Over the past 2 years online learning has exploded, but NCC has been offering online courses for much longer. If you’re thinking of upskilling for a new job, then have a look at their course offerings, including their Personal Assistant Diploma.
I received access to the PDF materials for this course in exchange for my honest review, but I did not receive access to the assignments, exam, tutors, nor was I eligible to receive a diploma.
The Personal Assistant Diploma course modules:
- Understanding organisations
- Professional approach to work
- Communication
- Time management
- Managing business information
- Office management systems and procedures
- Customer service
- Working with others
- Legal and regulatory requirements
- Handling difficult situations
How I Used the Personal Assistant Diploma Course
I printed out all of the reading for each unit in PDF form, and printed them out in booklet form for ease of use. This works best for me because I’m a visual learner and I like to make notes in the margins and highlight passages. It also meant that I could pop a unit in my backpack and take it with me when I went for a walk – I could sit by a pond or the sea and do a little reading in a calm environment when the moment grabbed me.
Each unit was about 25 pages in length, and laid out logically, with a quick review at the end of each unit recapping briefly what was learned, which is a good way to refresh your memory from time to time.
I actually didn’t do all of the reading in order, but rather worked through it in the order that best suited what I was currently working on. The units don’t build upon each other, so this is a viable way to study for this particular class.
What I Liked
I liked the self-paced lessons that could either be read online, or downloaded and printed to read at my leisure. This really works for me because I could sit and read when I had a few free minutes, whether at home or not. I could also spend an hour reading, or just ten minutes with a cup of tea, depending on my schedule and my mood. If you have a busy or unpredictable life, you may find this style of study works well for you. If, however, you are the type that works better with deadlines and someone checking up on your progress, then you may find you struggle a little more.
What Could Be Improved
There were a few grammatical errors in the materials, but it’s possible they’ve been amended by now. I know my own spelling and grammar lack at times, but for a paid course, I do expect more.
Is the Personal Assistant Diploma Useful?
You may already know, but I have been working online as a virtual assistant in various capacities over the past 6-7 years. The content in this course mostly refers to in-person businesses, but it also easily transfers to the realm of online business. I found the materials to be geared more towards a general business office type of structure rather than being more specifically about becoming a personal assistant, although it’s possible perhaps, that I’ve lost a little in translation on that term between Canada and the UK. An extra unit about this specific job would have been beneficial.
If you have been out of the workforce for some time, or would like to move to an administrative type job, then this course would be a good starter to get an overview of business practices. However, it would then be even better to go deeper into an area or two that interests you and further develop your knowledge in those areas.
Think of this course as an entry-level course that touches upon many topics. Personally, I wouldn’t consider one course on its own to be worthy of a diploma, but certainly there is some value in this course as an introduction to the work of business and to help one discover how it works and what areas of business they may want to work towards.
More About NCC
Because I didn’t have access to the assignments, and tutors, etc., I cannot comment on those parts of the course. To find out more about this course, as well as others they offer, contact NCC.
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