA and book-keeping range of diploma courses. 

Our Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny centres also offers additional courses including Accounting Technician Ireland, Taxation Technician(*New Sept 2010), ACCA CAT (*New Sept 2010), Sales Negotiation (*New September 2010), Certified Public Accountants(CPA), HR and Employment Law, Business Studies, Childcare, Special Needs Assistant (SNA), Marketing and Corporate Governance.  

We would welcome any feedback you have on the range of courses we offer as we constantly update the list of course we offer. For a full list of all our courses checkout www.genesisbusinesscollege.net.

  

 

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Posted in Accounting, Business Training, CPA, Employment Law Training, HR Training, IATI, Marketing Training, Pitman Training, retraining | No Comments »

Poor grammar and gimmicks in CVs spell disaster for job hunters say HR professionals

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Spelling and grammatical mistakes are cited as two of the most irritating faults found in CVs and a substantial reason for candidates being excluded from job shortlists, according to a study of HR professionals  by Pitman Training, Ireland’s leading provider of Business, IT, Secretarial, Web Design and Book-keeping Diploma courses. With over 125 training courses to choose from, and with Genesis Business College centres in Gorey, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford,  there is a Pitman Training course for everyone’s learning needs.

With only five seconds to make the right impression, errors immediately distract and tempt recruiters into looking for more mistakes rather than assessing the applicant’s suitability. Such inaccuracies create an un-professional view of individuals and their attention to detail.

Gimmicks are also frowned upon. Personnel managers generally dislike photos, coloured paper, fancy envelopes and folding the document in interesting ways – while grabbing attention, they do not influence interviewing decisions. Some organisations go even further with a policy of not accepting photographs with CVs as this may tempt them into making subjective decisions.

Job applications can fail by being too all-purpose. HR departments believe that candidates spend time tailoring their CVs to the vacant position, they would improve their chances of securing an interview. They recommend researching the company first as a good starting point.

The Pitman Training study highlights the importance of setting out the right information in the right order. Too often, contact information is left off the first page and age is omitted completely – a deliberate mistake that tends to irritate as it forces recruiters to calculate it from the education history.

The study suggests that there appears to be two different sets of rules to follow which need merging together. One is the classic mini autobiography in which candidates write, often endlessly, about themselves. The other takes account of the needs of the HR person reviewing the applications.

Anyone who has ever been faced with dozens or even hundreds of CVs to read knows that clear, well presented applications get through the first round filter much more easily than the War and Peace epics.

Fleur Creed, Genesis Business College commented; “We can teach people to type and use word processing software, but it’s core with the content and detail-like spelling, punctuation and grammar – that helps them make it to the interview stage. All Pitman Training Diplomas include core modules on effective communication which give Pitman Training students the edge when it comes to quality CV and workplace preparation”.   

Based on HR professionals’ comments, Pitman Training has compiled a ten point ‘better CV’ checklist.

·         Check the CV for accuracy of information, spelling and grammar.

·         Respect the recipient. Recruiters receive hundreds of CVs so keep it short. Two pages is ideal but a 10 page life history will head straight to the bin.

·         Customise it. Use the CV to promote the skills and achievements that match the job you are applying for.

·         Keep it simple. Avoid jargon – the recruiter may not understand them.

·         Pay attention to layout. Make it simple by good use of headings, line spaces, bullet points and a readable font size.

·         Never hand-write your CV or use coloured type. It doesn’t scan, photocopy or e-mail well.

·         Use good quality white.

·         Put the most important first. This includes name, contact details and address. Follow this with a profile of yourself which should include your skills, experience and immediate career goals. After this you can insert your career history followed by education, interests and references.

·         Make sure all dates match up and any gaps are explained.

·         Ensure the information flows in a logical order.

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Income Levy Payroll Calculations

Friday, March 5th, 2010

As part of the payroll training courses that we offer, I am often asked for a quick summary  of what the income levy is all about so here goes!!. The information below refers to the 2010 payroll calculations. The training courses we offer in this area cover both manual and computerised (Sage Quickpay) skills.    

Income Levy Calculation

The levy is calculated based on the following bands of gross pay.

· Income up to €75,036 per annum - 2% levy

· Income between €75,037 and €174,980 per annum – 4% levy

· Income in excess of €174,980 per annum – 6% levy

 

Full medical card holders are exempt from the Income Levy as well as individuals aged 65 or over whose annual income does not exceed €20,000 per annum(p.a.).

