It goes without saying that the job market is more competitive than ever, and if you want to stand out, you need to bring something extra to the table. 

Is it frustrating? Yes.

Is it annoying? Absolutely. 

Is it necessary? Without a doubt. 

The days of simply filling out an application, going on one interview and landing a job offer are FAR AND FEW! Dare I say… those days are gone… maybe not forever… but definitely for now. 

And while all of this is going on… we’re also cautiously watching our pockets, because this economy is not to be trusted. 

So instead of being stuck in a catch 22 of needing to upskill without the funds to do so… I’v searched high and low to bring you FREE reputable options that you can take to start your upskilling journey. Especially if you are attempting to pivot industries and have a non traditional background. 

Whether you’re switching careers, re-entering the workforce, or just looking to level up your current skills, here are 11 free online courses that can help you gain in-demand skills that make you a more viable and unique candidate.

11 Free Courses To Help You
Upskill During Your Job Search

1. IBM Python for Data Science AI & Development

Best for: Anyone looking to pivot into software, programming and engineering. This is a beginner level course where you’ll learn Python - the most popular programming language for Data Science and Software Development.

Access it here

2. Generative AI For Beginners

Best for: Those interested in tech, tech roles, and content creation. Anyone looking to learn the fundamentals of AI- driven content this beginner friendly course is a great start. You will explore tools and models like GPT and DALL-E while gaining hands on experience building sample AI applications. 

Access it here

3. Udemy Content Marketing for B2B Enterprises:

Best for: People in content marketing who want to pivot into B2B marketing, this free course will help you learn the fundamentals of an end to end content marketing process for B2B businesses.  

Access it here

4. Udemy Web Design For Web Developers

Best For: If you are interested in becoming a web developer and designing / creating websites this course gives you the fundamentals you’ll need to learn things like: 

• How to make text look professionally designed
• How to correctly use the power of colors
• How to get and use amazing images, fonts and icons to make your website shine — all for FREE.
• How to create a layout using whitespace and visual hierarchy

Access it here

5. HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers (offered by IBM)

Best for: This is a beginner friendly course for those interested in web design and web development. You’ll learn how to Identify the developer tools and integrated development environments (IDEs) used by web developers. 

Access it here

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6. Deel HR Course: Global Hiring Fundamentals

Best for: If you’re looking to pivot into international workforce management, HR strategy, employment law knowledge or talent acquisition, this free course is perfect for you. This online course provides human resources professionals with foundational training in international HR management

Access it here

7. Harvard Data Science: Machine Learning

Best for: You can audit this course for free on Edx to learn the basics of machine learning and learn the following skills:

• How to perform cross-validation to avoid overtraining
• Several popular machine learning algorithms
• How to build a recommendation system
• What is regularization and why it is useful

Access it here

8. Great Learning Customer Relationship Management

Best for: Business owners, or people interested in going into customer success management. This course explores the significance of CRM, delves into its core processes, and helps you discover practical applications to build and nurture loyal customer bases.

Access it here

9. Hubspot Academy Content Marketing Certification Course: Grow Better With Content

Best for: Marketers, writers, and business owners. This course covers storytelling, content strategy, SEO, and blog writing to help you attract and engage your audience.

Access it here

10. Accenture Digital Skills: Social Media  

Best for: Marketers, Business Owners, aspiring social media managers and content creators. Learn how to use social media for business, from creating a social media presence to measuring success.

Access it here

11. Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-commerce

Best For: Anyone looking to enter digital marketing.
Covers key concepts like social media marketing, email campaigns, and Google Ads to help you build a strong marketing foundation.

Access it here 

Upskilling doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. It should fit into your budget and your schedule. 

It would behoove you (I’ve been dying to use behoove in writing for weeks so I really just had to) to take advantage of these free courses to sharpen your skills, boost your confidence, and make yourself a stronger job candidate.

Wishing you all the luck and sending all the positive vibes your way during your job search! And if you found this helpful, don’t forget to share with your friends, family and nosey neighbors. 

You can sign up for my 📧 free weekly career development newsletter. I send out tips, resources and opportunities to help you land your next high paying role. It also comes with access to my free remote job board! 

Until next time, 

M.