Mumsnet Talk

Has anyone ever done a pitman course and then successfully found a job afterwards! Am thinking about studying for a PA/secretarial course.

No, but I'm interested in your replies

Do people still have secretaries??

I attended Pittman a few years ago after a long time as SAHM. I was already a proficient typist, but did it to get familiar with commonly used software packages i.e. Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel. Not sure if these are the ones still in demand, but I would imagine so. Worth checking what PA job ads are actually asking for specifically.

I would recommend it for learning packages, like I said. Not sure if paying through the nose for "how to be a secretary/PA" is really worth it. I did get work afterwards as I was able to honestly say I could use current office software.

They are very professional but are there to sell their courses, so do a bit of research before getting talked into expensive commitment. I found that long after I was employed I was still getting calls from them asking if I fancied doing more classes.......

HTH and good luck

Thank you Lovemynails. I know what you mean about them trying to sell their courses. Have been for consultations before and they are very persistent in calling you to try and get you signed up to one of their courses! If you don't mind me asking, do you still work as a PA/Secretary? .

garlic breeze Yes,people do still have secretaries. I always see jobs advertising for secretaries, Personal Assistants, etc.

Yes, i worked as one for 4 years and then switched to something completely diferent. Glad I went to Pitman, though. If for nothing else it gives you something to put on your cv.

I used to work as a PA in an investment bank in the city and have worked as a Legal PA for a magic circle firm as well. I don't think the course is worth paying out too much money for, have you looked at doing MOS training instead ? Might be more useful. And I don't have shorthand but that is definitely something worth looking into in my opinion.

I'd recommend MOS training too and would suggest learning to touch type which appears to be a dying skill along with shorthand. I've recently changed jobs but my new employer has agreed to my secondment, as and when required, for hearings where a scribe is needed because there are so few people who can do shorthand.

Hi gtedder1

I work for Pitman Training in Holborn, Notting Hill and Manchester.

You'll be pleased to know that we have a very good relationship with some fantastic recruitment agencies, including SecsintheCity (you can check out our blog posts on their site).

Every week we send out a mailer to our students with all the latest job vacancies, and we constantly post vacancies on our Facebook and Twitter pages to make our students job hunt a bit easier.

Why not check out what our students have to say about us here: www.holborntraining.co.uk/category/testimonials/

I'm not a secretary, and I didn't learn Pitman, but I did learn T-line shorthand while I was doing a French degree as I thought I might be a bilingual secretary one day. It's the best thing I ever did - makes taking meeting notes ever so easy.

Yes, I did Pitman Book-keeping and Accounts, levels 1 and 2. I was already working in accounts, but found it very useful. The Pitman course also enabled me to skip the first year of the AAT accounting course.