 

Where the income exceeds the weekly minimum threshold of €289 the full income is subject to the income levy. Where the income levy has been applied for particular pay period(s) throughout the year but the minimum threshold of €15,028 p.a. has not been exceeded at week 52 then no liability to the income levy arises. In this situation and provided you were in continuous employment with an employer throughout the year in question (for the full 52 weeks) your employer should make an adjustment at week 52 and refund all income levy deducted. Where you have not been in continuous employment with an employer throughout the year in question Revenue, rather than the employer, will deal with any refund of income levy due.

 

The Income Levy is always calculated on a Week 1 / Month 1 Basis.

The income Levy is always calculated on Gross Pay. If you are paying pensions or A.V.C’s  which are tax allowable for the purposes of calculating income tax, the income levy is still calculated on the gross pay before any pension or A.V.C. deductions.    

Income Levy and Tax Return Forms

·         The income levy amount is included with the PAYE figure on the P30 return.

·         The income levy is also included with the PAYE figure on the P35 form.

·         At the end of the year, every employee still on the payroll requires both a P60 as well as end of year Income Levy Certificate. Employees who have left do NOT get either a P60 or an end of year Income Levy Certificate.

·         As employees leave, an Income levy cessation form as well as a P45 form is required to be completed by the employer. 

The breakdown of the income levy threshold figures are as follows:

 

Annual Threshold

Weekly

Fortnightly

Monthly

4-Weekly

Bi-monthly

Quarterly

15,028

289

578

1,253

1,156

627

3,757

75,036

1,443

2,886

6,253

5,772

3,127

18,759

174,980

3,365

6,730

14,582

13,460

7,291

43,745

Over 65’s

20,000

385

770

1,667

1,539

834

5,000

 

 

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The Role of a Medical Secretary

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Career Details
A medical secretary usually works in a hospital or medical office and is responsible for performing highly specialised secretarial duties that include scheduling appointments, billing patients, compiling medical charts and reports and handling correspondence. They may also assist doctors with writing reports, speeches and articles, arrange for patient hospitalisation, bill insurance companies and order supplies. If you hope to become a medical secretary you must not only possess a cornucopia of skills; but you must also have a knack for detail work and be a good communicator. A secretarial position within the medical profession is the best of both worlds for some - a responsible office job plus the satisfaction of being involved with people’s health and possibly even contact with patients. That’s why specialist Medical Secretarial jobs are very well regarded.

The Pitman Training Medical Secretary Diploma covers a comprehensive range of practical skills and information, essential for a secretary working in the medical profession. The course has short course approval from the Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Managers, Administrators and Receptionists (AMSPAR).

“Choosing the Medical Secretarial Diploma was the bravest and best decision I have ever made. I am now employed as secretary to one of the Gastroenterologists at St Peter’s Hospital.”

Medical secretaries fulfil a crucial role as the link between doctor and patient, and for this reason are required to be tactful, discreet and, above all, sensitive. Of the greatest importance, however, is the secretary’s ability to successfully complete a complex array of administrative and technical tasks relating to the job, such as compiling confidential letters, typing reports for patient records and medical journals and ensuring the general flawless running of the office. Medical secretaries are also expected by employers in the healthcare sector to be proficient in medical terminology, medical audio-typing and medical word processing skills. Nationally recognised skills for medical secretaries are generally considered to be advantageous to any individual seeking employment in this sector. The Pitman Training Medical Secretarial Diploma combines expert secretarial skills with a broad understanding of medical terminology, to enable individuals to apply for jobs within the healthcare sector.

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Secretary Courses Underpin The Professional Secretarial Career.

Friday, February 26th, 2010

The secretarial job market remains in a state of rude good health despite the recession and demand for these highly skilled staff, the “backbone of the office,” is stronger than for other roles such administrative assistants and clerks.

Such demand is probably a reflection of the high standards demanded by employers as they strive to obtain maximum productivity from every employee.

And as secretaries tend to be highly trained, they have the ability to deliver measurable value to a business.

Achieving these standards is not a matter of luck but rather investment in secretary courses and related training programmes and it is fair to say that the secretary is often the most highly trained of all the administrative staff.

He or she will have taken skill specific secretary courses to learn typing, shorthand, audio transcription and technical subjects such as minute-taking and letter layout.

In addition, it will have been necessary to learn about the information technology used in the job, such as computer studies and software packages including Microsoft’s Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Access.

Without structured secretary courses, it would be very difficult to pick up sufficient knowledge, skill and competence to deliver work to the standard required.

