Stuck in a rut? It’s time to change that…
Whether you’ve hit a brick wall in terms of progression at your current company, you’ve had to deal with redundancy, or you’re just looking to pursue a new industry all together, changing careers could be the best way to find a job you actually love.
But what job would suit you, and where should you start in terms of getting qualified? Here are 20 courses that could help you change careers:
1. Admin, secretarial & PA course
Perfect for: People who like to organise everything.
How to get qualified: You can study at a range of levels, with courses that cover everything from office skills and administration to minute taking and PA. You could also gain professional certifications that prove your proficiency in Microsoft Office, Oracle, and more.
Jobs you could do: Administrative Assistant, Receptionist, Administrator, Executive PA, Data Entry Clerk, Administrator.
View all admin, secretarial & PA courses
2. Accounting and finance course
Perfect for: People who are good at saving money.
How to get qualified: Whether you want to get AAT certified in order to pursue a career in accountancy, or you’re looking to gain job-specific skills in tax, finance, or risk management, there are a number of courses that could help boost your employability in this lucrative field.
Jobs you could do: Accountant, Actuary, Financial Advisor, Bookkeeper, Analyst, Investment Banker, Auditor, Stock Broker.
View all accounting and finance courses
3. Sports and fitness course
Perfect for: People who exercise for fun.
How to get qualified: There are many ways to qualify for your dream job in sports and fitness, with multiple courses allowing you to train as a personal trainer, fitness instructor, or yoga instructor. Others teach vital knowledge around nutrition, diet, sports science, and massage therapy.
Jobs you could do: Personal Trainer, PE Teacher, Dietician, Nutritionist, Lifeguard, Massage Therapist, Physiotherapist, Yoga Instructor.
View all sports and fitness courses
4. Health and safety course
Perfect for: People who always lift with their legs (and like carrying a clipboard).
How to get qualified: Health and safety courses are available in a whole host of areas, including accident investigation, risk assessment, COSHH, first aid, and much more. More specifically, you could study asbestos awareness, or gain a NEBOSH certificate – which is the most highly-regarded health and safety certificate in the UK.
Jobs you could do: Health and Safety Officer, Firefighter, Environmental Health Practitioner, Cleaner, Maintenance Engineer, Warehouse Operative.
View all health and safety courses
5. Construction course
Perfect for: People who never grew out of Lego.
How to get qualified: There are a number of courses that could help qualify you for a career in construction, whether you want to work in bricklaying, joinery, plumbing, carpentry, quantity surveying or real estate. NVQs and City & Guilds qualifications are particularly useful in this field.
Jobs you could do: Bricklayer, Architect, Joiner, Plumber, Carpenter, Quantity Surveyor, Construction Manager, Labourer.
6. IT course
Perfect for: People who aren’t afraid of a little Python.
How to get qualified: Tech is an extremely broad sector, allowing you to get qualified in a range of areas. These include everything from IT support and networking, right through to web design and game design. There are also a variety of industry recognised qualifications that will help you stand out to employers, such as Cisco and CompTIA – as well as courses that teach essential coding languages like Python and Javascript.
Jobs you could do: Web Developer, Software Developer, Technical Support Advisor, DevOps Engineer, Network Administrator, Games Tester, Web Designer.
7. Marketing course
Perfect for: People who don’t skip the adverts.
How to get qualified: There are many different types of marketing courses available, whether you’re looking to focus on email marketing, content marketing, SEO, social media, or digital marketing as a whole. You can also find accredited courses through the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), a world-renowned professional marketing body.
Jobs you could do: Marketing Executive, Copywriter, Marketing Manager, Marketing Analyst, Content Creator, SEO Specialist, Social Media Coordinator.
8. Language course
Perfect for: Les gens qui veulent comprendre ça.
How to get qualified: When it comes to learning a new language, the world is (literally) your oyster. Whether it’s Japanese, Spanish, French, Italian, or any other language you can think of – there’s a course out there to help you learn it. You could also study Sign Language, or learn how to teach English as a foreign language with a TESOL or ESOL course.
Jobs you could do: Translator, Interpreter, Flight Attendant, Teacher, International Relationship Manager, Private Tutor, Aid Worker.
9. Project management course
Perfect for: People who always meet their deadlines.
How to get qualified: PRINCE2® qualifications are the worldwide benchmark for project management proficiency – making them a great way to break into the industry. Courses in Six Sigma and Agile are also popular choices, and teach fundamental frameworks that are used within the project management sector.
Jobs you could do: Project Manager, Operations Manager, Team Leader, Scrum Master, Product Owner, Site Manager.
View all project management courses
10. Human resources (HR) course
Perfect for: People who genuinely like other people.
How to get qualified: Course subjects range from HR management and employment law, through to learning & development and recruitment, with your area of study dependent on the career path you’d like to pursue. Certifications that are awarded by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) are particularly sought after by employers – with CMI a perfect choice for those seeking leadership positions.
Jobs you could do: HR Officer, HR Assistant, HR Manager, HR Business Partner, Recruitment Manager, Training Officer, Learning & Development Coordinator.
11. Health & care course
Perfect for: People who want to save lives.
