There is something about the month of September...warmer clothes, cooler nights, leaves changing and students returning to school. While many parents and students grapple with the challenges of online and in-class learning options, it is inevitable that students of all ages will learn more about both subject material and how to navigate distance education platforms. Yet back to school is not just a term for children, youth, and young adults. Newcomers, career changers, job seekers, and the under-employed can take advantage of numerous online learning experiences as well, some of which may even be free.

Barack Obama summarizes it well..."In a global economy, where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity, it is a prerequisite."

We know that lifelong learners are appealing to recruiters. The ability to change with the times, absorb new information, contribute in meaningful ways, and grow with the company makes for a desirable candidate. However, returning to school on a full-time basis is not always practical based on family commitments and financial demands. Part-time online options provide the opportunity to learn while balancing employment and personal obligations.

There are numerous online and certification options that, in a short period of time, can increase your knowledge, skills, and sell-ability to a prospective employer. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, we have put together a few sites that may help you spruce up your resume or LinkedIn profile without breaking the bank.

1. Lynda. com - Lynda courses provide online learning opportunities in the areas of 3D Animation, Audio, and Music, Business, CAD, Design, Developer, IT, Marketing, Photography and Video. If you are a local resident, you can apply for a free Peterborough Public Library card online. After being sent your library card number and PIN, go to  https://www.ptbolibrary.ca/, select "Browse", click "Learning and Languages" and scroll down to the Lynda.com link to access the course selection. Whether you are looking to learn more about character animation, GarageBand, Excel, AutoCAD, web design, game design, Moodle, Linux, social media marketing, video editing, or WordPress to name a few, there is a wealth of information and over 200 courses and 140.000 video tutorials to choose from. Lynda.com (from LinkedIn) can support your desire to upgrade or enhance your existing skills and knowledge from the privacy and safety of your own home.
2. coursera.org - Coursera provides access to courses, certificates, and degrees online from various universities worldwide. Courses are available in Arts and Humanities, Business, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Technology, Health, Math and Logic, Personal Development, Physical Science and Engineering, Social Sciences, and Language Learning. There are results shown for over 1,600 free courses. Check to see if you can get the entire course for free or just a portion, or if there is a charge for a certificate.
3. alison.com - Alison offers over 2,000 self-paced, certificate, and diploma courses in the areas of IT, Language, Science, Health, Humanities, Business, Math, Marketing, and Lifestyle. The average time for course completion is two to three hours, providing you with a solid introduction to the topic.
4. contactnorth.ca - Contact North provides access to a variety of e-learning options including over 33,000 online courses and over 2,200 online certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and graduate programs. Reach out to Contact North directly for information on free training options as well.
5.  https://www.udemy.com/courses/free/ - Udemy cites over 600 free courses online in subjects ranging from Development, Business, Finance, and Accounting, IT & Software, Office Productivity, Personal Development, Design, Marketing, Lifestyle, Photography, Health and Fitness, Music, Teaching & Academics. 
6. https://www.yes.on.ca/online-workshops/ - Skills to Succeed is powered by Accenture and offered by the Youth Employment Service. Some of the online job-seeking workshops include resume writing, building interview and communication skills, tips for effective job search, time management skills, and becoming an entrepreneur.
7. Occupational Health and Safety Training Initiative. To support the safe reopening of businesses and to help Ontario’s workers safely return to work, the Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development is providing access to free online occupational health and safety training. Up to 100,000 job seekers can now take free online workplace health and safety training through Employment Ontario. There are 10 courses on offer, which include topics such as infection control, conducting health and safety incident investigations, ladder safety, slips, trips and falls prevention, and preventing workplace violence and harassment. Job seekers should contact their EPC counsellor or Resource staff and, if eligible, clients will be provided with instructions and unique registration code(s) to access the needed courses.

Education is beneficial to everyone. Taking the time to refresh your skills and update your resume may not only boost your confidence when applying for your next job but also increase your odds of being interviewed.

To learn more about employment scams, informational interviews and cold calls, mastering the art of online job search, self-care and interviews, check out our free webinars at https://www.epcjobs.ca/fbworkshops