And it would be even harder to become a medical secretary, legal secretary, paralegal or executive pa without having taken a number of secretary courses.

For most students embarking on secretarial careers, Pitman Training is the first port of call.

Sir Isaac Pitman launched his world-renowned shorthand method in 1837 and the Pitman name remains the byword for secretary courses to this day.

Nowadays, every Pitman Training centre seeks to replicate an office environment rather than a college or institute and they are leaders in self-paced education for the office skills sector.

Fleur Creed, Principal of the Pitman Training centres in Carlow, Gorey, Kilkenny and Wexford claims that this focus on the study environment linked with the learning methodology form the basis for the continuing professional respect enjoyed by Pitman trained secretaries.

“There is no doubt that the amount of practical study time and the reflection of what it is really like to be a high level secretary, as well as the coursework we demand results in a skill set and an attitude that says ‘I’m not just trained, I’m Pitman trained.’”

Recruiters and employers seem to agree, as anyone listing secretary courses from Pitman Training on their CV’s seems to have a definite competitive advantage when it comes to getting great jobs.

The continuing recession in the economy has made the need for professional studies even greater as downsizing has meant that secretaries face an increasingly large workload, handling tasks previously performed by colleagues whose roles have been made redundant.

Those who have the knowledge to harness technology to perform these extra duties and who have learned to organise the resources available to them can continue to provide invaluable business support to their bosses.

And at the same time they can manage the stress that additional responsibility brings.

In many ways, the recession has shown that cream rises to the top and the best way to be part of the cream is to ensure that you have the education and skills to shine.

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Take Your Future in Your Own Hands with Pitman Training

Monday, July 6th, 2009

For workers re-entering the workforce or considering a career change, the problems arise when deciding which skills to train in. The following are tips in helping you take your future into your own hands and gaining back the confidence redundancy make have taken away. Source: Pitman Training Ireland Blog 

1. Make a list of what you enjoyed about your previous position, what were your strengths in your job, what skill did people seek you out for help. Once you’ve identified what particular skills you enjoyed and were confident in you’re on your way to strengthening these and perhaps identify roles were these strengths are required. For example if you found you were the organiser in your company perhaps secretarial work would be enjoyable for you. If you found you were the fixer of all things technical perhaps looking into business management systems may be an option.

2. Not all redundancies mean you must consider a complete change in career. If your company kept some employees on board and let others, like yourself go, look at what skills they may possess that you could up skill in.

3. Cross Training can make you more employable. Adding to your skill set may make you more flexible in positions are thereby more valuable to a company. For example a sales person who also has marketing skills, or a personal assistant who also has book keeping knowledge.

4. Look at your weaknesses.  We all hate to admit it but there are things we can’t do well or more likely feel we can’t do. If there are areas you always hid under the desk to avoid in your previous job, now is the time to get proper training. If you shivered at the thought of answering customer complaints or went pale at the thought of creating budgets in Excel, proper training could turn these into strengths.

5. Get certified. Employers have a choice of who to take for a job. Even if you have some experience from previous roles, the current climate dictates that you must have the qualification to back it up.

6. Don’t rule anything out. Be open minded as to what you can do, check with a Pitman course advisor as to what roles are available and how your experience can fit in. Sometimes there is a link you would never find yourself.

7. Training will boost your self esteem and can give you the confidence to apply for positions you wouldn’t have before.

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Invest in your self!. Upskill your workplace skills by retraining with a Pitman Training certified training course.

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

Deciding where to invest your money has never been tougher; property, stocks and shares and even high street banks don’t seem to offer the security or return that many of us are looking for. Training and skills experts, Pitman Training are recommending that if you want to secure your future, one of the safest financial investments is in yourself.

Claire Lister is managing director of Pitman Training Group. With over 100 training centres throughout the UK and Ireland, the company has considerable experience in helping people to develop new skills and increase their earning potential. Claire says; “Our experience shows that people who invest in themselves and their skills always see a return on investment. Whilst training involves far more than a financial injection of capital – you need to commit time, energy and hard work into training – the potential returns can be enormous.”

Pitman Training is urging people to focus on themselves this winter in order to reap the rewards before spring arrives. Anyone wishing to boost their promotion prospects, kick-start their career or change direction can register at their local centre for a free career consultation. An experienced training advisor will provide practical recommendations on training which could help the individual plan for a happier and more successful working life. By using the colder months as an opportunity to invest in themselves, people in could end up with a raft of new skills, an impressive CV and a vastly improved earning potential.

