The Top Online Learning Platforms To Kickstart Your Career in 2021

Whether you want to gain new marketable talents or just want to learn something new for pleasure, online learning platforms are a terrific and convenient way to learn on your own time. These platforms, as an alternative to online universities, tend to be a little more flexible and may even offer more unique or uncommon classes that you wouldn’t find at a typical college, but prospective students should weigh their options to determine which is best for them.Here are just a few of our top picks for the greatest online learning platforms, ranging from Masterclass to Coursera, so you can get started right away.

My top selections for the greatest online course platforms to use this year are listed below.

Coursera

Coursera has created a name for itself in recent years by offering top-tier university courses to online students. More than 50 million students have accessed courses from universities such as Duke, Stanford, and Yale thanks to this California-based elearning network.I have to add that their iOS and Android mobile app is one of the best I’ve used. It actually makes it quite simple for students to follow courses while on the go — it even allows free courses to be viewed offline.

What are the advantages of Coursera:

  1. Course quality: As you might expect from universities like Stanford, Duke, and Yale, Coursera’s courses are among the best.
  2. Coursera offers a wide range of courses, including individual courses, specializations, and higher education degrees.
  3. Because Coursera collaborates with these colleges, you’ll be able to receive authentic certifications for your courses.
  4. Free courses: You can enroll in practically any Coursera class for free if you don’t plan on earning a completion certificate.

EDX

With over 34 million students having registered in one of their 3,000+ courses, edX has a large user base. The premise is similar to Coursera’s in that it makes top-tier university courses available to the general public.You can also enroll in a variety of different course kinds. MicroBachelors, MicroMasters, Professional Certificates, and Master’s Degrees, for example, are available. You’ll find the one that’s right for you.

What are the benefits of edX:

  1. Official certifications: As edX works with colleges such as Harvard, Berkeley, MIT, and Boston University, you’ll be able to obtain authorized certificates.
  2. Courses are available for free: Most courses will be available for free (assuming you aren’t seeking for a certificate).
  3. Many courses can be started at any time that is convenient for you. In addition, you can enroll in a variety of courses.
  4. Course quality: As you may expect, the quality of edX courses is extremely good because they are created by premier universities.

Udemy

It’s likely that you’ve heard of Udemy, an online educational platform. With over 50 million students and over 155,000 courses, Udemy is perhaps the most popular elearning platform.

Udemy is a global marketplace for online courses where you can discover classes on almost any subject from a variety of instructors (even in languages like Spanish, German, French or Chinese).

What are the advantages of Udemy:

  1. Choice: Udemy has the most courses, so you’ll be able to locate
  2. Free courses: Udemy has a large number of free courses. Make sure to check them out if you want to learn for free.
  3. Return policy: A liberal 30-day refund policy is in place. Return the course if you are dissatisfied with it.

Skillshare

This online education platform, which originated in New York, has over 5 million students and provides a wide choice of courses for $99 a year ($15 if you pay monthly). Skillshare began as an elearning platform for creatives, but it has since expanded to include a wider range of topics (e.g. IT, business, language-learning, etc.).

Skillshare’s advantages are as follows:

  1. Free courses: Skillshare offers 10% of its courses for free, and there are currently over 2,000 programs accessible. Please note that free members do not have access to offline viewing.
  2. Choice: With over 25,000 courses, there aren’t many choices (aside from Udemy) that can match Skillshare’s selection.
  3. Price: A Skillshare premium subscription costs $99 per year (if paid in advance) or $15 per month (if paid monthly) – less than Spotify.
  4. Course quality: Because anybody can publish, course quality ranges from one to the next. Some lessons, however, are created by Skillshare and renowned firms such as Mailchimp or Google, and are usually of high quality.

MasterClass

Although MasterClass provides more than simply creative classes, its most popular are those that feature A-list actors, writers, painters, singers, and others as instructors.

And they aren’t just one-time “talk” sessions: Like a regular course, most courses feature roughly 20 lessons, allowing you to delve deeply into your chosen topic. If you want to understand more about these often-mysterious professions, there’s no better way than to hear from those who have previously succeeded.

These video-based courses combine straightforward lectures, workbooks, and class discussions with practical guidance and demonstrations.

