System Training to return to work...

[flowertop]

Hi MN's looking for some advice about back to work training. Have been at home for 6 years (can't believe it!) after working for 25 years - can't believe that either! I want to do some system training to update myself on Microsoft Office : Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access etc. Have been int touch with an employment agency who are trying to sell me some on-line training with MS office which looks good but expensive c£450. Can others advise me of other alternatives to re-skilling myself in these applications. I need some formality to the training so don't want to randomly select bits from the MSoft website if you see what I mean. Any back to work training advice would be helpful. Thanks
p.s. Do you think anyone will give me a job after all this time off?

My local college do day long courses in all MS offica apps, I do advanced excel recently through work. Much cheaper than £450!

Does your local college or adult education centre do the EDCL (European Computer Driving License)? I started the Level 2 Flexiqual this month, and have chosen Word, Excel, Powerpoint + Access. The whole package cost £150. That includes the price of exams. It's flexible learning so I go into the centre and work at my own pace, then there's tutors to help if you get stuck.

I used to work in IT and am finding it easy going. After a 9 year break I wanted to brush up on my use of Office so I could approach agencies to do temp admin work.

Thanks for your feedback. So Soups do you think that is the best course of action after a long time out, to do some MS office training and then perhaps temp admin work? Have you done any as yet?

tnks

No I haven't done any temping yet. In March I have a months work lined up with the Census 2011 and am trying to fit in as much of my ECDL before hand. I did speak to someone from an employment agency who seemed positive about the idea of getting some temp jobs to get back into the swing of things.