The world is changing fast. Really fast. Consider this scenario: You have a top degree from a top university. You are also one of the top earners at your workplace. Then you see a new wave of employees, some even freshers, just waltz in and earn top money. What just happened?
Organisations now need skilled employees who can manage large data sets, or program in the latest language. An employee with these new skills will earn more. Companies are more than willing to reward them for specialised skill sets.
As an employee, you have two choices now. You can either be comfortable with what you earn and where you are professionally. Or you can upgrade your skills with just a click or a tap.
What Are Online Courses?
According to Teachmint, online courses are a combination of video recordings and live lectures with course reading and tests. They are generally conducted using a virtual portal through which students gather reading materials, interact with teachers and classmates, view grades, and monitor progress.
Online courses are similar to traditional courses, but with one distinction. They occur almost exclusively in the virtual space. Taking an online course to boost your skills is now considered part of the new normal. A driving force behind this innovation is the digital transformation of our lives, and the arrival of novel technologies in the Ed-tech sector. Any certified teaching professional can now conduct a class from their home for a local, national, or even global audience.
Top Online Courses
Online courses are becoming a popular choice to upgrade one’s professional skills. Once a course is completed, the earning potential receives a generous boost. Here are the top 6 online courses that help you boost your salary:
1. Data science
Data is the new oil. Organisations today, especially startups, have a deluge of data. They need someone to analyses it, order it, and make sense of it. That person could be you. Data science did not exist until a few years ago. Now it has become one of the top paying professions. The reason being that people who have the requisite skills are hard to come by. Those who are able to explain the data command enviable salaries. The basic requirement is that you have a background in science or math. Once you completed an online course, you boost your earnings as a data scientist. The website, EdX.org, offers a MicroMasters in the subject.
2. Online Marketing
We live in a digital world. Every agency – from multinationals to boutique stores – needs to market online to their target demographic. You may be selling pottery, or selling a book of poems, you need to reach out to your customers online. The digital space requires you to be efficient with Google ads, search engines, and the various social media platforms. If you have these skills, you can earn top money. The best part is that there are online marketing courses available for free. Google hosts mini classes on digital marketing in the Google Digital Garage.
3. SCALA
Any software that handles large data is usually programmed with SCALA. The programming language has become a popular tool with developers. And with newbies who wish to dip their feet in the programming pond. Here is an interesting fact regarding SCALA’s pay potential. According to Money Magazine, if you know the programming language, you could boost your salary by about 20 percent. This is a conservative, ball park figure. SCALA has risen as one of the top language on the Java platform. Almost every app we use runs on Java. This highlights SCALA’s utility and payment potential. You can learn the programming for free at EdX.org. There is also a paid course on Coursera.
4. Project Management
Project Management’s payment potential is best summed by the job site, The Ladders. According to the website, understanding project management is a fast track to earning 20 percent more money than the average employee. There is, however, a catch. Project Management is not the easiest discipline to learn or master. It takes time and some hard work before you can feel comfortable with the subject. But all the effort is worth in the end. A Micro Masters in the subject is available at EdX.org. You can also get the official Project Manager Certificate with a 6-month specialisation class on Coursera.
5. Foreign Language
We are talking about a real, spoken language and not the programming version. This may sound like a left field option. Here is an interesting piece of information: There are studies that have found people make better decisions when think in a language which is not their native tongue. Learning a new language has immense benefits, including becoming smarter and richer. Experts point out learning German can give you the highest pay bump. What matters is that you give your grey cells a new, exciting activity like learning a new language. A popular, free tool is Duolingo. You can master any language with fun exercises.
6. Conflict Management
According to online learning site Udemy, the top soft skill employers are seeking is called “conflict management.” Here is a revealing fact: Companies spent $359 billion in paid hours in 2008 on mitigating conflict. The reality of a modern workplace is workers who could have strong disagreements with one another. Managing this conflict in a health way is key to productivity. And a happy workplace. Conflict management has become a skill that is certain to boost your pay. It could also boost your profile in the workplace as a peacemaker. Anyone can learn how to manage conflicts with a bit of effort and a bit of practice. There are various online courses available where you can master this skill. One of the most popular option is Udemy.
Online Courses To Boost Your Salary
Since the global pandemic, online courses have risen in popularity. You can easily upgrade your professional skill and boost your pay with a quick and simple online course.