You can take as many sessions as you wish within a monthly membership because MasterClass is a subscription-based platform. The cost of unrestricted access is around $15 per month, but students must sign up for a year at a time.

Conclusion

The most important thing is to make the most of your educational opportunities. This is the rule to follow when deciding which platform to utilize; select one that will help you get the most out of it.

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Latest Information Technology Professions in demand

It is a fact that Information Technology and other computer fields have a limitless career in the future. These are one of the increasingly growing fields along with new development in technologies. As IT professionals, we have a lot of options to go for after graduation. IT is really a vast field. But not many are aware of the subfields or the variety of jobs that it provides. If anyone asks the job options in IT and computers then many of the people’s answers will web developer, software engineer, programmer. But IT and computers are a lot more than these basic fields. Nowadays companies such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft recruit employees that know more than just coding and design. They want people to know different latest technologies in this field. In this blog, you can find some extensive career opportunities as an IT professional. 

Computer Information Systems vs. Information Technology | Elmhurst  University

Here are 5 career opportunities to make your career in Information Technology

Do you want to be a regular programmer or web developer? Don’t you want to distinguish yourself from others? If yes, then here are some of the jobs that you can choose to have a successful career.

The influence of digital advertising and transparency | Marketing Edge  Magazine

Data Science

As a successful company, your approach to problem solving should be data driven. Some of the large companies in the world look forward to data science. Companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook use data science to create algorithms. This eventually leads to customer satisfaction. If the competitors are using this technology while you are not then they will surpass you. As a result, you will have to adapt this technology to survive in the market. All these reasons, together contribute to the limitless nature of this field. 

AI and ML

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have always been in limelight for a very long time. Nowadays, AI is used in all sectors of life. This field is not only limited to Information technology or Computer science. It has a high demand in other sectors as well such as hospitality, teaching, etc. We can also use this in understanding the customer behavior patterns that help us understand developmental needs. 

Robotics

Robotics has been in the public eye for a very long time. It is used for reducing human efforts. Tasks such as automatic process management use robotics technology. Japan has a restaurant where instead of humans there are robots for waitressing. As an IT professional, you have a lot of career opportunities that include jobs like analyst, solution architect, developer, and many more. 

VR and AR

Virtual reality and Augmented reality are some other trending technologies to try your hands on. VR immerses the user in an environment while AR enhances it. This field initially was useful in the gaming industry but at present, it is also used for military purposes.

Cyber Security 

Cybersecurity has become a necessity in today’s world. The development in technology also leads to privacy and security risks as well. This field is also an undying technology. Advancements in technologies will demand advanced security systems for safety and privacy. Thus, it is not a bad idea to choose cybersecurity as your career. 

To conclude, there are a lot of career opportunities for you in the field of Information Technology. Jobs such as web developers, programmers have become common now. So as to distinguish yourself from others and enhance and explore more into the technology it is better to choose some exceptional careers. This will help you survive in the market and provide a variety of options to go in. 

“Information technology and business are becoming inextricably interwoven. I don’t think anybody can talk meaningfully about one without the talking about the other.”

Bill Gates

Top 10 highest paying Computer science jobs

Is it accurate to say that you are thinking about seeking after a degree in computer engineering? Or on the other hand maybe you’re now enlisted and need to know how fulfilling Computer Science occupations are. You’ve shown up to the right area! We are charmed by this issue also, which is the reason we directed exploration and recognized the most lucrative Computer Science occupations. We’ll likewise go over a couple of section level jobs just as a portion of the significant advantages and downsides of a profession in Computer engineering.

We got our work done and found an awesome information from PayScale that shows the most lucrative Computer Science occupations in the United States. We’ve included both the normal yearly compensation and the mid-vocation pay, which is the amount you’ll make following ten years at work.

Data scientist

The bosses of the Data Science space are Data Scientists. They are generally engaged with extricating esteem from a lot of information. Information researchers gather data from interior sources as well as from an assortment of outer sources (online media, sites, sites, and so forth) They clean, arrange, and measure this information to examine it further and discover covered up designs. This empowers them to grasp how the current information may be utilized to address the association’s present business troubles.

