How to find the right course

Are you thinking about studying, but not sure which course is the one for you? With hundreds of
providers offering a huge selection of courses, it can be hard to narrow down your choices.

We’ve put together three key steps for you to work through and help you make the right decision.

Figure out the industry you want to work in

If you don’t already know what industry you’d like to work in, it’s important to use your interests, skills
and personality to find the job that's right for you.

You can also browse courses by industry to see what catches your eye, or look at which jobs and
industries are trending.

Find the course that suits your best

You will need to work out what you want to get out of your course, and what option would best suit
your schedule and career goals.

Study online or in-class: Online study is the perfect way to learn while you’re still working and job
seeking, with the added flexibility of being able to study independently from home. If you’d prefer to
meet your teachers and learn face-to-face, look for courses with an in-class option where you’ll travel to
the campus.

Study part-time or full-time: If you plan to work while studying, a part-time or self-paced study load is a
great option. You’ll be able to take on as much as your schedule permits while fitting your course in
around your family and other commitments. If you’re able to concentrate entirely on study, a full-time
load will mean you complete your course in the minimum amount of time.

If you can’t commit to a longer course, short courses are a great way to quickly build skills you can add
to your resume.

Start dates: When do you want to start studying? Look out for the start date for each course to see how
soon you can enrol and get on your way.

Take a look around the SEEK Learning website, and compare these options for different courses. Make
sure you check the possible career outcomes for the courses you’re interested in and see how they
match up with your dream job.
7 tips to help you study

Looking for that extra edge to achieve study greatness, or some simple study strategies to boost
your confidence as you embark on a new course? Everyone learns differently – which means it’s
important you try a range of study hacks to discover what works best for you.

From the tried-and-true methods to some out-of-the-box tactics, we’ve selected 7 of our favourite
tips to help you hit the ground running and maintain momentum this year.

1. Get organised

Organised chaos isn’t really organised… it’s just chaos! And it generally won’t support you in
your quest to bring your study A-game. Physical and mental clutter negatively impacts your
ability to concentrate and process information, so aim to organise your study space and workload
priorities. Schedule time for study, diarise your deadlines and declutter your desk to achieve the
best results and reduce study stress.

2. Be inspired

Maintaining motivation isn’t always easy when you’re faced with a challenge, so it’s important
to give yourself a healthy dose of inspiration every now and then to lift your spirits and boost
your enthusiasm. Call a friend when you need a pep-talk, read a book about the success of one of
your heroes, or post some inspiring quotes around your study space to remind you that your
career goals are possible, and within reach.

3. Set study goals

It’s not enough to enrol into a course and then wait for study inspiration to strike. To excel in
your studies, you need to have a clear plan of attack – and that means setting yourself some
achievable, step-by-step goals to gain that new qualification and land your dream job. Start with
bite-sized goals such as dedicating 30-minutes each day to required reading, or scheduling a few
hours into each weekend for your next upcoming assignment.

4. Create a study playlist

One of our favourite study tips is that you don’t have to sit in silence while you learn! Listening
to music can aid information absorption, increase your motivation, and make study a whole lot
more fun. Sign up for a free music streaming account like Spotify and browse the range of study
playlists available, or create your own.
Research has shown that classical, instrumental and even video game music can be beneficial in
increasing concentration during study sessions, so give some of these tunes a go to get into the
zone.

5. Move your body

When we exercise, new brain cells are born – meaning that getting away from your desk and
hitting the pavement is a sure-fire way to improve your memory and your focus. Going for a
brisk walk or taking a gym class will make you feel more energised and motivated, and also help
combat any stress associated with upcoming exams or assignments.

6. Fuel with brain food

It can be tempting to reach for an energy drink when you’re cramming for an exam, but bear in
mind that a sugar high is quickly followed by an energy crash – making it even harder to focus
and retain information.

Nutritionists have long been asserting the power of superfoods for wellbeing– but did you know
that eating a banana or some air-popped popcorn can support concentration and memory
function? Reach for the right foods during your study session to stay fuelled and feed your brain.

7. Find the right balance

You may be so excited about making the move into your dream career that you want to study in
every free moment. That’s a great mind-set! But remember that balance in all things yields the
best results, so it’s important to stay social throughout your course.

Once you’ve allocated the recommended time to coursework, be sure to make dates to connect
with friends and family, and do the things you love. When you complete your study hours first,
you won’t be stressed thinking about what you have to do while you’re out with friends or
watching a movie.