In the past, learning additional skills was limited to enrolling in expensive courses at universities or training schools. It was seen as a pricey endeavor that many people are content with their college degrees and in any new skills acquired throughout their work careers.
But we are in the 21st century and because of advancements in technology, knowledge and education are simply just a few clicks away. There are a lot of resources online that allow anyone to learn something new or enhance the skill sets they already possess.
Being proficient in a number of things is especially important for online workers as the industry grows and becomes more competitive. You would want to have an edge over the others, and showing potential clients that you have expertise in more than one industry will be an advantage.
This allows you to take on more projects, earn more income, and interact with a variety of clients, further enriching your career as an online worker!
Already convinced? Here are 3 websites that can kickstart your journey into learning new skills:
Coursera offers more than 2,000 courses from top universities and organizations from all over the world, with specialties spanning a variety of fields of study. There are courses that allow you to learn programming, data science and machine learning, which are some of the top in-demand skills today. You also get a certificate upon finishing a course!
The platform is complete with videos, notes and forums that allow you to have discussions with your classmates, peers and even the instructors. So if you want to relive your classroom learning experience, then Coursera is perfect for you.
Some courses are free to take, while others are priced starting $29. Lessons can be taken on your laptop or mobile devices.
Targeting professionals who want to add more skills under their belt, Udemy is another online learning platform, with videos as their medium of instruction. Instructors are professors and experts in their respective fields, and many are pretty well-known names!
Categories span a whole array of industries, and you can learn skills that you can utilize not just in your work! There are courses that let you learn a new language (if you love foreign media), improve on your photography, teach you how play musical instruments and even boost your self-confidence.
Prices vary per course, but the site regularly holds sales that make them available for as low as $10. You get a lifetime of access to your account, should you need to brush up on your knowledge years down the road.
Shaw Academy differentiates itself from most online education platforms in that they offer live lessons instead of pre-recorded videos. The webinars are usually an hour long and interactive, with the instructors answering questions from students who attend them right away. There are also webinar summaries, notes and bonus lessons provided in each course. To earn a certificate or diploma, you have to answer quizzes after each lesson and then pass a final exam after the whole course.
There are currently 10 categories to choose courses from, ranging from Marketing, Health and Nutrition, and even Beauty. Students can start with the basic diploma courses, and then move on to the advanced programs.
They offer a free 30-day trial for one course, for first-time users. Shaw Academy also partners with Metrodeal from time to time to offer discounted vouchers for certain courses.
These aren’t the only education platforms available online, but these have been used personally by some AwayTeam staff. Remember that learning new skills require an investment of time and money, but the benefits and return are worth every penny and minute spent.
No sales pitches, no games, and one-click unsubscribe.