How to get qualified: With a number of career paths available in health & care, there are also many ways to get qualified. Choose from courses in nursing, social care, paramedic training, dental hygiene, and more – and qualify yourself for a job in one of the most rewarding industries.
Jobs you could do: Healthcare Assistant, Nurse, Paramedic, Health Visitor, Care Worker, Dental Nurse, Youth Worker, Social Worker, Midwife, Pharmacy Assistant.
View all health & care courses
12. Teaching course
Perfect for: People who are down with the kids.
How to get qualified: Whilst you’ll need a degree (and a PGCE if your degree wasn’t in teaching) to become a qualified primary or secondary school teacher, shorter and less expensive courses are available for those looking to become a teaching assistant. You could also gain certifications in child care, nannying, or nursery nursing, that will help boost your employability within your chosen field.
Jobs you could do: Teacher, SEN Teacher, Private Tutor, Nanny, Childminder, Teaching Assistant, Nursery Teacher, Nursery Nurse.
View all teaching and child care courses
13. Business course
Perfect for: People who make business their business.
How to get qualified: Courses in business development, business management, and business administration provide the perfect starting point for anyone looking to start a career in this field. Professional certifications that are awarded by the British Computer Society (BCS), as well as qualifications in PRINCE2® could also be useful. If you already have a degree, studying for an MBA will allow you to learn specialist business knowledge and boost your earning potential.
Jobs you could do: Business Analyst, Business Development Manager, Entrepreneur, CEO, Business Advisor, Project Manager.
14. Animal care course
Perfect for: People who always stop to pet cats in the street.
How to get qualified: Course subjects include everything from animal nutrition and dog grooming, to horse care, zoology, and even pet psychology. You could also take a course in veterinary nursing and support, qualifying you to work alongside a vet. However, if you’re looking to become a fully qualified vet, extensive degree study (that’s approved by the RCVS) is essential.
Jobs you could do: Veterinary Assistant, Dog Groomer, Dog Walker, Dog Trainer, Zookeeper, Zoologist, Animal Nutritionist, Vet Nurse.
15. Engineering course
Perfect for: People who can build bridges (and, you know, other things).
How to get qualified: The qualification you’ll need to gain will depend on the field of engineering you’re looking to work in – whether it’s aerospace engineering, civil engineering, systems engineering, mechanical engineering – or a multitude of others. Whilst CPD courses are helpful in aiding your development, a degree is usually an essential requirement for securing employment. If you already have a degree in an unrelated subject, a conversion course is a great way to specialise your skills.
Jobs you could do: Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Maintenance Engineer, Aerospace Engineer, Petroleum Engineer, Structural Engineer, Pipeline Engineer.
16. Fashion & beauty course
Perfect for: People who never go out of style.
How to get qualified: Whether you want to work in fashion design, beauty therapy, make-up, or hairdressing, there’s a course to help you do it. You could also study more niche areas, such as nail art, sewing, and facial massage. Vocational qualifications such as BTECs and NVQs are particularly useful in this field.
Jobs you could do: Beauty Therapist, Fashion Designer, Nail Technician, Hairdresser, Massage Therapist, Personal Shopper, Make-Up Artist, Fashion Buyer.
View all fashion & beauty courses
17. Hospitality & catering course
Perfect for: People who can handle the heat (and will never, ever, get out of the kitchen).
How to get qualified: You could develop your cooking skills in a particular type of cuisine (such as sushi, cake making, or vegetarian cookery), carry out waiter training, learn how to be a concierge, or even master the art of cocktails with a mixology course. Knowledge of food hygiene and food science is also useful in this industry.
Jobs you could do: Waiter, Bartender, Barista, Concierge, Mixologist, Caterer, Baker, Restaurant Manager, Chef De Partie, Chef, Sous Chef, Commis Chef
View all hospitality & catering courses
18. Design course
Perfect for: People who hate Comic Sans.
How to get qualified: You can choose to study anything from UX, graphic design, and digital design, right through to product design, CAD, and animation; all of which will help prove your abilities to employers. Proficiency in specialist design software (such as Adobe) is also important in this sector.
Jobs you could do: Graphic Designer, Animator, CAD Technician, Illustrator, UX Designer, Product Designer, Web Designer.
19. Media course
Perfect for: People who have completed Netflix.
How to get qualified: There are a number of exciting roles within the TV, film, and media industry, and a variation of qualifications that’ll help you gain practical, job-specific skills. You can study media production as a whole, or choose from courses in video editing, photography, cinematography, filmmaking, or even script writing.
Jobs you could do: Videographer, Photographer, Video Editor, TV/Film Production Runner, Casting Director, Sound Technician, Screenwriter, Prop Maker.
View all media production courses
20. Job search skills course
Perfect for: People who want to get hired.
How to get qualified: OK, so this one’s a little different – but hear us out. If you’re struggling to find work in your dream industry, you might need to brush up on your job search skills. Luckily – there’s a course for that. Learn everything from how to prepare for an interview, to how to write the perfect CV; and find out what it takes to stand out to employers today.
Jobs you could do: Anything you want (unless you want to be a unicorn).
View all job search skills courses
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