In a time when many of us have incurred a lifetime of student debt, it can often feel like we are trapped on one career train without the financial freedom to get offand board another. This is where accessible and affordable education such as online courses have become our saving grace. By taking up an online course you can acquire new skills, pad out your resume, and give yourself more career options.
If you’re considering taking up an online course, but aren’t sure it’s right for you, read about the amazing benefits below:
They are cheap (or free)
The cost of going to school or college to complete a course and getting a qualification is remarkably more expensive than enrolling in an online course. Not to mention, if you complete a course at home you’ll save on all the added expenses – travel and accommodation, for example.
Some programs like edX and Coursera offer free courses taught and created by top university professors, so – whether you’re just starting your career or you’re looking for a career change – you can afford to try out different ones to see if they suit you.
You can fine tune your studies
The problem with physical colleges is that they offer a limited set of courses which could limit your options.The beauty of online courses, however, is that you can pick one that will grant you a specific qualification that can fast-track you on a lucrative career path: web development design, coding, etc.
For example, you may have taken a Psychology Major in college, but perhaps now you want to learn a skill that will allow you to make more money, and quickly. An option for you could be to become a general contractor – all you’d need to do is enroll in an online course where you can participate with online webinars which would prepare you for the exam, and you could achieve your license in North Carolina and create a lucrative business in no time.
You can acquire valuable skills
It’s no secret that completing a course and gaining a qualification, in any field, is valuable and will make you more employable. But, better yet, if you’ve been through college, got a degree, entered the workforce and then found that you perhaps should sharpen your skillset in some areas to progress your career, an online course is a fantastic resource that you should utilize.
They are accessible and flexible
Online courses are ideal because of their flexibility. Depending on your schedule, you can cater the course to fit you – full-time or part-time, fitting it in around your current job and existing obligations.
Plus, if you live a far commute away from a school or college, online courses mean you can study from the comfort of your own home (which also means you can save on gas and money!).
The challenge
Although there are great benefits of enrolling in online courses, there are, of course, challenges that come with it. For instance, if you’re studying alongside maintaining a full-time job, it may be difficult to find the motivation and energy to do both – switching your after-work down-time will take a lot of willpower.
What’s more, if you have a family to raise, it could be tricky to find time to fit in hours for your course and ensure you complete deadlines, as well as being available for webinars and online seminars.
To overcome these challenges, be sure to lay out your time meticulously (not forgetting to schedule in down-time) and make your motivations for completing the course clear in your mind – whether it be the desire to learn a new skill to set you apart from your colleagues, or whether you want to change career completely and earn more money in the future.
The possibilities of online courses are endless, so investigate your options today!
Article Submitted By Community Writer
