Advice on which course would have better prospects in Malta

Hi,

check out the job requirements here in Malta for both areas (accounting and web design)!. Generally speaking they are looking for specialists in both areas with years of experience.

There are a few large companies in Malta. Maybe your husbands work experience fits in with job openings there.

To be honest, i'm not sure if doing a home course in one of those areas will provide you with the skills and qualifications needed to survive in the Maltese job market. Normally you will do well if you are highly qualified and experienced when you come to Malta.

You can study at MCAST for example :

Unit 1:PHP -Introduction 30 hrs = 180€
Unit 2:PHP Object Orientated Programming with PHP 30 hrs=180€
Unit 3:Secure PHP Web Development 30 hours=180€

but I'm not sure if that will be good enough to get you a job.

Jim , did you find someone for your job opening in IT ?

You can checkout MCAST in Malta for courses being offered and compare with the available jobs.

Cheers
Ricky

Thanks Ricky

I did wonder if it would be worth him studying anything at all and I have seen various administration type jobs that fit his experience and don't seem to require Maltese.

Hmmm I might have to have a look at the outdoorsy sort of work. I know he would quite like a change...

If it was a choice between the two courses, I would opt for the accounts one.  SAGE is often a requirement for the jobs I have seen posted, accounts would also allow you to perhaps take on some work from home... possibly.

The web design stuff is kinda being flooded with lots of young peeps straight from University which is giving employers a huge market to pick from.


That is however, just my opinion.xxx

I would certtainly agree with you.

Accounting but you will need the experience and specialization too. It's not the thing you learn in a home course. And studying it would still not give the work experience that is usually demanded for jobs in finance and business in Malta.

I wish you luck and the right decision! What do you mean by outdorsy work ? Construction in Malta means you are competing with African immigrants for work on a building site for less than minimal wage !

Cheers
Ricky

He just mentioned outdoors work, I am unsure exactly what that covers. He mentioned gardening but as far as I am aware there aren't many gardens in Malta:) Now is the time he wishes he had a trade!

I'm not aware of that many gardens in Malta either!

The public gardens are cared for by low paid Maltese or immigrant workers. I'm not sure if you would even want to compete for those jobs - you might even be required to speak Maltese !

Does your husband speak foreign languages ! That would be a major asset !

Cheers
Ricky

No foreign languages I'm afraid!

His main strength is writing. He is currently redrafting his novel and will be looking for a publisher/agent at the end of the year and has had many short stories published. He would love to do this full time but obviously needs an income, so he isn't necessarily looking for a career as such, but if a good one came along then he wouldn't pass it up!

If he enjoys writing them maybe web-devopment could fit it as building web-site does require a load of writing as well, joined to Graphic design like photo-shop. There is always work and plenty part-time work if you are good. I know someone out here looking for a good web site builder to start a new business up. Try finding a good web-builder. Still nead a PHP software developer Ricky. Thanks. Jim

Hi Jim ,

we run our own website but if you train me on PHP (what is that?) I would love to work for you . I'm just editing Ilene's new book so my English should be ok !

Web site builder ! I know someone offering that too.

If your client is interested in a good writer and publisher please get back to us too !

Cheers
Ricky

Hmmm maybe a web design course is the better option, he is very interested in that and I think he would be good at it. Did someone say they knew of  a course in this area?  He has always wanted to learn photoshop too.

Being interested in something is one thing but getting a job is something else .

There are hundreds of Maltese kids doing these courses at MCAST and elsewhere and hoping for a job that usually does not show up.

All these jobs are being created because of Smart City Malta but the City does not exist and so the jobs are not needed either !

Malta is a low wage country competing with India and the Philipines on cheap jobs and seems to be loosing! It might all sound very negative but don't come to Malta and expect too much.

Cheers
Ricky

Hmmm, does sound negative but I am aware that there are a lot of cheap labour jobs in Malta but I am obviously looking to improve our prospects somehow.I would have thought a course was the way to go, but maybe not...

Don't understand me wrong !

Qualifications are essential for success!

I just don't think that a home course in accounting or IT will help you here in Malta where the market is asking for highly qualified and experienced professionals.

And I'm not the one to make statements that might put you on the wrong track and cause dissapointment and frustration.

If someone feels that I'm being too negative about the prospects then feel free to offer a different opinion.

Cheers
Ricky

I would say it was more realistic than negative.  Which is a better way to take on such a change.  It is unwise to make a move like this while viewing through rose tinted glasses.  I'm not saying that is what you are doing by the way, you are into some serious researching which is excellent.  I have just seen too many people expecting to land in the garden of eden only to be disappointed because things didn't live up to their expectations.

It is very good to be positive but just as wise to be aware.

xxxx

Difficult call, I am sure Ricky is Right although I would side more on experiance that qualifications, but getting past the first interview without references and qualifications might be hard work. I see loads of degree students and they are useless because they don't have the practicle experiance. I would go for someone who has been it done it got the t-shirt every time;
Personally I think Malta has huge potential, I am turning down work and business opportunities on a daily basis, the streets could be paved with gold. But I am into technology so maybe that's why I see it this way. To be fair I would rather work in a bar here than an office in UK.
Learn Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Expression and then study Flash, WMV, HLS build a WOW! site and your business card and you will get work here and plenty of it. Jim