Future Millionaires, you already know the vibe! You ask and I deliver. I've been sharing more resources for people looking to transition into a high earners and one of the questions I am frequently asked is: do I have to join an expensive bootcamp or course?
I'm very much of the mind that you should try free resources to learn new tech skills FIRST and FOREMOST before you pay by the big bucks?
1- Transitioning into tech isn't always an easy process and it is a competitive market so you do want to arm yourself with hard and soft transferable skills
2- People who are transitioning from different backgrounds, may not know what is out there or what they're truly interested in/ like.
Therefore it is imperative to try the free resources and see if you actually enjoy this line of work you're preparing for.
3- I am nobody's fool baby! I don't like scams (I mean who does really) and with everyone dropping a course or coaching link left and right- I want to be able to SPOT the BS. By tackling free resources to learn new tech skills first, you'll be more equipped to ask the right questions before you pay thousands of dollars for a program, course or bootcamp.
Here's the free tea we all need!
All of the course material from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is offered for free online. You don't have to apply to MIT to gain access to the undergraduate and graduate courses offered. This means you'll gain access to courses and topics such as programming, software design, data mining, networking, artificial intelligence etc. This also means you get access to lecture notes, projects, assignments, instructor insights for free99.
There are several free tech learning programs offered by Amazon Web Services. One of the standouts is the AWS Educate that offers a self-paced cloud learning resource for 12 different career pathways. This means you'll be connected to over 2,400 institutions and 10,000 educators.
Another perk of this free resource is AWS Educate has a AWS Educate Job Board that brings companies and job seekers under one roof. There are approximately 500 free on-demand courses available through AWS Training &b Certification ... so run... don't walk!
edX has university-level courses developed by schools, nonprofit organizations and corporations. The content they offer re: computers covered programing, web design, and data analysis. This free resource to help you learn new tech schools is very similar to remote learning/ school (which we all have become very accustomed to given the times). This means that the classes on edX will contain short videos, tutorial videos, digital textbooks, interactive learning exercises, and online forums.
One thing to note: most programs are free, but official certification or college credit is not.
Obviously, Coursera is one of the most popular and well known resources for those trying to improve their current skills in tech or gain new skills. Coursera is NOT completely free, but they do over several free courses from universities and tech companies.
Several of the free courses cover topics like UX design, cryptography and machine learning.
Microsoft Learn is another fan favorite when it comes to online resources. Microsoft Learn offers courses at various levels based on your current standing skill set. Besides level based courses, Microsoft Learn also provides appropriate roles/ options for the skills you have / or are attempting to learn.
All online courses are free, however instructor-led programs do come with a fee.
The Grow with Google resource provides free tools and training to ensure accessibility. This resource is hosted on Coursera and is 100% free. The topics/ content and certifications you can look to achieve through Grow with Google are IT support, Data analytics, Project management (hint hint for those looking to pivot into PM), UX design and android development.
If you need more hands on help, NPower is the free resource you're going to want to look into. They offer a free 23-week program called "Tech Fundamentals" that provides you with mentorship from senior- level IT professionals.
There are also workshops specifically aimed at preparing people from underserved communities for employment !
I really like NPower because they are setting you up for success in roles such as desktop analyst, business analysts, and junior project managers (another project management support system y'all!)
The qualifications do take some people out of the running. You must be between the ages of 18-26 and have a high school diploma or equivalent. NPower is also open to military veterans and their spouses.
For those seeking more traditional/ bootcamp style learning Per Scholas provides free training to students and then places successful graduates into in entry- to mid-level roles.
There may be remote options available now due to the state of the world, however Per Scholas traditionally has been an in-person bootcamp across the country.
Some of the course categories included are cloud, cybersecurity, information management and software engineering.
This free resource to help you learn tech skills is zoned in on coding- which of course is a huge skill to have in the tech industry. Codeacademy has free classes in multiple programming and markup languages, including C++, HTML, JavaScript, Python, SQL...etc.
Each course has hands-on experience and real-time feedback from peers.
You knew this one was coming ! You can't mention courses without meeting udemy in the same breath. Udemy does charge for MOST of their content (well why is it on the list girl.. I know hold on)
They do offer Free Essential Tech Skills, which is a limited selection of classes that include WordPress, animation, Amazon Web Services...etc.
