If these are questions you have heard and answered plenty times before, I apologise. However, I did do some searching of this forum but my query is rather specific.
I've been a self-employed writer for a number of years but I'm looking to get a second job, part time, as money in print industries is drying up . Right now I've got no work at all so I'm claiming Jobseeker's Allowance while I job hunt. Learn Direct leaflets at the Job Centre offered Sage 50 training. This 'E-training' is free while you are on JSA- but you have to jump through a few tedious hoops first, doing courses in Customer Services and Employability, even though i worked in customer services for two years! But that's the way the funding works unfortunately. I'd hoped the fact that I have a very good BA Honours degree might sort of 'fast track' me but no. The courses they offer are detailed here:
What I ideally want is a part time job so I can keep writing. I like the idea of being able to get temorary work I can dip in and out of depending on how well the writing is going. Searching online there are quite a few part time positions that require Sage 50 accounts. I also noticed Sage 50 Payroll come up a lot - with even more jobs going for payroll administrators, though they are naturally not as well paid as bookkeeping jobs.
Frustratingly, Learn Direct doesn't offer Sage 50 Payroll training, only Sage 50 Accounts! So Sage 50 Payroll training is something I'd have to buy myself.
So I have a few questions.
What training do you recommend I go for in order for me to get regular work?
I notice that there are courses in 'Sage Bookkeeping Stages 1 and 2" as well as specifically Sage 50. Do you think I would need to do these first or would the Sage 50 Accounts training explain the book keeping skills I need as it goes along?
Also, if I learned Sage 50 Accounts, do you think i would necessarily need training in Sage 50 Payroll, or would I be able to pick it up by myself after having learned sage 50 Accounts?
I'm not hoping to become an fully fledged accountant, just improving my skillset so I can get work when I need it. I wonder if you can guide me towards the best course on the Learn Direct site. I see that there is lots of other training options out there, but only the Learn Direct courses will be free for me. It's annoying that they don't offer Sage Payroll, and I wonder whether it would be worth me shelling out for it elsewhere if it would able me to get a job quicker.
Sorry if this is all a bit vague and general. There are a lot of options open to me, but I don't know what training I need. I'm learning about double entry bookkeeping from this site which is really good:
and I'm hoping that if I complete the free training there, Sage 50 will make sense to me. I like to think I have a pretty analytical brain; I have a first class degree in philosophy so I learn quickly.
I really appreciate any advice though, brief or detailed, so thanks in advance. Golly, this is a long post. I've tried to shorten it, to no avail. Too many options!
I know my viewpoint comes from a provider that charges, but I'm sure my views are valid. Sometimes, if things are free, they are not all they appear to be. LD are there to help and if they can offer you a knowledge of Sage, fantastic, but I doubt it would get to the level required within a bookkeeping/accounting environment. If don't have the underpinning knowledge of manual bookkeeping principles this will be a real disadvantage.
I would agree with Brian. Without the knowledge of manual bookkeeping, you would simply be inputting data and not knowing what effect this is having on the P&L and balance sheets. I would urge you to do a manual bookkeeping course first.
