8 Free Online Courses That Help You With Your Career Development
In today's fast-paced and changing job market, it is more important than ever to keep learning and developing new skills. Fortunately, the rise of online learning has made it easier to access high-quality courses from the comfort of your own home. Whether you are looking to upskill in your current job, change careers, or explore a new area of interest, there is a wealth of online courses available to help you achieve your goals.
Although online learning platforms like Udemy, Future Learn and Coursera provide excellent curriculums for people who want to further enhance their skills and knowledge, not all courses are affordable for everyone. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the best free online courses for career development, covering a range of topics from digital marketing to project management.
1. "Learning How to Learn" - offered by Coursera: This course teaches you how to learn more effectively, covering topics such as memory techniques, how to tackle procrastination and effective study strategies. These skills will help you perform better interviews and allow you to look for jobs more effectively.
2. "Digital Marketing" - offered by Google Digital Garage: This course teaches you the fundamentals of digital marketing, including how to create a digital marketing strategy, how to use social media for marketing, and how to measure your digital marketing efforts. If you are considering starting a career in digital marketing or are curious about this subject, this course can be a good starting point.
3. "Introduction to Python" - offered by Udacity: Python is a popular programming language used in many industries. This 25-hour long course teaches the basics of Python programming, including variables, data types, and control structures that can give a boost to your CV. Once you have completed this course, you can add Python to your CV as an IT skill that you possess.
4. "Excel Skills for Business" - offered by Goldman Sachs on Forage: Microsoft Excel is a crucial tool for many jobs. This course not only teaches the basics of excel but also helps you understand P&L and cash flow, which are essential parts of financial analysis. Another benefit of this programme is that you'll develop deep insights into what it is actually like to work at Goldman Sachs. Another "Excel Skills for Business" course is available on Coursera, which focuses more on actual excel formatting and functions. However, this course is only free for 7 days.
5. "Diploma in Project Management" - offered by HSC: Project management is a valuable skill for many careers. This course covers the different aspects of project management, including how to plan and execute a project, manage project risks, and communicate effectively with stakeholders. In addition, by completing this free course, you can earn CPD points to enhance your profile.
6. "Social Media Marketing" - offered by HubSpot Academy: Social media marketing is becoming more important than ever with the impact of the internet and social media. This course covers the fundamentals of social media marketing, including creating a social media strategy, measuring success, and using social media to grow a business. If you are a business owner or interested in a career in marketing, you may find this course helpful.
7. "Introduction to Data Analysis Using Excel" - offered by edX: Data analysis is an increasingly important skill in many industries, and this course covers the basics of data analysis using Microsoft Excel, including how to use formulas and functions, create charts and graphs, and analyse data. After completing the Excel for Business Course provided by Goldman Sachs, you can further improve your excel and data analysis skills through learning this course.
8. "Diploma in Caregiving" - offered by Alison: If you are considering a career as a Caregiver, understanding the practical, legal and ethical issues you face while providing care to the sick and elderly will help you stand out during interviews as well as during your work. This course helps you develop the skills required to become an effective caregiver, which involves assisting loved ones and clients with meals, personal care, transportation and other physical and emotional needs.
Although there are plenty of resources and courses available online, and you can learn different subjects and modules, many employers do not recognise certificates earned through those online channels. It is important to always put what you have learned into practice so you can confidently complete tasks required during your interview or work.
This article has covered some free courses that may help you with your career. However, if you really want to perform well during your interview, we recommend you check out "Job Interview Pro" provided by Learn & Pass. Job Interview Pro is an interactive online e-learning course that prepares you for challenging interviews. Throughout the course, you will learn different interview techniques at your own pace and understand why certain questions are asked during an interview and how you should answer them. Although this is a paid course, you can get 30% off using the code "UKVLP".
