Making a fresh Start
I think it’s fair to say most of us have started this New Year with the usual resolution-based outlook on what we can change, what we can achieve and what we would like this year to bring. But just how many of you have set achievable goals? How many people actually tick off all the boxes? And just how long do the resolutions stay in your mind?
Goals are the best way to set your mood and motivation – whether it’s personal or career orientated… resolutions give you a great sense of passion and help to keep your mood in...
True to his word, Sir Isaac Pitman spent his ‘well-arranged’ life working to improve the efficiency and productivity of the office workforce. Leading by example, his robust career history is testament to this: astronomy lecturer, temperance worker, preacher, president of the vegetarian society, and most notably the creator of Pitman Shorthand – which he developed further with the introduction of Pitman secretarial colleges.
As 2012 and our special anniversary year draws to a close, it’s time to reflect.
What makes a great brand? What equates to heritage? There’s been many a paper written on this and many a marketer has tackled this question.
We believe it’s a combination of many factors - layers that build up to make a brand and then consistency in message, and delivery upon promises.
This month we’ve been examining the multi-tasking role of office PA’s. Far from the stereotypical, ‘60’s bimbo, often portrayed in the past, many of today’s PA’s keep the foundation and day-to-day running of businesses running.
We’ve done a lot of research over the years, honing our training programmes and agree there are some key areas that must be covered in order to work in this role. Skills including financial planning, advanced office administration, enhanced communication, problem solv
As I’ve been working with Pitman over the last few months and travelled to various locations around the country, I’ve got chatting to people about their jobs. As they spoke of pressures at work, the common theme that came up again and again was stress. The stress caused by taking on a colleague’s workload who has been made redundant; the stress caused by trying to constantly impress to secure your own job; the stress of constantly trying to be the best.
When the pressure’s on and you’re under
In October we brought you the latest statistics from the recent success of Pitman Training students. Now with 2012 wll underway we are able to bring you the full set of pass rates and more importantly what percentage of Pitman Training students have achieved Distinction grade in their assessments.
We're tremendously proud of these results and of every Pitman student who has put in the effort to change their lives.
How important is your work wardrobe to how you feel and behave in the office? Do you work in an environment where styles have become more casual over the years - and do you like it, or not? Have you made a real fashion faux pas in the office?
Even with Stacie’s amazing 10 distinctions, 100% on her Microsoft PowerPoint Specialist exam and a final typing speed of 95 words per minute, she was thankful for that extra support to push her over the finish line...
During January most of us feel pressure to set targets and goals that require a year’s worth of work and effort. (Much like a crash diet!) Stacie (Student of the Year 2011) proved that being realistic with your ambitions can start a chain of events; a series of small changes that will keep you moving towards your goal...
What will be your highlights? What are you proud of achieving? And what do you hope to achieve next year? Are you looking to progress in your current career or do you fancy a change of career altogether? If you have some time off over the next couple of weeks (which we very much hope you do!) then maybe you could put aside a little bit of time for reflection and planning.
Paul was sat in the JobCentre offices with hundreds others, as an unemployed Bricklayer’s Labourer when he expressed an interest in a career change; “I have always been interested in Finance/Accounts and working with numbers…” He was immediately referred to the Essential Book Keeping Diploma at his local Pitman Training Centre, and for him, the ‘penny’ dropped...
This is the first in a series of Infographics to come out of the data we are collecting from this year's batch of Diploma students. As well as displaying our fantastic pass-rate it also aims to communicate that the majority of students who embark on a Pitman Training Diploma exceeded even their own expectations in terms of what they could achieve. Of course gaining a 'distinction' requires a lot of hard work on their part, but hopefully this goes some way to illustrate how Pitman Training has cr
You might feel a little bit silly to begin with, working in junior roles below those much younger than you, but what’s the alternative? That you don’t push yourself, that you don’t follow your dream, that you stay in the rut?
There's something about the change of seasons that makes us think differently – not just about buying new work wardrobes and shiny new pencil cases; though that’s always a bonus...
For some people, it is only ever a dream, but for those of you who really do want to work abroad, the opportunities can be amazing.
Our recent competition was all about tapping into this thought and we were thrilled to have so many responses. Many of them made us smile – sometimes in a wistful way – Find out if your answer earned you a trip to Paris...
In a world where ’60 is the new 40’ – or even younger in many cases – we’d like to think that our attitudes towards career changes, retraining and new directions in working lives are much more open. Would you agree?
Self-help books: Amazing, life-transforming manuals or load of old money-spinning guff? Discuss.
OK, we’re not really setting you an essay or exam question here, but we would love to know your thoughts on this – so please comment away! Can a book really change your life? Has one already changed yours? Have you got one in your bag right now? One of the first was ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie, which was published in 1937 and has sold over 15 million copies sold worldwide. Have you got one?...
A couple of things have hit the headlines in the last month or so that prove training in office and PA skills really can change your career direction – and your life!
Stella English bagged her dream job with Lord Sugar in The Apprentice – she left school with no qualifications, but then decided to retrain as a PA and carved out a career with a Japanese bank, progressing to a management position. Her quick-thinking and exceptional organisational skills didn’t go unnoticed and the rest, as they say...
If, like us, you took the opportunity to pay a return visit to...
The radio’s blaring, it’s dark and cold outside, you’ve a feeling of dread inside. Then something clicks – it’s Saturday, hooray! Yes, the holidays might seem like a dim and distant memory already, and 'Blue Monday' might have hit you hard yesterday.
Maybe the Christmas and New Year break left you refreshed and raring to get back to work and that feeling hasn’t worn off, or maybe not...?! You might have decided that 2011 is THE year you’ll get that job, or make a change and follow your heart into a dream career and bright new future?
Either...