Top 5 Learning Platforms to Upskill Yourself Online
As Australia begins to head back into COVID-19 hibernation, now is the perfect time to take a look at your CV and see how well it matches the jobs you’re looking for – both in terms of experience and skills.
With access to online learning resources like the ones we’ve included here, it’s never been easier to brush up on some existing skills or learn new ones to help you take your career to the next level. Review our shortlist below to get started.
Popular with hobbyists and professionals, Coursera lets you study a range of different content areas for free. The courses are developed and delivered by renowned universities and organisations such as Stanford University and Google, so there is an extra prestige compared with other platforms that work with individual tutors or professors.
It also has a small number of Professional Certificates accrediting students as SAS Base Programmers or in Google IT Support. Other top courses cover public health, global languages and positive psychology. Most are free, but you’re also offered the option of paying for an official credential at the end.
If you’re looking for an on-demand platform that offers every imaginable course, Udemy is for you. There are more than 100,000 courses taught in 65 languages, covering everything from Java Programming to Food Photography. Focus on improving your soft skills by choosing a Productivity and Time Management class, or brush up on more technical skills like Adobe Photoshop or a Graphic Design Bootcamp.
The classes are all individually priced, and there are often discounts and short-term sales available. You can check out the reviews on any particular class before you sign up. Most are based on video lectures designed by the instructor, but you should also expect some quizzes and assignments along the way to test your comprehension of the materials.
LinkedIn Learning is a subscription-based service, rather than on-demand, so is best for students looking for a longer-term commitment.
You can try out the platform for one month for free and after that point, you’ll be charged a monthly fee, with discounts of up to 33% if you pay for an annual subscription upfront. The benefit of LinkedIn Learning is that you get full access to all courses so can really specialise in your area of expertise and hone specific skills.
Another platform linked to global universities, edX was founded by Harvard and MIT and has courses covering topics like computer science, international languages and engineering. Their Professional Certificates cost upwards of USD$300 and can take anywhere from three to 15 months to complete if you study 1-3 hours per week. They also offer courses that are often part of a Professional Certificate but are free unless you want a verified certificate once completed.
Their flagship program is called MicroMasters – a graduate-level course designed to enhance careers that can also be a launching pad to a full Masters programme. Topics include Digital Leadership, Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Energy.
Run by the UK’s Open University, FutureLearn works with universities as well as cultural institutions including the British Library and British Museum. There are free short courses covering topics ranging from screenwriting to women’s rights and suffrage. You can also enrol in a “microcredential,” which allows you to focus on an area of specialisation linked to your professional career, with topics including change management and data analytics.
Summary
Our team at Metier Recruitment understand what a challenging year 2020 and 2021 has been so far. But, while you are upskilling online, we can be looking to match you to your dream new role. Get in touch with one of our specialist consultants today, and together we can plan your next career move.