Are you one of the professionals trying to predict what the future of the workforce may look like? Well, you are not alone; we are witnessing so many technological advancements these days that have forced us to think about what major transformations will emerge in the business world. Earlier, businesses felt that automation of processes would cause a major disruption in the labor market in the next four to five years. However, they couldn’t predict the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to an accelerated shift towards the future of work.
Today, digital is the new normal as the pandemic has fundamentally changed each aspect of a business. Many manual jobs are on the verge of extinction, and new jobs are emerging that require advanced digital skills. Startling developmental leaps are being made in technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, virtual reality, robotics, and so on. As these technologies are making automation more efficient and productive, it’s high time that we adapt to work alongside machines. Business leaders are starting to evolve new job functions and reskill employees to help them develop emerging digital skills.
Apart from the corporate training, professionals are seeking online training courses to learn about new technologies like AI, blockchain, machine learning, etc. However, many are skeptical about investing money into paid programs until they are familiar with the topic and are convinced with the course curriculum. This is where online free courses can help. They give you a fundamental knowledge of these technologies so that you can understand how they will benefit your career.
A lot of reliable training providers have come up to offer free online courses on a wide range of categories like software development, data science, project management, digital marketing, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and more. This article lists some of the preferred free courses that have helped professionals in their upskilling journey.
Big Data Hadoop and Spark Developer Program
Offered by – SkillUp by Simplilearn
Simplilearn is a leading certification training provider, and its SkillUp initiative is designed to help professionals learn the basics of today’s digital skills for free. One such course is Big Data Hadoop for beginners that guides you in concepts like Spark basics, Hadoop framework, real-time data processing, functional programming, and parallel processing. You will get 90 days of access to the course when you sign up for it, and the course material includes 11 hours of in-depth video lessons.
Python for Data Science
Offered by – Cognitive Class by IBM
Cognitive Class aims to address the skills shortage in emerging technologies such as AI, cloud computing, blockchain, and big data. This Python for Data Science course is beginner-friendly and helps you learn how to write Python scripts and perform hands-on data analysis using their Jupyter-based lab environment. Some of the topics covered in the course include Python variables, string operations, lists, tuples, conditional and branching, functions, class, objects, and loading data with Pandas. This self-paced course can be completed in 20 hours.
Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
Offered by – Google Digital Unlocked
When you open the Google Digital Unlocked platform, you will find courses related to three categories – digital marketing, data and tech, and career development. This fundamentals of digital marketing is an Interactive Advertising Bureau-accredited course that consists of 26 modules with a total length of 40 hours. The course includes lessons on important topics like building an online presence, how websites work, understanding customer behavior, and working of search engines. You can also achieve certification if you pass the final 40-question exam after completing the course.
Learn JavaScript
Offered by – Codecademy
This course is designed for professionals who wish to learn JavaScript – one of the most powerful and flexible programming languages of the web. With 30 hours of course material, you will learn programming fundamentals and basic object-oriented concepts using JavaScript syntax. JavaScript data types, built-in methods, conditional statements, function syntax, ES6 arrow functions, global and block-level scope, arrays, and data structures are the various topics covered in this program. There are no prerequisites related, and you can start learning at any time.
Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT)
Offered by – Curtin University on edX
Want to gain a basic understanding of IoT and requirements to design your own IoT solutions? If yes, then this Introduction to IoT course is for you. You will learn how to leverage your business and technical knowledge across IoT-related functions in the workplace. Further, you will know what ‘things’ make up the Internet of Things and how those components are connected, communicate, and add value to the data generated. If you spend 2 to 3 hours per week, you will be able to complete the course in 6 weeks.
To Conclude
With loads of options available over the internet, you should not delay your upskilling initiatives. The edtech industry is booming, and many professionals like you are leveraging online training platforms to learn something that can take their careers ahead. Courses are also available for industry-recognized certifications, and you can take them to prepare for such exams and pass them in a single try. All the training providers mentioned above are reliable and help you develop the skills that employers actually seek.
