COVID-19 isn’t just a health crisis. With a large swath of the world in isolation and lockdown, the global economy has taken a nosedive, and it’s not pretty.
In the U.S., unemployment is believed to have reached 15%, higher than the Great Recession.
In the UK, Australia, and many other countries, the picture looks the same. However, no economic downturn lasts forever, and for the millions of people who find themselves unemployed or on furlough from their job, now is the time to start preparing for re-employment in a post-COVID-19 world.
Here’s a roundup of some of the best paid education courses on the web to boost post-COVID-19 career prospects (plus a few that help you tap into your creative side because that’s important too!).
For more on how the online paid education industry is on the rise:
True to its name, One Month offers 30-day courses that will help kickstart the skills needed for a career in programming and coding. Learn Python, HTML and CSS, JavaScript, WordPress, responsive design, and much more. New courses start every Monday, so students can join whenever it is convenient.
Pricing: $299/year
Skillcrush is much more than an online coding course. Included in the enrollment price are over 65 guides and 30 master classes, downloadable cheat sheets, career guidance, and weekly job listings. Check out the “Break Into Tech” course package for beginners in programming and design.
Pricing: $1,599/year or $149 x 12 monthly payments
Stacksocial gets students on the fast track to becoming a graphic designer. This course bundle covers all the fundamentals of graphic design for print and the web, covering the key software programs, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Adobe Creative Cloud, and WordPress. It’s a great beginner’s program for budding graphic designers, with five high quality courses that include 152 lessons at a low price.
Pricing: $29
Via Coursera, learn how to design and build websites with HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript in five courses, including Advanced Responsive Design. Students completing the Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development and Coding Specialization course leave with a developed portfolio of professional quality examples to help land that first web design job.
Pricing: $49/month for Coursera subscription
Dreaming of a career in art, gaming, or visual effects? Check out the online courses offered by CGMaster Academy. There are over 100 to choose from, from beginner art courses and design fundamentals to FX for games and motion graphics, industry software, and visual storytelling. The course runs in four annual terms. Check the website for upcoming registration dates.
Pricing: $699
For more on how to build an effective landing page:
The six-week Content Marketing Strategy Certificate Program is designed for marketers, small business owners, and freelancers who want to take their career up a notch with practical content marketing strategy skills. The course comprises six online classes, including a mini content marketing hackathon.
Pricing: $1,295
Dive into the world of pay-per-click (PPC) and Google Ads certification with this popular course at Udemy, updated with the latest Google AdWords methodologies for 2020. The course includes 25.5 hours of on-demand video that teaches students how to create effective, profitable Google ad campaigns. At a very low cost, this course packs a real career punch.
Pricing:$12.99
Jumpstart a career as a freelance or in-house copywriter with copywriting training programs at American Writers & Artists Institute (AWAI). The online courses are written by the industry’s top experts, and cover fundamentals for beginners through to specialty courses for established writers who want to develop their niche.
Pricing: From $497
In just 4.5 hours, learn how to use social media ad platforms more effectively at Hootsuite Academy. Designed for intermediate level students, the popular Advanced Social Advertising Training course will ramp up your real-world social media marketing skills to help reach business goals at every stage of the customer journey.
Pricing: $249
For helpful social media tips to get you started:
Designed for beginners, this six-week online course covers all the fundamentals of digital marketing strategy development and execution, delivered by leading London-based communications experts. Freelancers, entrepreneurs, new graduates, and anyone working in the marketing and PR fields will benefit from the comprehensive digital marketing skill set offered in this course.
Pricing: $350.71
Cultivate best-of-class management skills with the online Management Essentials course. The eight-week program covers management process, decision making, change management, and much more, with case studies and peer feedback sessions for a world-class Harvard learning experience at home.
Pricing: $1,600
Enroll in this online self-paced course from the experts at the Project Management Institute, and learn the language of project management. An entry-level course, Introduction to Project Management, outlines the principles of effective project management, with pre- and post-assessments to monitor learning progress.
Pricing: $300 (member)/ $350 (non-member)
Earn certification as a digital strategist and learn how to innovate new business strategies and models in a digital world. Digital Strategies for Business: Leading the Next Generation Enterprise is an intensive online course that includes 13 modules, 120 video lectures, 12 assignments, and live online teaching sessions from one of the world’s leading business schools.
Pricing: $1,500 (Free preview and flexible financing available)
For additional reading on how to take your business digital-first:
The world-famous Dale Carnegie center for business and personal development also offers live online training, which is great news. There are 76 online courses to choose from, including presentation skills and confidence, developing leadership potential, critical thinking, and communication skills. The popular Sales Training course, How to Cold Call and Build New Customers, is a powerful three-hour workshop to take the fear out of sales and start succeeding.
Pricing: From $349
For meditators at all levels, Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training: A Self-Guided 2-Part Program, is a great way to deepen meditation skills and learn new approaches. The second part of this online course gives students the skills to become a meditation teacher and share the practice of mindfulness with others.
Pricing: $229
Amateur and aspiring artists can enjoy over 100 video courses in all aspects of art training from professional artists all over the world. Plus, the Pencil Kings access pass includes membership to the exclusive community of like-minded creative people. It’s a great way to get in touch with artistic passion and creativity.
Pricing: $19.95/month or $199/year
In the age of the coronavirus, people are looking for healthy, sustainable, and low-cost lifestyle choices. Dig into the details and build a better life with the Sustainable Living Certificate Course, touching on everything from composting to sustainable fertilizers to no-dig gardens and much more.
Pricing: $27
One of the (few) upsides of isolating at home during COVID-19 is the opportunity for self-advancement. With thousands of online courses and paid education options available on every subject under the sun, many people are learning new skills or starting a hobby they have always wanted to try but never had time for.
Yet others are focusing on their future careers, investing in online paid education that will make them even more hirable when the economy rebounds. Whether it’s learning a programming language, improving management skills, or brushing up on the latest marketing strategies, now is the perfect opportunity to broaden one’s professional horizons and maximize employment potential in the new world after COVID-19.
Now that you've explored paid education options, check out these financial resources to help you through uncertain times.
Last updated on September 20th, 2023.