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How to Upgrade Your Career Skills for FREE
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Are you having difficulty finding a job despite your search commitment? If yes, you're not alone. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 8.2 million jobs available in the United States amid an unemployment rate of 4.3% (bls.gov). Whether educated or uneducated, highly skilled or minimally skilled, job security is an obstacle that many job applicants are experiencing. You might even feel like searching for a job is similar to watching the stock market.
When it comes to job hunting, applying to jobs that you're accustomed to performing can limit your chances for advancement. I'm not referring to applying to any job because I do understand that you have to do what you need to do in order to survive. However, on the other hand, if you're applying to jobs that offer very little advancement or an increase in salary, it's time to rethink your career strategy.
Expand Your Career Portfolio
Today, many jobs require advanced skills because of rapid changing technology. Regardless of the industry, the more technically skilled you are, the more likely you will be able to secure your ideal position. You may have acquired several degrees, and you're discovering that your degrees are just one area that matches the qualifications of a job. This discovery reveals the importance of staying current with business technical and procedural trends.
If you're a financial investor, you know the importance of diversifying your portfolio. This strategy can also be applied to your career portfolio especially if you're discovering there's a lot of competitiveness in the area your applying to. Instead of remaining within the area or level of expertise you possess, consider a different career field. This is not to negate your willingness to continue to work in your current field, but you can acquire higher level skill training with certifications. This is a faster route particularly if your budget will not permit expensive college courses or bootcamps.
If you're not familiar with websites like Coursera, Udemy or Skillshare, you should take some time to review these sites to browse their low-cost courses. These sites have a small monthly fee or one-time fee depending on the course, but can become expensive if you don't have the money. Udemy and Coursera periodically offers discounts for their courses and membership fees.
If you don't have the money to purchase a course or sustain a monthly fee, Alison.com is a website you can sign up now to start upgrading your career skills for FREE. Over 5,000 courses are available in industries such as information technology, health, language, business, management, sales and marketing, engineering, construction, teaching, and other viable areas. Here is an example list of several in-demand courses available through Alison.com:
Artificial Intelligence in Human Resources Management
ChatGPT for Programmers
Comp TIA + Advanced
Diploma in Graphic Design
Diploma in Hospitality Management
Diploma in Information Technology Support
Diploma in Nursing and Patient Care
Diploma in Quality Management
Landsurveying and Architecture
Medical Imaging and Radiology
Web Accessibility Development
and many more!
Alison.com allows you to sign up now and start learning any courses you're interested in. You can begin a combination of courses and work at your own pace. If you see a job you're interested in, you can review the required skills and browse Alison's course library to see if there's a course for a specific skill in the job description.
Create and Commit to a Study Schedule
If you see a job you really want, but you're discouraged by the number of skill requirements, you must realize that although it may take a while to complete the courses, your learning journey won't last forever. If you want that high-paying job with attractive benefits, you must commit yourself to your goals.
It's easy to desire things that come easy, but it takes commitment to acquire the things that will last a long time. It's time to invest in yourself. If one job doesn't work out, you need to possess a range of skills that can land you another job in different career field.
If you're unemployed, you can create a schedule that's similar to this:
Start your morning early
Conduct a job search
Submit applications
Study skill courses
Conduct a job search again at the end of the day
Treat your job search and course study process like a full-time job. Since this is not a university or college where you would be given a structured syllabus and have deadlines to meet, you must develop a higher level of discipline because you will not have a professor to report to.
If you want the type of lifestyle that allows you to work from home, reduce expenses, and spend more time with your family, you should create a plan that prepares you to be the ideal candidate an employer is looking for. On the other hand, if you're interested in operating your own remote business, you can develop skills that remote clients are seeking.
Although courses available on Alison.com are self-paced, the quicker you complete the courses and obtain certificates or diplomas, the faster you will be eligible to be hired for a new job or client project.
For more information about how Alison can help you start a new career, visit here.
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