With a career change in hand and new responsibilities ahead of her, Susan Douglas was looking to upskill. To assist her take on this challenge, she approached NorthTec for guidance on course recommendations. On review of her skills and identifying areas she could enhance her capability further, the New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4) was recommended with the option of taking the study further though completion of a New Zealand Diploma in Business (Accounting) (Level 5).
Working full-time meant it wasn’t possible for Susan to complete training on campus and she therefore enrolled to complete the certificate online through eCampus NZ. Susan liked that through eCampus NZ she could easily adjust the training to suit her own circumstances and around her work commitments.
Living rurally and only having upgraded from dial up to broadband two years earlier meant the online experience was a huge learning curve. However, Susan said that the system itself was great and those that have grown up with technology would find navigating it a breeze. In order to fit in her study, Susan would complete two hours a day in the morning before work or in the evenings as well as a Saturday.
While completing the First Line Management course, Susan was surprised to discover just how intrigued she was with project management. Susan said that in First Line Management you have a virtual project that you complete and work through over several papers. This was a real highlight for Susan, and she has decided to carry on her study further through the completion of a double diploma that includes project management.
Susan said that she has been easily able to transfer the course learnings into her everyday job. While she doesn’t lead a team, she has been able to support her team members more effectively and has a greater understanding of management styles and getting the best out of people.
Susan is also now able to evaluate outcomes and identify variances.
“With my new skillset, I have used this process to explain the outcomes of a project I was involved in and to determine why a variance occurred and how to stop it from happening again. Subsequently, I was able to use my findings to write to our company board to explain why the project went wrong,” says Susan.
Overall, Susan has really enjoyed the First Line Management course and it has made her look at her job with different eyes. “If you’re wanting to grow and develop as a person then I would highly recommend it,” says Susan.
Susan is looking forward to starting her double diploma this month.