Data Scientists and Data Analysts collaborate together to go deep into the data in order to uncover significant insights that may be used to solve real-world business problems. In initiatives dealing with enormous volumes of sophisticated corporate data, Data Scientists frequently take the lead (much like a Project Manager). Data Scientists are typically well-versed in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Statistics.

Data analytics

Data analysts execute data munging, processing, and visualization tasks using their technical expertise. Another important component of their everyday work is to optimize and ensure the quality and accuracy of the data. They not only build algorithms, but they also alter them in order to extract data from enormous databases without corrupting the data.

Application Developer

The world has expanded at a breakneck speed. People are more likely to use hand-held portable computers, such as laptops, tablets, smartwatches, and smartphones, to do their day-to-day chores than they are to utilize desktop computers. As a result, the demand for computer workers with application development expertise has risen. High pay packages, access to cutting-edge technology, job satisfaction, and a reputable profile are just a few of the benefits of working as an app developer.

Professional in Cybersecurity

The digital age altered our interactions, as well as the types of threats we confront. Hackers with advanced skills access computer systems in order to steal personal information, install viruses, or even breach security measures, making them vulnerable to larger attacks.This threat affects corporations, non-profits, small enterprises, and even entire countries. Hiring information security specialists or cybersecurity consultants is one option for businesses and governments to combat this threat.These computer scientists have been specially trained to deal with the hazards that hackers and Internet spies pose to the world’s information systems.

Game developer

People play games on Facebook, on their tablets and phones, on their gaming consoles, and on their PCs thanks to game developers. People who want to work as game developers in the video game industry should have a strong background in computer science and programming languages. It’s also beneficial for students to learn about the visual components of video game development.If you want to work in the video game industry, you need make a demo or a portfolio to offer to potential employers. Working as a game tester or launching a video game blog are two ways that some video game professionals get their start.

Software Developer

A software developer converts his or her computer science skills into a job as a software engineer. Software developers produce the programs and apps that we use to run our computers and mobile devices. They gain a broad understanding of computer languages, allowing them to write the code that runs websites, video games, software programs, and other applications.

Architect for Computer Networks

Professionals who design, develop, implement, and maintain networking and data transmission systems are known as computer network architects. Local area networks, wide area networks, extranets, and intranets are all examples of this. Additionally, they are in charge of both software (such as network drivers) and hardware upgrades (like adapters and routers). Computer Network Architects typically collaborate with the company’s CTO (Chief Technology Officer) to forecast where new networks are most needed.

Developer (Full Stack)

Programming and coding are the primary responsibilities of Full Stack Developers. They design and build websites according to client specifications and requests while sticking to conventional HTML/CSS techniques. They must also keep track of the necessary software documentation. Full Stack Developers must be skilled in both graphic design and computer programming, as this profession focuses on both user experience and functionality.

Administrator of a database

Database Administrators play an important role in the industry because they are largely responsible for the day-to-day operation of the firm database. They are responsible for maintaining the database, monitoring and tracking database software purchases, managing database access, implementing security measures, and overseeing improvements to existing software products.Database administrators are also in charge of quality control and database performance in order to preserve and maintain the confidentiality and integrity of confidential data.Database administrators must have strong organizational and analytical abilities.

IT project managers

IT project managers are in charge of overseeing every aspect of a project’s development from start to finish. They are in charge of keeping staff on track from the start to finish of an IT project, ensuring that it is finished within budget limitations and on time. When requirements change or project components become overdue, they also update the timeline or deadline.

Conclusion

So, there you have it: the top 10 career options after Computer Engineering! All of these career choices are in high demand in the sector, and as a result, pay ranges from reasonable to very high on a yearly basis.

How to write Advertisement Scripts?

For every business to prosper it is important that people are aware about the product existing. For this the advertisement becomes very important, but there are also thousands and millions of advertisement existing in the market. Thus it becomes very crucial for the company to produce an advertisement which stands out among these thousands and also attract the audience towards the product. This then comes to the hiring of Advertisement Script Writer. But how can we learn to write out-of-the-box script? Here are a few things to be learnt for the same:

First, let us understand what are the basics of Advertisement writing:

Primarily written for visual mediums:

While writing the advertisement script we must keep in my mind that it is been written for the visual medium. People don’t read something which doesn’t attract them at once. And for the primary attention of the people the visual portrayal must be outstanding.

