Pitman Training’s Executive PA Diploma helps Marie-Therese get her dream job

Pitman Training’s Executive PA Diploma helps Marie-Therese get her dream job

There’s no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live our lives. However, one positive for all the pandemic’s downfalls is that it inspired some people to improve their current situations. Marie-Therese Gallagher is the perfect example of this. After being made redundant from her previous job at her local newspaper due to the pandemic, Marie-Therese decided to be proactive by upskilling herself and bettering her situation - not just for more money but also to broaden her career prospects.

“I had taken a Microsoft Excel course through a previous employer, so I knew about Pitman Training’s courses. I enjoyed the course back then, so I thought, why not give it another go and learn something new? I reached out to the team at my local Pitman Training Centre, and after a brief conversation with them, I enrolled on the Executive PA Diploma. The team were really supportive and helpful - I felt at home the moment I got in touch,” explained Marie-Therese.

Pitman Training’s Executive PA Diploma gives students the skills needed to work in the highly demanding and challenging role of Executive PA or Executive assistant. By learning to use the latest software to plan schedules, take minutes and having a great insight into how an organisation runs at a senior level, graduates can expect a rewarding career as a successful Personal Assistant or Executive Assistant. 

“When studying, I decided I would go into the centre every day. I almost treated it like a full-time job. I blasted through the modules and really enjoyed the whole process. One of the things that motivated me throughout the course was that I viewed it as if the whole experience was an investment. Ultimately, the end game for me was getting a job, which is exactly what I did, so it was all worthwhile. I’m now an assistant at a university and I couldn’t be happier. 

“When I started training with Pitman, I thought it would be a lot tougher as I’m not a very self-disciplined person. However, there were so many resources I could use, and having access to a learning coach was massively beneficial. I knew I had the skills to be a PA, but I needed the qualification on paper. 

“During my time with Pitman, I learnt things in programs like Excel that I would never have known existed. One of my favourite things about studying with Pitman was that I could log on to any computer and carry on with my work from where I left off as the systems allow you to carry on from where you’ve saved. I was guided through my course mainly by audio recordings. I also loved that I could choose when I took my exams. This way, there were no looming deadlines, and I was able to work through the course systematically. I can’t speak highly enough of how everything was laid out.”

At Pitman Training, our student’s success is the most important thing. So, whether you want to improve your career prospects, gain that promotion, or get back to work, our flexible training enables you to learn from home or study at any location, using our market-leading combination of audio guides, workbooks and live software.

“If you had told me before I started this course that I would pass and get a job, I would have thought you were lying because I didn’t think I could do it. I have surprised myself. Any qualification – large or small - is an addition to your life in some way. So, I’m very proud of everything I’ve achieved. My advice to anyone considering taking an adult education course would be to speculate to accumulate. If you can give it your undivided attention, it will pay back tenfold. Finally, thank you to Pitman. They are all wonderful to work with.”

At Pitman, we use the highest-quality technology to provide our students with the education they deserve. If you are interested in developing yourself personally or professionally in a supportive and flexible learning environment, get in contact with your local training centre.