Improving your resume can seem like a daunting task. Generally speaking the best ways to improve your resume is by gaining work experience or by furthering your education. Work experience has its limitations and higher education can be quite expensive.
A study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that only 27% of college graduates work in their field of study. I personally find this figure quite shocking and problematic. If 73% of college grads are entering jobs outside their field of study then they need to find ways to diversify themselves and become more marketable.
A masters degree can be extremely expensive, usually between $30k-$120k. According to CNBC the average college graduate has between $26,900 – $32,600 of college debt, so it’s quite understandable if they don’t wish to take on another huge chunk of debt. So the question is “how can one diversify themselves without breaking the bank?”.
edX
If you haven’t heard of edX than brace yourself because this might blow your mindđŸ¤¯. edX is an online platform that offers University levels courses from schools such as Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, Babson and Boston University. The best part is that all of these courses are offered for free!
edX offers introductory, intermediate, and advanced level courses in several different languages and in many different fields of study. If you take the course for free you receive complete access however you do not receive a certificate for completing the course. If the certificate is something that you want it typically costs between $50-$300 depending on the course.
In my personal opinion the certificate really isn’t necessary and you can still mention the completion of the course on your resume.
As someone who loves learning I’ve found edX to be outstanding. The courses are well designed and created by some of the best professors in the world. I recently completed the course Data Science: R Basics from Harvard University on edX and can honestly say it was well worth my time and has allowed me to improve my resume.
If you’re looking to further your education but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars then edX is perfect for you. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comment section below:)
LinkedIn Learning – AKA – Lynda
Another great way to improve your resume and LinkedIn profile is by earning certificates from LinkedIn Learning. The cost to access these courses is currently $19.99/ month, but you also receive a one month free trial. So, if you want to be really frugal then sign up and complete all the courses that interest you in one month and then cancel before getting charged.
LinkedIn Learning formerly known as Lynda is a great educational tool that can help you differentiate yourself. On LinkedIn learning you can choose from a vast amount of online courses and earn certificates that will be displayed directly on your LinkedIn profile. The picture below is an example of how the certificate will appear on your profile:
With potential employers viewing your profile these certificates are a great way to help you stand out from the crowd. Here the Top 20 LinkedIn Learning courses of 2019:
- Excel 2016 Essential Training
- Project Management Foundations
- Programming Foundations: Fundamentals
- Cert Prep: Project Management Professional (PMP)
- JavaScript Essential Training
- Python Essential Training
- Body Language for Leaders
- HTML Essential Training
- Strategic Thinking
- Online Marketing Foundations
- Learning Python
- Excel 2016: Advanced Formulas and Functions
- Time Management Fundamentals
- Communicating With Confidence
- Scrum: The Basics
- Git Essential Training
- Developing Executive Presence
- GDPR Compliance: Essential Training
- Amazon Web Services Essential Training
- Critical Thinking
As you can tell there is a wide range of courses for you to dive into and earn certificates. The time you take going through these courses can help separate you from the pack and increase your value to potential employers.
BONUS: Many employers actually offer LinkedIn Learning courses for free so be sure to check with HR before spending a dime:)
Closing Thoughts
Increasing your knowledge base is essential for your career growth and success. Taking on new and challenging roles at your company will help you gain experience so if you have the opportunity consider taking it. A masters degree can definitely be beneficial but the overall cost can really set you back financially. Free alternative education such as edX and LinkedIn learning provide quality information and can help you improve your resume.
Have you ever used edX or LinkedIn Learning? Let us know in the comment section đŸ‘‡
Looking for more wicked reads? Check these out đŸ‘‡