Brevity is the key:

Because of the short time, it becomes a crucial task for the writer to use simple and exact words which also captivate the eye of the reader.

Needs planning and creativity:

Writer must be aware of the lack of time and thus plan the advertisement in a manner which outsources everything regarding the product in a minimal time. For this author must generate his creative cells in the brain.

Recognize the Target audience:

It is really important to plan the advertisement according to the target audience. If the advertisement is about a tractor then it becomes necessary to create an advertisement which suits their needs.

good Appeal:

For the best appeal a writer can use the cultural sentiments of the targeted audience or may even use multiple daily routine slangs of the audience. This will draw the audience towards the product.

Duration:

We all have seen various new advertisements on the television. One thing to notice among those advertisements is that with time the duration of same advertisement gets short with the passage of time. Thus it is necessary that writer employs his writing skills in a manner that even the duration is reduced, the essence of the advertisement must remain exact.

Composition:

Last but not the least is the composition of the advertisement. After taking care of all the above elements, The composition is the element which is the most important one. If the composition of advertisement is not good enough then the advertisement will lack audience’s attention. It is the job of the writer to thoroughly look at the composition of the advertisement. For this he even might consider taking help of Script Doctors.

Let us now look at the stages to write an advertisement script.

The FORMAT of an advertisement script is as follows:

  1. Font: Preferred font is courier, but there is nothing specific about fonts in Advertisement Scripts as it is in the Scripts for Movies, Plays, Web etc.
  2. Structure: Usually two columns are used for the advertisement script, rarely three. The first is about the video, the second describing the dialogues and the third is about the duration (if the column exists)
  3. Size: The script must never exceed the length of a page because the advertisements are just a minute long.
Here is an example of the advertisement script:

Some of the KEY POINTS to remember while writing an advertisement script are:

  1. Understand the Product: The writer must be aware about the Features and the Unique Selling Point (USP) of the product.
  2. Understand the Target Audience: Who is this product for? Young or Old? Men or Women? Rich or Middle working class?
  3. Do research: Understand the product and your competition. Mention the key features of the product which are different from others.
  4. Think out of the box: Emotion is the hook. Humour adds an extra punch to the script, thus cleverly employ them for the task.
  5. Writing: Don’t write to impress, write to communicate the core message clearly. Also focus on the language which is used by the target audience.
  6. Emphasize the need: Allow your audience to realize the worth of the product and also why do they need it.

Job is lost, not the mastership!

Get the ‘tasks’ of your own!

You’ve lost your job but you are still in the possession of your skills.

“Unemployed, what to do now?”
“From where to start?”
“I can’t find anything else to do!”
It’s better to ponder over the strategies to get a job instead of spoiling the mood following such qualms.
Stop worrying, start learning something new. Because it’s just the scepticisms talking!

Many fundamental tasks at home must have been hung back, caused by unemployment. But it does not mean that all the portals are closed.
You have got time to think something raw, something fresh and to do something new as well. Then why not to do the enhancement of your skills?
First and foremost, start making a plan to control the expenditures and start executing it at your earliest convenience.
You can do anything you want to do. Just think ahead about what to do.

Think of ahead, what do you want to do


It happens many times that we stay in a job despite the fact that it is bearing no interest. Or say that we never really wanted to do.

Co-founder of a career assessment – ‘Map My Talent’, Rohit Sehgal says, “About 80% of employees believe that they are stuck in their jobs which actually is not for them.”


So you seek such a job that interests you.
For that, if you need to do any course or get enrolled in any program of two or three months, just go for it.
Can do work from home or would like to start something of your own, considering all these aspects, search for a new job.

“Don’t Worry About Job Burn-Out. Worry About Job Boredom.” -Darius Foroux

Learn something new

HR consultant, Nirmala Menon says, “You’ve to remember one thing that whether the company has fired you or you’ve left the job, no matter what’s the case with you, your skills are still lodging in there!”
Instead of being disappointed, think about the ways in which you can reinforce your skills.
Due to lockdown, you’ve got enough time to train yourself to be a multitasker. If you want to learn something new, then choose the hi-tech way! Choose your desired online course from a list of choices and join online programs. (‘Modern problems require modern solutions!’)

