How to Use Online Learning Platforms to Upskill for Your Career

The future of accelerating your career is online. Whether you’ve already found your career of choice or want to explore something new, online learning platforms make it easier than ever to grow.

Explore some of the reasons why online learning platforms are a great investment for your career, plus some of the platforms offering them!

By tapping into platforms like Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, edX, and Skillshare, you can access world-class education without leaving your home at your own pace and often at a fraction of the cost of traditional courses.

For practical tips on making your e-learning experience more engaging and effective, check out this helpful guide for making online classes more engaging.  

Growing Importance of Online Learning in Career Development

In today’s era, there is great importance of online learning in career development. You can do your work by sitting at home or anywhere at any time, or build your career easily. According to recent research, 65% of jobs now require digital skills and employers who value self learning are adept.

Here are key reasons why online learning platforms to upskill for your career are essential:

• Accessibility
• Affordability
• Variety
• Industry relevance

Easy Upskilling Opportunities

Upskilling is for everyone. Not only does it help employees add value to their skill set and stay up to date with the needs of their industry, but it also helps the organizations they work for stay competitive. Everybody wins!
With online learning programs, it’s easier than ever to upskill. There are courses for practically any use case, from learning about project management to mastering new accounting software or honing your design skills. Since many online courses are either free or cost only a nominal fee, it’s a great way to invest more in your professional development without breaking the bank.

Flexible Learning Options

Taking night classes or other in-person courses can be time-consuming and impossible for some people who already have commitments outside of work. However, online learning offers way more flexibility.

Many courses can be taken part-time at your own pace. This makes them a better option for people who can only squeeze in 30 minutes after the kids are in bed but still want to learn. While some have deadlines, this is still a more flexible option for people who already have jam-packed schedules.

More Fulfillment

Most people want to find work they can enjoy. Online courses can also help your job be more fulfilling. By taking on courses that are related to the skills you need for your chosen career, you can get more from your job and enjoy more satisfaction in your work.

Soft Skill Training Opportunities

Some of the most valuable skills you can bring to the workplace don’t have an official certification attached to them.

Online soft skills training can help you develop your career in ways you might have never otherwise considered. For example, some platforms teach effective negotiation and communication skills or help you understand the different personality types you may encounter at work.

Free online soft skills training courses are also available on multiple types of platforms. They can help you become a more effective member of your team, all at the great price of absolutely nothing!

Opportunities for Better Pay

Who doesn’t want more money? Bringing more skills to the workplace means you’ll be a more valuable asset to your company. In turn, this means you’ll have chances to be paid more in your role.
Employers and managers value upskilling through online courses because it allows you to tackle projects they might not have otherwise been able to complete. This is a great thing to bring into your reviews and job interviews so you can potentially negotiate pay raises for yourself.

Resources for Career Training Online

Opportunities for career training are closer than you think! These are some of the best online training platforms for honing skills of all types and enriching your capabilities and career, and at SkillUp, we work with every single one of them because we’ve vetted their legitimacy.

Coursera

Coursera is an online learning platform with a massive catalog of course options for both professional development and personal enrichment. With classes on everything from basic music theory to IT support, it’s one of the largest platforms in the world.

Per Scholas

Specializing in IT and tech careers, Per Scholas provides tuition-free IT courses and job training offered through SkillUp. They can use these courses to gain certifications that help them in their current career, or use them to shift careers into the steadily growing fields of technology.

Apprenti

Apprenti is an online platform that connects people to apprenticeship programs in IT, cybersecurity, and technology. Their programs pay you to learn the ropes of these in-demand jobs and help you gain real-time experience over the course of a few weeks. That way, you’ll be able to find a job easily while still having ways to make ends meet in the meantime.

Udemy

Udemy is a learning platform with tens of thousands of available courses in everything from foreign languages to Adobe CC. It allows you to purchase one-off courses for yourself at varying price points.

Community Colleges

Many community colleges and technical colleges offer online career training programs, even for students who don’t live near their campuses. These online courses offer the same level of accreditation as their university-level counterparts, but at a more affordable price.
Some of the community and technical colleges we work with at SkillUp include College of the Redwoods, Central New Mexico Community College, and countless others.

For more insights on how to choose the right platform and make the most of your learning journey, explore the detailed guide from Harvard Business Review. Their expert articles on professional growth and skill development offer actionable strategies to help you succeed in today’s competitive job market.

Conclusion

In today’s fast-changing world, online learning is not optional, but it’s a necessity for anyone aiming for long-term success. Whether you’re building technical expertise, improving soft skills, or exploring new fields, e-learning gives you the flexibility, affordability, and accessibility you need to grow. By choosing the right professional or platform, you can open the door to better opportunities.