Lacking skills in the workplace? Why wait for your boss to suggest a training course? There is plenty of correspondence, evening and weekend courses to suit all professions and budgets - and you may even persuade your boss to pay!

We all know that horrible feeling that sometimes creeps up out of nowhere one day - the "Oh my god, I have no idea what I'm doing" syndrome. It sneaks up on all of us some time or other. But what happens when the question then lurks in the background all day, or even all week, and we begin to think that we really don't know how to do our job at all?

A lot of people just forget about it and get on with their work regardless.

But what if you really do want some more training or read that university degree that you never quite got round to after school?

Well, the good news is that in this day and age anything is possible - at least on the education front.

So, the first thing to ask yourself is what do you want? Is it a simple training course, a certificate of some kind, a diploma, or a degree?

If it's a short training course, you need to decide which areas are most important to you. Are you able to help 'train yourself' for example? Ask yourself a few questions like Do I ask for feedback from my boss? Do I ask co-workers to observe me and provide feedback? Do I carry out my own performance appraisals? Do I have a network of colleagues in my field that I can learn from? and Do I set aside a certain amount of time for personal learning?

These questions will help you understand your needs and put you in charge of your own learning. The next step is finding a suitable course.

Certificate, diploma or degree .... What's the difference?

Normally a certificate course is a preparation for entrance to other courses and is usually fairly short, one year or less, and on a part-time basis. The advantage of a certificate course is that it gives students a chance to get back into studying and to prepare for further studies. Or it can even be useful as a 'stand-alone' course to update certain skills.

A diploma course is usually longer and can be followed part-time or full- time. Diplomas often prepare students for employment in a specific field or occupation.

A degree course is normally offered by universities and involves full-day study for three or four years leading to a BA or B.Sc, for example. A Masters degree can be done in one or two years either on a full- or part-time basis, whereas a Ph.D normally involves two or three years of full-time study.

Having said this, it is also possible to study for many degrees part-time or through distance learning. The Internet and modern technology today offer numerous online courses to choose from.

The advantage of this is that you can still be earning while you're learning. Although balancing work with training can be challenging, it could also lead you to positive new directions.

You can also 'test the waters' if you're thinking about returning to full-time education without interrupting your career to persue your studies.

Look for flexible courses that allow you to juggle other commitments by taking a weekend or evening course. Or enrol in a distance learning programme that offers correspondence courses. You can find many of these by searching on the Internet but do try and check them out first to see if they have a good reputation.

If your course is related to your work, inform your employers. They may be able to help with time off if you have exams to sit for, or help make your life easier by offering flexible working hours. And you never know, they may even offer financial assistance with your studies. Check if your organisation has a training budget, or if you belong to a union, they may have funding available.

If you want to read for a Bachelors or Masters degree, it's worth your while checking the Open University. This is a UK-based university specially designed for distance learning and has over 150,000 undergraduates and 30,000 postgraduate students.

Almost all the students study part time with around 70 cent of them in full-time employment. No previous qualifications are required but you do have to be over 18.

More than 25,000 students live outside the UK and most of the courses are available to Maltese students via video cassettes and the Internet. Fees vary, but are normally per module, so you're not expected to pay up front for the whole degree.

Courses range from certificates and diplomas to full BA and B.Sc degrees which are recognised worldwide. The list of subjects is endless and includes business and management, law and criminology, social sciences, mathematics and statistics, education and teacher training as well as environmental studies.

So, if you go down the correspondence route you will need to organise your time in an effective manner. Finding the time and a suitably quiet working space can be difficult at times but it's quite a challenge.

Because your learning isn't structured as it would be in a classroom, it's easy to procrastinate. Learning on your own requires discipline. Set yourself deadlines and schedule your learning time as a regular commitment.

You may be able to work at home if you are not going to be interrupted too much. Let everyone know you are studying and close the door if necessary. You may find it easier to go to a library to start with. Once you have your learning space sorted out, have all your materials together and organised. If need be, keep them all in a bag or briefcase that is easy to carry about. If you have children, don't forget to hide your paper, pens and pencils!

To make the best use of your time, scan through your materials first before you start reading and find ways to help you organise and summarise the information. Keep yourself focused and look for ideas. Don't forget to take notes and remind yourself what you have just read. Self testing will stop you daydreaming.

Finding support can be crucial. If you are taking a formal course you will probably have a tutor available either by telephone or Internet. You may also find it useful to link up with other students doing the same course as you. That way you can study together and support one another.

Don't forget to ask for help if you need it. Simple things, like someone else doing the washing up, shopping or cleaning can make all the difference.

If you find you are slipping from your study schedule you may want to consider other ways to manage your time. Negotiate with your employer over working hours, ask family and friends to help with the children and keep yourself motivated. Remember why you are taking the course and how it will help you succeed.

Before you decide whether to go back to either full-time or part-time study, it would be wise to do a little research first. Talk to your local education centre and a career adviser to find out what type of training or education you need to reach your goal. For most types of work there are usually options available to acquire the necessary skills. Even with jobs that require very specific certifications, there may be more than one way to qualify.

Talk to your employer or potential employers before you choose a training course and ask if they have any preferences if given a choice of job candidates. Ask what the employment situation is like for your chosen area and what your prospects will be after you graduate.

Read all the relevant course details first and check any entry requirements. You may have to do an induction course if you do not have the necessary qualifications. But do check the university's mature student's policy as you may qualify for their special admission procedures.

Apply for your course as early as possible; places can be limited so you may want to apply for more than one course to avoid disappointment. Work out your finances as studying can be an expensive business. Can you afford it? What financial commitments do you currently have?

If you plan ahead, going back to university can be very enjoyable. If you are worried about your ability, find a study skills workshop, writing class or time management course - anything to boost your confidence.

And finally, if you need help, ask for it. There are wonderful resources available including tutors, student counselling and support groups.

CSB Recruitment Agency has been supporting the local business community with its services since 1987. For further information, write to them at 185D, Old Bakery Street, Valletta VLT 04, or call 2123-2224 or 2123-2225, fax: 2123-2226, email: jobs@vacancycentre.com or visit www.VacancyCentre.com.

© Copyright 2005, Commercial Services Bureau (CSB) Ltd.