Online (and mostly free) courses to boost your CV, portfolio

In “Guide to Growth: Free Courses, Free Knowledge”, we’ve provided you with seven platforms that offer free online courses. Some of them reward professional certifications upon completion. These certifications can not only elevate your CV and portfolio and improve your skills but also help you discover your passion for something new. Who knows? You might even thrive in these various fields.

With the kind of working and learning setup we’re all adapting to because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no doubt that online courses are on trend right now. Many individuals, both working professionals and students, are working or studying remotely. Despite staying in the comfort of their homes, most of them still want to be productive and efficient. Hence, they’re seizing the opportunity to take online courses to expand their knowledge, acquire new skills, and build their CV and portfolio. As the saying goes, there is always room for improvement. Worry not because most of these massive open online courses (MOOC) are completely accessible and free.

Though we’re now at the tail end of the global health crisis, it looks like online courses are also not going anywhere anytime soon. In this read, get to know institutions and platforms that offer both free and paid online courses that can make you and your future job applications stand out. 

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn is known to be one of your reliable companions when it comes to job-seeking. On this website, you can keep in touch with people you know from other social media platforms. You can also build your CV and portfolio, access job opportunities, and share your career-related experiences and skills. But did you know that under LinkedIn, there is a platform that allows you to take industry expert-led courses in fields such as software, business, and technology, and even in the creative industry? Looking for a course to develop your leadership and team management skills or a program to help you market your startup businesses? Linkedin Learning has it all for you. With over 16,000 online courses taught by real-world professionals, you surely wouldn’t want to miss out on LinkedIn Learning.

Adobe

Aside from offering applications and services to unleash your creative potential, you can also become a certified professional and create business impact through the help of Adobe. With four levels to choose from, you can receive an Experience Cloud certification. For a minimum of six up to 12 months, you can become an Adobe Qualified or Adobe Certified Professional. For a minimum of one up to three years, you can attain the Adobe Certified Expert status. Meanwhile, you can reach the Adobe Certified Master status in three to five years. Doesn’t sound bad, right? If you’re interested in learning more about business personalization, commerce, and workflow management, then Adobe is the place for you.

edX

With over 3,000 courses from top universities and organizations worldwide, edX is a massive open online course (MOOC) platform co-founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). edX provides self-paced, interactive, and instructor-led courses on a wide range of topics such as finance, engineering, data science, business, healthcare, and politics. The courses and programs on the platform are delivered by world-class instructors from Google, Amazon, and more. What are you waiting for? Take that free course or enroll in a full degree program on edX.

FutureLearn

With FutureLearn, you can study courses at your own pace, as well as earn CV-boosting certifications. The best part? With one subscription, you can get long-term access to thousands of courses taught by world-class universities like the University of Cambridge and University College London. Some of the courses they offer specialize in computer science, management, medicine, engineering, and language. FutureLearn offers both in-depth, specialized courses, and short ones, depending on your preference. You can also take online degrees and earn professional or academic accreditation on FutureLearn. 

 

Udacity

Job hunters all over the world, it’s time for you to learn about Udacity. This online learning platform offers a wide range of courses and Nanodegree programs in business and technology—both free and paid. Nanodegree programs typically comprise three to four single courses. They offer courses from beginner to advanced levels. Udacity’s introductory course offerings include coding, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence fundamentals. They also have more in-depth courses exploring programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and SQL. 

 

Skillshare

Do you have a knack for graphic design or video editing? Or perhaps you’re an aspiring photographer, animator, or illustrator? Skillshare will surely become your best friend. If you’re someone who’s leaning into the arts and creatives industry, you might want to try Skillshare. It’s a learning community where you can take online classes, create projects, watch video lessons, and even teach a class yourself! You can get started for free when you join with a Skillshare membership. When your free trial expires, you need to pay a subscription fee to access the classes. It’s definitely worth every penny though.

Taking these courses will not only allow you to open yourself to more opportunities but also help you flourish as an individual. A job-ready CV and portfolio are just a bonus. At the end of the day, expanding your knowledge and skills doesn’t stop at the classroom door (or your office desk).