“As the world of commerce and industry becomes tougher, employers are becoming more and more demanding,” explains Claire. “They want staff who are well-skilled and prepared to invest in themselves and their personal development. Many bosses are looking for candidates whose CV shows that they have proven, practical, office-focused skills which will enable them to hit the ground running when they start a new job. In a challenging economic climate bosses can’t afford to take chances on people who don’t have certificates to back up their skills and experience.”

“Importantly, learning a practical new skill which will really enhance your career prospects needn’t take forever,” continues Claire. “The Pitman Training approach means that you can start a course as soon as you’re ready – you don’t have to wait for the start of a new term. You learn at times that suit you and can complete your course as quickly, or slowly, as you want to, fitting your studies in around work or personal commitments.”

“For example, if you’ve decided on a career as a legal secretary, you could opt to study for a full time Legal Secretarial Diploma. Within 7 to 12 weeks you will have all the specialist skills that any employer would be looking for from a legal secretary and the certificate to prove it,” Claire says. “Alternatively if you already work in an office environment and want to enhance your promotion prospects while you work, you could study part time for the Microsoft Office Plus course. In 7 to 12 weeks you’ll cover advanced Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook and be ready to show any employer that you really mean business.”

Courses on offer at Pitman Training range from basic computing and keyboard skills to advanced secretarial diplomas, book-keeping and even web design. Technical IT courses, including MCSA, MCSE and A+ are also available for those wishing to pursue a career as computer engineers.

Genesis Business College offers the full range of Pitman Training Courses in Carlow, Gorey, Kilkenny and Wexford.

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HR, Employment Law, Business Studies, Marketing, Corporate Governance Courses now available in Kilkenny

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

From September of 2009, an expanded range of courses including Business Studies, Marketing, HR & Employment Law, Corporate Governance will be available from our centre in Kilkenny. Enrolments have already started.

These courses will be in addition to our popular range of Pitman Training Diplomas courses which enrol all year-round.

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Under 25’s urged by Government to Retrain

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

More than 50,000 young people signing on the Live Register are being urged to improve their education. Over the coming week the Department of Social and Family Affairs will post a letter to all 18 to 25-year-olds on Jobseeker’s Allowance advising them to look at the options for up-skilling and retraining.

 

 

With the announcement earlier this year of the cut in jobseeker’s allowance payment rates for 18 and 19-year-olds, we have seen a huge trend of under 25’s contacting us for advice. Within our area of computer, office and secretarial skills training, Pitman Training can offer a wide range of tailored solutions that give people immediate results and up-skill them for the jobs that are available, including temp work. From a Business I.T. Diploma through to an Executive PA Diploma, we have the courses available. Our approach has always been to give people the skills they need at the times they can learn. This flexibility gives us many advantages over the current state-aided approach to retraining.

 

 

The training courses provided by Pitman Training range from touch typing to their prestigious legal, medical, accounts and secretarial diplomas.

Every day we talk to people who have just lost their jobs and want to retrain, the biggest obstacle they face is financial. We are currently helping potential learners identify if they qualify for any fee reductions through allowances as this means we help a lot more people develop the skills they need for a new career.

 

 

Pitman Training has been successfully providing training to both the corporate and private markets across Ireland for over 15 years and is one of the world’s leading office skills and computer training organisations. With more and more employers focused on specific business type qualifications and skills, Pitman Training provides internationally recognised business certification as well as legal and medical qualifications. Learning with Pitman Training is undertaken with a flexible training model, whereby individual students choose their days and times to train. There is also a wide range of classroom courses including seminars such as CV Preparation, Job-search Skills and Job Interview Techniques.

 

 

Social Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin said improving skills will be the key to economic recovery, “Young people should not see signing on the Live Register as their future – they should look to see what supports and opportunities are available for them throughout the country. We know that people of all skill levels are losing their jobs. Young people who may have opted out of the formal education and training opportunities, when the draw of high wages during the boom years was irresistible, are now more likely to remain unemployed if they are not actively up-skilling and gaining new expertise.”

 

 

With fifteen training centres throughout the country, Pitman Training is one of the top retraining and up-skilling networks in Ireland. The centre offers top quality computer training courses, secretarial training courses and IT skills training to individuals and organisations.

 

 

For more information on the courses available from Pitman Training, call Pitman Training on 1800–532632 or log onto www.pitman-training.ie

 

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