TOOLS AND COURSES TO UP-SKILL YOURSELF WITH IN 2024
In a competitive job market globally, it helps to stand out from the crowd. One of the best ways to do this is through upskilling. Upskilling is essentially an opportunity to expand your capabilities and skillsets and learn something new to add to your portfolio. It is important when doing so, that these newly acquired skills add value – this can be from an educational standpoint by learning something complimentary, or by looking to further your career by adding a new skill to your professional scope of offering. It is fair to say that in 2024, some skills are in higher demand than others, and with that demand also comes the potential of a higher-income based on the skills and experience attached. These can also be super useful if you are looking to make it on your own as an entrepreneur too.
According to Forbes Magazine, some of the most prominent high-income skills at the moment include: Data analytics, digital marketing, project management, leadership, software programming and development and having language skills i.e. being proficient in one or more languages. That could not be truer in a country like South Africa where we boast 11 official languages, and in order to effectively communicate and conduct business, knowing two or more goes a very long way. One of the most important considerations when looking at the skills above is how transferable they are across different industries, jobs and fields. This allows you to also lean towards utilising these skills in an industry that fulfils more than just the pocket, which considering the number of hours spent at our jobs on a weekly basis, is surely the dream. Of course, different industries and roles will compensate for these skills differently.
Thankfully, there are a number of free and paid-for resources available that look to facilitate upskilling yourself in these areas. For data analytics, Google’s Analytics Academy is a good start, the online courses are applicable to novices as well as those who have a bit of experience in the area. LinkedIn Learning is another great way to pick and choose from a plethora of courses that include those outside of just the skills mentioned, and is facilitated by video walk-throughs. Udemy is an online learning and teaching platform that offers a vast number of free and paid for courses across IT and Software, Business, Design and Development. For those interested in social media and digital marketing, HubSpot Academy has courses on social site-specific skills like advertising on Instagram or LinkedIn for Business. If you are serious about Project Management, the Project Management Institute is widely known and recognised and offers courses and certifications in this space. Outside of these, you can make use of Duolingo for languages, Facebook Blueprint for Meta specific social media advertising, Google Ads Certification or Coursera. Ultimately, investing in yourself and your skillsets will have the longest term and best return on investment.