We can all expect the summer of 2020 to be different than originally planned. How can we make the most of it, considering physical distancing and the struggling economy? One way to be productive and work toward building marketable skills is by devoting a few hours a week taking a free, online class. edX and Coursera are two online learning platforms that collaborate with leading universities and companies. Some of the classes are even self-paced, which is perfect for summer.
There are so many courses. How do you choose? Knowing what interests you and what employers are seeking in their employees is a good way to start. Certainly, soft skills can help put you on top of the hiring list, but hard skills can improve your employment opportunities as well. According to TopResume, recruiters and hiring managers will be looking for candidates with hard skills in the following areas:
1. Artificial intelligence
2. Cloud computing
3. Social and digital media
Some of these may seem too technical and might not initially interest you. In fact, all of these courses can be applied in multiple ways. Still, if these areas don’t interest you, consider going beyond the basics of Excel and understand how you can use it for analyzing and visualizing data. This is a skill highly valued by employers. How about learning enough about the fundamentals of computer programming so you can speak tech and learn a bit of coding? Other valuable, career-building skills to consider are graphic design, public speaking and business writing.
Whatever course(s) you take, it signals motivation and increases your value to future employers. Plus, you might have fun learning in the process of gaining new skills and knowledge!
