Job Ready Skills |
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Below is a listing of online resources that provide free job skills training opportunities. Most classes are fully online, free, and many are available on a flexible schedule.
The El Valle Community Center sometimes offers classes in employment skills and job ready training. To learn more about these opportunities, contact the El Valle Community Center. Small Business Administration Trainings The Small Business Administration provides free online courses in a range of essential business skills and professional development topics. The courses are divided into different focus areas, such as planning, launching, managing, and expanding a business and include important the topics of financing, social media marketing and more. Each class includes a narrated slide presentation, a full transcript, and handouts, delivered in easy to mange 30 minute chunks of time. While some courses are dense, and may require reviewing more than once, all are practical and focused. Highly recommended. Coursera Coursera aggregates offerings from a wide range of schools, colleges, and universities. While it continues to offer online degrees through these institutions, all classes are individually available and can be taken for free. The main career fields include business, information technology, and health, with cross-over courses in areas such as medical technology or healthcare management, with only occasional classes in oriented towards the trades, such as a "Construction Management." Numerous certificates are offered but these can be costly. Sample of course selections in a few of the course categories:
EdX Like Courser, the EdX site aggregates courses from a variety of schools. Overall, it is slightly more academic in its focus, but its classes in the categories of Business and Management, Economics and Finance, Education and Teacher Training, and Health and Safety have wide applicability in many professional and work environments. They offer certificates in technology, leadership, management, and computer science areas, many of which are priced reasonably. Sample of course selections in a few of the course categories: Alison Courses on the Alison site are directed towards professionals and learners outside of an academic setting. Their courses are free and cover a wide range of fields, including many in practical professional and employment areas, such as operations, skilled trades, and nursing. Classes are well developed, modularized, and easy to follow. For those who think online classes only address technical or esoteric subjects, Alison will prove you wrong! Sample of course selections in a few of the course categories: LinkedIn Learning LinkedIn Learning is the learning and professional development platform attached to the professional networking platform LinkedIn. They focus on skill development that is relevant, timely, and can be readily applied on the job. The rename of classes they offer is more limited (business, technology, and creative are the only categories of courses), but the content is targeted, accessible, and bridges the divide between theory and application with useful pointers, tips, and encouragement. Please note, however, that the courses on LInkedIn Learning are not free. You get one free month, but will pay $20/month thereafter if you purchase annual access or $30/month if you pay on a month-by-month basis. Sample of course selections in a few of the course categories: |