How to Use Online Courses to Fuel Your Career
Are you aiming for promotion but don’t feel that your skill set is quite up to scratch? Or perhaps you’ve reached a crossroads in your career and are looking to transition to a different role. Or maybe you have unexpected time on your hands and are wondering what to do with it? If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, it might be worth considering an online course. These can vary in length from a short bite-sized course to a full-blown certification or degree.
Online courses provide you with an excellent opportunity to brush up on existing skills and knowledge or invest your energy and enthusiasm in learning something new. You may also be able to extend your professional network by engaging in online forums and workshops with trainers and students. A well-chosen online course will enhance your skill-set and boost your confidence. And your proactive and independent approach to learning is sure to impress your current or prospective employer.
Here are a few places to start your search for the best provider/platform. We’ve focused on short courses in this piece, but many of the options listed offer longer-term study options too.
TAFE
As well as degrees, diplomas and certifications, TAFE offers a wealth of short courses (some as short as 2 hours in length) in areas such as Accounting & Finance, Business, Admin & Computer Skills and First Aid & Healthcare. Even better, some study can be part or fully subsidised by the NSW government.
Open Universities Australia
OUA has a range of short courses of anything up to six months in duration. These run in partnership with universities across Australia. You might be interested in ‘Insights and Trends in Data-Driven Marketing’ (which runs for 2.5 hours). Or maybe you’d prefer a 14-week course on the ‘Principles of Project Management’. Study options include micro-credentials and industry-accredited courses, so you’ll come away with something official to show for your efforts (as well as an enhanced skill-set).
MOOC
If you haven’t previously enrolled in a Massive Open Online Course, now could be the time to give one a go. Courses are free and flexible and offered in partnership with universities around the world, including Harvard, Curtin University and the Sorbonne. With over 3,000 courses to choose from, you’re certain to find something that suits your needs.
LinkedIn Learning offers short business, technology and creative courses for every step in your career. Many are paid but you can sign up for a free month of tuition if you have – or create – a LinkedIn account.
SEEK
The well-known jobs marketplace has nine free short courses available through GO1. If you’re looking to polish your soft skills, such as communication, critical thinking and energy management, go take a look. Note that you’ll need to create an online profile in order to access the content.
Do you have a go-to online training provider? If yes, we’d love to hear about your study experience with them.
