Student Q&A: Annie Rose

Annie Rose decided to study the training package in business administration and leadership and management because she felt that formal study would compliment her role as Systems Administrator; it was also an opportunity where she could expand her current skill set.

Annie also liked the appeal of achieving two qualifications in the same amount of time as a standalone certificate.

In this Q&A, she shares her experience with the course, and how Upskilled's trainers and Student Support team helped her over the finish line when it came to her studies.

Could you tell us why you chose to study the training package in Business Administration and Leadership and Management?

I was looking for a new challenge and a way to expand my skills and knowledge, and I felt like I needed to do some formal study. 

I also wanted to develop better skills in leadership to help me in my primary and secondary jobs. The dual certificate appealed to me the most because I could work on gaining two certificates simultaneously. The way the course was set up made it really easy to achieve both. 

Could you give us a brief description of your current role and how these certificates have helped you?

I work as a System Administrator for the Records Unit within the Government. The certificates have helped me better communicate and provide assistance to staff and other team members in my unit. They have also helped improve my general administrative skills such as minute taking, planning and understanding budgets. 

The leadership management components gave me a better understanding of how and why my work conducts Personal Development Plans and business operational plans, and the importance of reviewing them. 

The leadership management component has also greatly improved my performance in my secondary role of teaching children ages 10-15 years to referee basketball. It has given me the confidence to teach them the rules and improved my leadership skills, allowing me to better take charge of the group. 

What do you think is a major difference between doing two certificates compared to a standalone one?

Studying the two certificates has allowed me to quickly complete them simultaneously. It would have taken much longer to complete the two certificates consecutively. 

I really enjoyed the way the course was laid out and my favourite part was that quite often two or three units of a similar nature were merged together into one big unit. Combining multiple units made it really easy to study and reduced the need for repetition of ideas and subjects. 

If I studied the two certificates separately, I would have been constantly repeating similar ideas and subjects, and would need to apply for a credit transfer. 

How did you balance work with online study?

I chose to study online outside of work hours, so instead of worrying about balancing the study load with work, I had to find ways to balance it with my daily life. 

I made small changes to my routine to allow me plenty of time to study while not eating into too much personal time. I would watch the online seminars while on the bus in the morning and afternoons, and instead of watching an hour of television at night, I would complete my studies. 

These small changes meant that I could reduce the amount of time I spent studying on weekends and could spend more time at my second job and socialising with friends. 

What aspects did you enjoy from the certificates and why?

I enjoyed the interface used to host the course materials and upload the assignments. I found the interface to be highly user-friendly and very effective; everything you needed to do was within 2 to 3 clicks of the login page. I also enjoyed the level of help offered by Upskilled. 

The trainer was knowledgeable and very happy to help with any issues I encountered, often logging incidents on my behalf. 

I found that the Student Support Consultants were very helpful as well. I felt like they actually cared about me as a student because they called me often to check on how I was progressing throughout the course, answering any questions and rectifying any problems.

What do you believe are important skills to have in Management and Business Administration?

I believe that excellent communication skills are essential in both management and business administration. 

Without good communication skills, it is very difficult to function as a manager or team member within a unit because you cannot easily express your feelings, thoughts and concerns about any aspect of the work being conducted. 

I believe that oral communication skills are more important in management and that written communication skills are more important in business administration. 

Any advice you would like to give to students who decide to study these certificates? 

Read the assignment questions before watching the online seminars and read the course content. This way you know what type of information you are looking for and you can easily understand the information you’re taking in. 

I would also encourage anyone studying these certificates to ask any questions you have because the trainers are very friendly and more than happy to assist you. 

Interested in studying business and management? 

 Upskilled offers a wide range of courses in business and management. Depending on your career goals, you can equip yourself with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the role of team leader, manager or supervisor. 

Learn more by simply calling one of Upskilled's education consultants on 1300 009 924 for further information.