Extra Credit: Classes and Certificates to Boost Your Resume
With the spring semester coming to a close, there’s a lot on all of our minds. However, it is important to note that it is not so much about the grade you receive in a class, but rather, the continued growth and development you gain from learning. Keep reading to find more ways than college classes to boost your resume (and your mind!).
LinkedIn Learning is always a great place to start with their variety of courses in several different categories. There is a one month free trial and then a paid monthly subscription, but this service can be convenient for finding direct information on skills your personal recruiters are looking for in their applicants. Their main three skill categories include business, creative, and technology, all of which are extremely relevant and useful areas to gain skills from for both your personal life and your professional life.
For business skills, LinkedIn Learning includes courses and certifications in Microsoft applications such as “Excel: Lookup Functions in Depth” and “Power BI Essential Training.” For creative skills, courses such as “User Experience (UX) for Non-Designers,” and “Facilities Management: Social Distancing and PPE” are offered. Lastly, for technology skills, there are a variety of courses, like “DevOps Foundation,” “Python: Essential Training,” and “SQL Essential Training.”
While some of these courses, training, and certifications may not seem like they target your chosen major or area of study, it is always useful to develop a basic understanding of a plethora of subjects in our ever-evolving world.
2. Coursera
Coursera is similar to LinkedIn Learning, but it provides opportunities for skill development in areas that are rising in popularity or highly sought after and deepens understanding in topics to help in career changes or promotions. Most courses are paid, but provide you with a certification of completion and are usually taught by high-level companies and professionals from Google, IBM, and major universities, such as the UVA Darden School Foundation and the University of Michigan.
Coursera is not limited to the three categories like LinkedIn Learning, and there are so many different skills to pick and choose from. This provides users with the ability to continually grow, flourish, and learn from the convenience of their computer.
Google provides an Analytics Academy with four levels: Google Analytics for Beginners, Advanced Google Analytics, Google Analytics for Power Users, and Getting Started with Google Analytics 360. In addition, they also offer Introduction to Data Studio and Google Tag Manager Fundamentals. This course is helpful in understanding the basics behind the measurement tools that Google uses to grow your business, especially with regards to data collection and analysis.
There are also Analytics Mini-Courses on YouTube that Google offers, and they help with getting started in the areas of Firebase, Google Tag Manager, Google Optimize, and other Analytics playlists. Taking these courses provides advantages for everyone, but especially for small business owners, as it helps with learning the mechanics of building your analytics foundation.
These three sites and sources are great starting places when it comes to adding something on to your resume that supports your skill set apart from the classes you take at university. There are several other great places on the Internet, and in-person, if none of these fit your interests. However, dipping your toes into different areas can be something that helps you spark up a conversation, as well as stand out at work.
By Ananya Kanuparthy