For more IT and Design options you will have a varying price range/ scale between $20-$200 dollars.
I am no huge fan of Linkedin, but we can NOT deny that it is a necessary part of the job hunt in this day and age. Whatever they lack in social media functionality, they surely make up for with Linkedin Learning.
Linkedin Learning offers courses around popular tech topics. Some of the specific topics that are available are programing fundamentals, CSS training, web development, network basics, data science foundations...etc.
What I like about Linkedin -- especially with my current personal experiences in tech-- popular software such as Tableau, WordPress and Excel are going to be a must, and there are courses on those as well.
What you should know: LinkedIn offers a free month trial to give you some time to play around and get free coursework ... but it is NOT all 100 % free.
Harvard Online Learning offers free online courses in game dev, AI and web programming. You also get the basics in popular languages such as: Python and JavaScript.
You don't have to be on anyone's clock with Harvard Online learning as the courses are self-paced. You do however have to commit about six to nine hours per week (most of the courses take 5-13 weeks to complete)
The courses are taught by Harvard University faculty/ staff and you do earn a verified certificate upon completion.
Pluralsight offers training courses on demand for popular tech skills
What you should know: New users get a free month this month (April)
The courses being offered focus on software dev, information and cyber security, machine learning and AI.
If you do want to continue after your free month trial, your membership would be $299 for the year or a premium membership for $449 per year.
Udacity is another resource that isn't always free but the free month offered is worth it to give it a shot and see what you like/ what you don't like before you have to pay any money. Udacity offers tech programs that help you train your critical skills.
The topics covered in their courses range from machine learning, artificial intelligence, to software development and digital marketing. They also have product management as a part of their suite of courses.
What you should know: The normal cost post free monthly trial for a monthly subscription is $399.
Though General Assembly is a for-profit education organization, they do offer a free course aimed at teaching students the basics of web development.
The Dash program centers around teaching students how to use HTML, CSS and JavaScript. The online digital program is 100% free so there is no trial to worry about. You can also go at your own pace.
If you like hands on tutorials and projects this is a course that I do highly recommend especially if you're interested in web design.
If you're in the market for IT courses, Alison.com is a great option for free game on software tools, IT management, data science, databases and more. You get the choice to choose from short certificate courses or opt for “diploma” courses, which are thoroughly more comprehensive.
What you should know: The courses are free to take, but if you complete a certificate or diploma course, you’ll have to pay a fee to get it printed (same goes for a digital certificate as well).
Their premium account is $9 per month, which gives you access to more of their features such as discounts on certificate fees and access to resume building features.
As a former teacher, I can't say enough good things about Khan Academy. Their goal has always been to educate students online for free.
The lessons are taught through YouTube videos, with additional exercises online for educations and students. It is not particularly the most comprehensive and direct tech education you may be looking for, but it is a great easy start for people looking to learn new skills in tech to advance your career or pivot.
Can't talk about courses, or skills without mentioning Skillshare of course. Their platform is huge for those seeking to gain more experience in UI and UX design. This platform is also great for those seeking to learn or improve their web development skills.
Their website offers free courses in UI and UX design — and also offers courses in business analytics, which is a useful skill for those who also seek to work with data. The virtual classes include video lessons, project overviews, and templates to work with.
In addition to their free resources to learn new tech skills, you can also sign up for their tiered subscription services from $15 a month to $99 a year.
Another Google mention, because they really are attempting to make accessible tech resources a thing... and I'm here for it! Google is offering courses on Android, web, firebase, and entrepreneurship all for FREE.
These courses aim to teach you how to build your first Android app, and become a certified Android Android Developer, Mobile Web Specialist or Google Certified Professional.
This is definitely at the top of my recommendation list (I know it's #19... but stay with me here! )
Last but not least I have Free Code Camp. Another free resource that teaches you to code and provides you with the experience needed by working on projects for non-profits.
As you progress you will earn verified certificates. This takes about 400 hours (per certificate) to earn. But not rush, Free Code Camp operates on a self paced model, so you can fit the learning in at a schedule that is convenient to you.
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