No matter who you are, stepping out of your comfort zone is a challenging proposition. Whether you are trying new food, chasing a new fitness goal, or even challenging yourself to learn a new skill – the unknown can be scary. However, stepping outside your comfort zone is the primary way by which we grow and better ourselves. Thomaskutty Cherian is an example of someone who stepped out of their comfort zone and developed both personally and professionally.
Thomaskutty arrived in Ireland from India with his family in 2004. Since then, he has worked in various jobs across a range of sectors – the standout being a customer service officer in an airport for 13 years. After leaving his job at the airport and the added complication of the pandemic, he found himself struggling to find a new challenge. After being unsuccessful in his job hunt, Thomaskutty turned to Pitman Training to help boost his CV and develop himself.
“I joined Pitman at a very low point. It’s fair to say I was at rock bottom,” said Thomaskutty. “I looked for jobs and applied for everything but, because of the pandemic, it was so difficult to find anything. I struggled even to get a response from some places. It was embarrassing. I had the skills to do the jobs I was applying for but no qualifications on paper to prove it. Ironically, I was supposed to do an adult education course 10 years ago, but I was too arrogant – I thought I would never need it. As a middle-aged man, I think it’s hard to accept and understand what you lack. Now I look back and think, ‘Why on earth didn’t I jump at that opportunity?’
“To help my job search, I joined a career transition programme. This programme gave me the confidence to take the first step that I needed to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone. I had a friend who owned a Pitman Training centre nearby, so I decided to get in touch and the next thing I knew I was taking the Microsoft Office 365 Diploma. Since then, I’ve never looked back. The whole team at Pitman made me feel so welcome and valued from the get-go. Initially, a few of the newer students and I were nervous. However, the team put our minds at ease by saying there was no question too silly to ask. The team constantly motivated us and pushed us to be better.”
At Pitman, to ensure our students have the best chance of success, we provide access to a learning coach. The learning coach’s job is to provide you with extra help and motivation if you need it. It doesn’t matter if you choose to learn inside the centre or from the comfort of your home; your learning coach will be on hand to help you whenever you need it. As well as having access to a learning coach, we offer flexible learning, meaning students can fit their training around their work and home lives.
“Once I started the course, I worked three to four hours a day and didn’t miss a day for six weeks. I chose to work in the training centre every day because you can get away from the stresses of day-to-day life and focus on getting your learning done. By the time I had achieved my diploma, I had a newfound confidence in my own abilities as well as the qualifications I had needed for my CV. You wouldn’t believe it, but as soon as I’d completed the diploma, I passed three interviews straight away.
“Since finishing the course, the support has been unbelievable. The team send you emails about job offers and opportunities in the local area. Pitman knows the job market’s layout and is partnered with many companies that can help you once you’ve completed your diploma. Because the team at Pitman is made up of people who have been there and done that, they can help you redesign your CV. They understand what to say and the competencies employers are looking for.
“My advice for anyone on the fence about taking a course with Pitman would be to go for it if you need to upskill yourself. The benefits are endless. The staff at Pitman are amazing and will help you whenever you need it. The first step is the hardest. But after you’ve stepped out of your comfort zone, the world becomes a different place and the things you used to find scary and difficult no longer exist. In short, Pitman Training is amazing and second to none when it comes to training.”
At Pitman, we are hands-on in supporting your learning and pushing you towards getting the diploma you want. 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: www.pitman-training.ie/
