As the job market continues to get more and more competitive every year, continuously learning new skills is becoming all the more critical. Getting complacent in your school work or job can force you into a rut, whereas constantly broadening your horizons leads you to new opportunities all the time.
Take their advice and learn something new today. Check out these 25 free classes, broken down depending on the skills you’re hoping to acquire and organized by length of the class. Each one, from programming to people management, will give you highly sought-after skills that’ll make you a prized job applicant and employee.
If You Want to Sharpen Your Computer Programming Skills
1. Introduction to HTML: Learn How to Create a Simple Webpage, Skillshare
HTML is the foundation of webpages, and knowing how to create your own is a good skill to have.
Length: 8 lessons / 27 minutes
2. Programming and the Web for Beginners, Coursera
This introductory course will take you through several major programming languages (CSS, HTML and JavaScript) and show you what it means to program and build algorithms.
Length: 4 lessons / 12 hours
3. How to Create a Website in a Weekend, Cousera
If you want to go beyond creating a webpage and actually build a functioning website from scratch, there’s no need to panic; just take this course.
Length: 3 lessons / 15 hours
4. How to Use Git and GitHub, Udacity
Understanding how to use project tools like Git and how to upload your portfolio to collaborative sites like GitHub will make you look like you know what you’re talking about when it comes to product development and also allow you to collaborate with our people working on projects.
Length: 3 lessons / 18 hours
5. Building Mobile Experiences, edX
Mobile is huge for any business, so understanding what it means to build products for mobile is a critical skill regardless of field or job title.
Length: 4 courses / 40 hours
If You Want to Become a Design Whiz
6. Demystifying Beauty: Inspiration for Design, Skillshare
What does it mean to make something beautiful? Find out.
Length: 9 lessons / 36 minutes
7. Graphic Design 101, Digital Tutors
What is graphic design? This quick course gives you a complete overview so that you can figure out the basics.
Length: 7 lessons / 16 minutes
8. Adobe Photoshop CS6 Essential Tools, ALISON
It’s all about Photoshop nowadays, so understanding how to use the most popular tools can get you ahead in the office.
Length: 2 lessons / 2 hours
9. Digital Photography, ALISON
Whether it’s taking company headshots or photographing an event, your boss will thank you for having a camera on hand and understanding how to use it correctly.
Length: 13 lessons / 15 hours
10. Design and Make Infographics, Coursera
It might seem random, but you see infographics all the time and might not even realize it, but infographics serve all sorts of purposes at any job, including (but not limited to) critical visualization and presentation skills.
Length: 4 lessons / 16 hours
If You Want to Sharpen Your Communication Skills
11. Writing for Consistency: Finding Your Creative Voice, Skillshare
While this course is geared towards creative writing, the principles you will learn are still true for any written communication. Keeping your audience engaged is always a struggle, so learn how your voice can make sure people are reading along.
Length: 5 lessons / 20 minutes
12. Writing Professional Emails and Memos, Coursera
Fact: We could all write better emails.
Length: 3 lessons / 10 hours
13. Introduction to Public Speaking, Coursera
You’ve probably heard the statistic that many people are more afraid of public speaking than death. Take this course so you won’t be one of those people.
Length: 10 lessons / 18 hours
14. English for Journalists: Free Speech and Media Trends, edX
While the course title may lead you to believe that you need to be a journalist to take it, don’t be discouraged. The class itself goes over the many forms of writing that journalism comes in (from investigative reporting to satire), all of which can be useful to know.
Length: 5 lessons / 20 hours
15. Grammar and Punctuation, Coursera
Spending 20 hours talking about grammar and punctuation might seem like a lot, but you’d be surprised how often people are overlooked for jobs, promotions and opportunities simply because they haven’t mastered the English language.
Length: 4 lessons / 20 hours
If You Want to Get Better at Business
16. Introducing the Art of Negotiation, ALISON
No matter what field you’re in, knowing how to persuade people that you’re right is a valuable skill.
Length: 2 modules / 2 hours
17. Accounting, ALISON
Even if you aren’t technically working on the financial side of any business, there’s a 100% chance you’ll deal with money in some form or another at your job.
Length: 2 modules / 2 hours
18. Introduction to Statistics, Udacity
Get a leg up at work by knowing how to analyze, visualize and interpret data and forecast trends.
Length: 6 lessons / 10 hours
19. Microsoft Office 2010, ALISON
You’re probably thinking, “But I already know how to use Microsoft Word!” Not so fast. This course takes you through how to use the most well-known Microsoft Office tools (Word and PowerPoint) but also programs like Excel, Access and Outlook.
Length: 60 lessons / 20 hours
20. Google Analytics Academy
Here’s a sure bet: If you’re the person in the room who knows how to work every part Google Analytics, you’ll become your boss’ favorite employee.
Length: 5 lessons / 20 hours
If You Want to Be an Inspiring Leader
21. Introduction to Time Management, ALISON
How can you be a great leader to others if you don’t have your own schedule down?
Length: 2 lessons / 2 hours
22. Inclusive Leadership Training, edX
Learn what it means to be the best leader possible to a wide variety of people and to bring out the best in others.
Length: 3 lessons / 6 hours
23. Working in Teams, edX
What makes a team high-performing? What does the opposite? Get the techniques and tools you need to motivate others and run a well-rounded operation.
Length: 1 lesson / 8 hours
24. Career Brand Development and Self-Coaching, Coursera
Get a better sense of your career, your branding and where you’re going. The better you know yourself and how you operate, the more you can help others.
Length: 5 lessons / 15 hours
25. A Practical Guide to Managing People at Work, Coursera
Impress a future employer or your boss with your skills in people management.
Length: 6 lessons / 18 hours
Now that you’ve got the skills, are you ready to become the best employee ever?
