With the competition for jobs at a high, many who would probably have studied at college or university have made the decision to study distance learning courses instead. Distance learning is a fairly self-explanatory concept: instead of attending lectures or classes the course is studied from home. But are distance learning courses right for you or would a conventional course be the best option for you? In the next few paragraphs I’ll explain some of the things you’ll need to consider before deciding which route to take to education. Obviously the main advantage of distance learning courses is the convenience of studying at home, so if this is an appealing aspect home learning may be the best choice. There’s no need to spend money on travel costs and you can fit the course around your job or family. Another benefit of distance learning is the freedom to work at your own pace. Instead of dreading an early morning class every day you can finish the work according to your own schedule. This is a real boon if you are balancing your studies with parenting. Distance learning does have its disadvantages. It might sound great to complete coursework in your own time, but you’ll need excellent planning and organisational skills in order to keep on top of the workload. Commitment to gaining an understanding of the subject is vital; you need to stay motivated while studying distance learning courses or you could be overwhelmed. Depending on your own learning style preferences, distance learning may or may not be right for you. If you are independently minded, organised and committed to improving your skills, distance learning courses are the ideal method of doing so. If you learn better through the usual method of class-based teaching, it would be worth pursuing this route. Everyone learns differently, so it’s important to understand which learning methods you find most effective. Either way, with a recognised qualification under your belt you’ll have developed your skills and improved your chances of career development. Peter Hinton is the author, to find out more about Distance Learning Courses visit www.skillstrainuk.com