Taking an online course can be a great way to help you advance your career – or even change careers altogether. But with so much choice available, it’s not easy to decide which course is right for you. Here are some top tips to help you make a decision.
Think about what you want to achieve
Do you want a course where you can learn new skills to help you switch careers, or one where you will hone your current skillset? A course that teaches a particular industry specialism, or a broader degree? The former, says Quentin McAndrew, academic strategist at Coursera, a global online learning platform, is “extremely focused on job-relevant outcomes for today. It’s very specific.” A university degree, on the other hand, is a “bigger time commitment and more transformative”. Think about exactly where you want to be headed – and which course or degree programme you can take to get there.
Study the syllabus
A key step to find out if a course is a good fit for you is to study the syllabus closely. What modules are taught? What skills will you learn? Who are the teachers? What career or careers can you prepare for? How is each module examined? Once you know all the details, you’ll be able to make a good decision, whether the course is for you or not.
Look at reviews of courses
Most online providers include learner reviews of each course. These can be a helpful indication of the course’s strengths and weaknesses – learners tend to be “pretty honest about their experience”, says McAndrew. Some providers will also include individual learner stories, in which learners explain how the course has helped them achieve their career goals.
Sample the content
Perhaps you’re considering a career in data analytics but you don’t know whether you’ll ultimately be fulfilled doing that kind of work. You could start by taking a two-hour course on how to create a pivot table in Excel, for instance, followed by a 20-hour course on problem-solving in Excel, before you commit to a bigger chunk of learning.
Try as many courses as possible
If you don’t know whether you’re ready to make a commitment to your chosen subject, try a free course first. Most online learning providers offer some free courses alongside the paid courses, giving you the opportunity both to find out whether you enjoy learning online and whether a particular subject is right for you. Many free courses are aimed at beginners, and are often very short, so they can act as a gentle introduction. There is a surprisingly wide range of subjects to choose from – many from top universities.
Check out online resources
There are resources available online to help you find the learning content you need to help you reach your career goals. Coursera’s Find your New Career, for instance, highlights Professional Certificates that offer flexible, online training designed to get you job-ready for high-growth fields. Look for the industry certificates in the field you’re interested in, for example, the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, or the IBM Data Science Professional Certificate. “They’re built for learners who don’t have a broad background in the field to be able to transition their careers,” says McAndrew. They’re a good way to gauge whether you’ll enjoy a new career.
Start with non-degree content
If you want to study with a university partner, but are not ready to make the jump, start with non-degree content from that university. That will give you a good sense of how it feels to learn online, says McAndrew. If you’re interested in a degree in data science from the University of Michigan, for example, start by taking its Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) course. In some universities, that initial course can count as a credit towards the subsequent degree.
Take it seriously
You only reap the rewards of study if you’re committed, says McAndrew, so it’s a good idea to develop your learning technique – a useful resource for this is Learning How to Learn, one of the most popular free courses on Coursera. “If you’re really looking for transformation, set aside a little bit of time each day to do some work. The trick is building that pattern of repetition and making learning a habit so that you’re making progress.” Even if the course wasn’t quite right for you, you’ll have gained something valuable – whether it’s a certificate or a new skill. “No matter what course you choose, you’ll have an outcome from it,” says McAndrew.
Whether you’re at the beginning of your career journey or looking to enhance your skillset to make a mid-career transition, you can choose from a range of learning experiences on Coursera to find the programmes that are right for you.
