5 Online Resources to Help You Upskill for Your Next Career Move

COVID-19 is forcing people in their millions to reassess their professional futures, as businesses, and even whole sectors, are (temporarily) lacking the consumer demand to warrant pre-crisis levels of employment. Becoming unemployed is never good news, however, it is an opportunity for exploring new avenues, developing your skill set and broadening your professional horizons.

Finding your next step starts with knowing what skills you will need. Listed below is a selection of learning resources with a variety of potential ways to expand your knowledge and get ready for the next challenge.

Google Digital Garage

The world was already moving much of its infrastructure online, but COVID-19 has expedited that significantly. Google Digital Garage is a great way to get familiar with the in-demand skills of the future, covering a range of digital marketing disciplines all delivered in the characteristically simple yet effective Google style. You will also earn certifications for free when you complete courses!

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning has thousands of courses on anything from e-commerce and coding through to sales and creative writing. Though LinkedIn Learning does carry a subscription, you can get a month free when you sign up – ample time to use the platform for identifying some skills and trying out some courses.

Coursera

Founded in 2011, Coursera is ranked by many as one of the best online learning platforms available. The site offers users the chance to learn directly from some of the worlds’ top universities, gain accreditation and even secure student loans. The real kicker is that while you will have to pay to gain the formal qualification, many of the courses are 100% free to audit, with full access to lecture notes, exercises and video content.

Udemy

Udemy is another platform with too many courses to count in all manner of subjects. Functionally, it combines aspects of the sites already mentioned. It offers both free and paid courses (though the site has a frequent sale where courses are reduced by up to 90%) and the opportunity to gain certifications for your CV. The courses are typically created by individuals or businesses rather than by institutions as with Coursera.

TED Talks

You’re not going to receive a direct accreditation from TED, but with topics ranging from Business to Personal Growth and Innovation, the perspective of these thought leaders could be invaluable in helping you to disrupt your ordinary thought processes and think creatively about what’s next. Apart from all that, it’s important to build in some breaks during all this personal development. With TED, those breaks stay productive and keep you focussed.

Summary

Anxiety and some nervousness are completely natural when there is fear over lack of employment. But by utilising some of these courses, you can channel that nervous energy into a productive activity, build some confidence and start looking forwards, rather than back.

If you’re ready to find the next step in your career, get in touch with us to discuss your options. We are here to support you through every stage of your career journey.