Preparing yourself to enter the workforce in today’s tough job market can be an intimidating and challenging task. Fortunately, you don’t have to turn to your high school or college curriculum in order to learn new skills or boost your resume; there are plenty of great websites out there that allow you to learn online at your own pace and on your own schedule! Here are some of the best places to learn online for free and for low cost, whatever your interests may be.
Udemy
With Udemy, you can learn anything online for free. And, if you like what you’re learning, you can upgrade to one of its excellent paid classes! No matter your budget or interest, there’s something for everyone on Udemy. And with a large number of high-quality courses from different educators and experts in their fields, you’ll never run out of new things to learn. Best of all, none of Udemy’s courses require any prior knowledge. They start at square one and build on everything else as you go. This makes it easy to hop around within various subjects and explore topics that pique your curiosity—Udemy guarantees satisfaction within 30 days or you get all your money back.
Skillshare
The online learning platform is a great way to formalize your education. Unlike your standard MOOC, Skillshare’s teachers run their own classes and can offer you more one-on-one help. Also, in addition to basic courses, Skillshare offers online bootcamps on topics like programming, art and design. It’s not just for students: Some course providers might even hire you as an assistant if they see potential in your work. If you find yourself spending hours watching TED Talks or listening to podcasts while working out or cooking dinner, maybe it’s time to quit procrastinating and consider investing some of that extra downtime into furthering your career.
Coursera
With Coursera you can learn a variety of skills from computer programming, data science, music, entrepreneurship and much more. With over 2 million users and 12000 courses in 21 disciplines, there’s something for everyone. The platform is free but they do charge some fees (usually $200 per course) if you wish to receive an official certificate on completion. For beginners, their staff have organized special collections of classes that are suitable for those just starting out with no prior knowledge or experience. The company was founded by Andrew Ng who previously taught at Stanford University before creating a company called Knewton with fellow professor Daphne Koller which is used by many leading schools around the world.
CreativeLive
If you’re looking for a high-quality online course, there are few better than CreativeLive. With loads of professional training in all areas of design, business, technology and more, it’s a must-have site for any designer or aspiring entrepreneur. And with hundreds of free tutorials available—and plenty more that come at an affordable cost—it’s also a great resource for those just beginning their creative journey. An easy way to create your own learning website: Not only does DreamPress make building your own website easier than ever, it gives you a tool that empowers you with every step. Unlike similar platforms out there (looking at you Wix), DreamPress won’t leave you stuck if coding isn’t your strong suit; its simple drag-and-drop system is designed to enable even novices find their footing in no time.
