Upskilling or reskilling will be necessary to succeed and advance in today’s workforce. Some jobs are either obsolete or will become obsolete soon because of automation and other technological advances in our world. Maybe you want to change careers because you have new interests or you’re seeking work in an industry that has greater earning potential. You don’t always need an expensive four-year degree to learn new skills. There are inexpensive and free ways to upgrade your knowledge for a better job. Here are a few practical strategies to get you started.
Free Online Courses
One way to learn new skills is to take free online courses. Some of these courses lead to professional certifications you can add to your resume, making you more attractive to employers. The website HubSpot offers a free inbound marketing course, and you’ll receive certification in inbound marketing upon completing the course. Inbound marketing is a type of marketing where you attract potential customers by targeting their needs through tailored content.
Udemy has a free course called Web Design for Web Developers. This course includes:
- Lessons on how to make web copy look professional
- Ebook related to the course
- A list of 25 guidelines of proper web design for you to apply to your design projects
- How to create layouts using whitespace
- How to obtain and use high-quality images on websites
If you want to get started in data science, Coursera offers the IBM Data Science Professional Certification. Some of the courses you’ll take are:
- What is Data Science?
- Tools for Data Science
- Data Science Methodology
- Python for Data Science, AI, and Development
- Databases and SQL for Data Science with Python
Skillshare
Skillshare is a website where you can find tutorials from experts and everyday people who teach various skills in all specializations. I had a Skillshare membership a few years ago, and I watched videos about getting started in freelance writing, public speaking, best techniques for blogging, and search engine optimization. These classes don’t come with certifications, but if you apply what you learn, you’ll have new skills to add to your resume.
Read Books
Books offer incredible insight into various topics. For example, if you want to learn how to enter a career in sales and how to improve your techniques to close more deals with customers, check out some books from experienced sales leaders at the library. As you read these books, take notes and figure out how to apply what you learned in your new role as a salesperson. Supplement your reading with podcasts, online videos, and local seminars.
Enroll in Your Company’s Mentorship Program
If your employer offers a mentorship program, enroll in it. Mentors offer incredible advice about how to advance in your career. Ask them about their career journey and any lessons they learned along the way. Don’t get defensive when they give honest feedback. Your mentor isn’t being mean. He wants you to excel at your job, and his suggestions can help you improve. Ask him what are the most common mistakes people in your industry make and how to avoid them.
Community College
Community colleges are cheaper than four-year universities, and you’ll learn new skills in a fraction of the time it takes to get a bachelor’s degree. Some good careers you can get with an associate’s degree are:
- Physical therapist assistant
- Paralegals and legal assistants
- Respiratory therapists
- Dental hygienists
- Air traffic controllers
Get An Apprenticeship
This is another neat way to learn new skills when changing careers. Apprenticeships are paid vocational training programs where you work under an experienced employee. The first step is deciding which career you want to enter and why. After you do this, research your desired career to find out its earning potential, duties of the job, how to prepare for this career, and the projected outlook. The U.S. Department of Labor has an online registry of current apprenticeships in diverse industries.
Once you find the program you want, check the admissions requirements. Depending on the program, you may need to buy certain supplies to complete your training. The apprenticeship program has both hands-on training and classroom instruction. Once you complete the apprenticeship, you can take your state’s licensing exams and begin your new career.
YouTube
YouTube is a treasure chest full of information, and it’s not just fluff and entertainment videos. I’ve seen entire courses about topics ranging from data science to digital marketing from university professors, industry experts, and regular people who’ve worked in certain industries for years. Depending on the channel, the creators also have memberships you can join that give you access to seminars, ebooks, Q and A sessions, and one-on-one consulting.
Government Job Training Programs
Some local and state governments offer job training programs through grants to nonprofit organizations, colleges, and professional organizations. Visit the programs’ websites and apply. These programs are generally free, and you can apply these skills to your current job or use them in your new career.
Join a Professional Organization
Professional organizations sometimes offer online courses and certification exams at decent prices to their members. As a member, you’ll get access to the study materials and expertise you need to pass the exams and receive your certification. Professional organizations also play a vital role in networking with industry leaders to build solid relationships that might lead to a rewarding career.
Teach Yourself Graphic Design With Canva
I have a writing background, but I’m not a graphic designer. I wanted to create better graphics for my social media posts, so I started practicing on Canva. Soon, I got better at creating my posts, and now I love to do graphic design. If you aspire to be a graphic designer and are taking graphic design courses, supplement your education with practice projects on Canva. Create a portfolio of your designs and post links to them on your LinkedIn and other social media accounts.
Learning new skills doesn’t have to cost a fortune or put you in debt. With these practical strategies, you can upskill and make yourself more attractive to employers.