Don’t flatten the graph of evolution

Networking is constructive


A survey of Yale University claims that 70% of jobs are available through the networks only.
So you need to find a new networking strategy.
You need to be active on social media platforms. Keep your revamped profile on job providers or search engines, particularly for jobs like LinkedIn and other job sites.
If you are looking for a job in marketing, then you can join the space of global marketing and communication professionals on LinkedIn.
Stay connected to your seniors and ex-colleagues. Discuss and swap viewpoints, seek pieces of advice.
Thrive the flexibility of decision-making as per the requirement of time.
Don’t think twice about challenging yourself otherwise you’d stop evolving.

How to develop your skill set to advance your Career

A skill set is a combination of abilities, qualities and experiences you can apply to perform tasks well. These can include soft skills such as interpersonal skills, organization and leadership as well as technical skills such as research, computer programming, accounting writing and more.

Spending time on improving your ki skills can help you achieve personal career goals such as earning a promotion or becoming an expert on a certain topic. Your skill set can be applied to progress in your current career or expanded to earn a job in a different field or industry.

What is a skill set?

A skill set is a collection of skills and abilities. Each person has a different skill set depending on their interests, natural abilities, personal qualities and technical skills. Skills can expand your professional competency and allow you to perform your job well.

You can gain and improve skills with education and experience. The more advanced you are in performing certain skills, the more likely you are to get or progress in a job.

Types of skill sets

There are two main types of skills that make up your skill set—soft skills and hard skills.

Soft skills generally pertain to interpersonal skills and other personality traits that allow you to communicate and work with others. Soft skills are also transferable, which means they are valuable for any job no matter the industry.

Examples of soft skills

Adaptability
Communication
Conflict resolution
Creativity
Decision making
Leadership
Motivation
Teamwork
Time management
Hard skills, also known as technical skills, are capabilities you use to perform a task related to a specific job. You can gain or improve these skills through training, tutorials and practice.

Examples of hard skills

Accounting
Copywriting
Data analysis
Event planning
Foreign language fluency
Graphic design
Information technology
Mathematics
SEO/SEM marketing
Read more: Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

One considerable difference between hard skills and soft skills during the hiring process is that you can list and verify hard skills, while soft skills are typically displayed during in-person interviews. If certain soft skills are relevant and required for a certain job, you might consider listing these on your resume alongside your technical skills.

Hard and soft skills can be further broken down into the following groups:

Hybrid skills are a combination of hard and soft skills—many employers expect individuals to have both to succeed. A good example of a hybrid skill is customer service. While you need to have exceptional soft skills such as communication and conflict resolution, you might also be expected to be proficient with spreadsheets or a specific customer service management system.
Transferable skills are skills that apply to any job, no matter the level or industry. Transferable skills are typically soft skills such as problem-solving and communication, and sometimes hard skills, such as mathematics and writing.
Job-specific skills are the capabilities required for a certain position including both hard and soft skills. You usually gain these through education or on-the-job experience. Pay attention to the job description when searching for jobs to understand what job-specific skills the employer expects from their ideal candidate.

How to determine your skills

When searching for a job, displaying your most advanced, relevant skills on your resume will help employers understand why you are a good fit for the job. If you are not sure what skills you have, consider spending time answering the following questions:

What do you enjoy? The tasks that come easily to you or that you enjoy often translate into useful skills. For example, teaching people or those around you solve problems can translate to strong communication, active listening and problem-solving skills.
Do you receive praise or compliments on certain abilities? Consider the skills your managers or colleagues have noticed or complimented in the past. For example, you may have received high scores for teamwork on a performance review. You should also take note of what people come to you for help on.
What previous accomplishments do you have? Consider the times when you accomplished something at work, big or small. You might have won an award or simply completed a project that had better-than-expected results. What skills helped you to do those things?

How to develop new skills

If you want a job in an industry that requires different skills than those you currently have, there are many ways to expand your skill set or to develop your current skills for a better chance at promotions or raises.

Here are several ways you can develop professional skills:

Set goals for yourself. Setting specific goals to improve your career helps you stay on track with your development. Make sure your goals are measurable, achievable and relevant to your profession or your goals. Then, consider organizing a timeline to achieve your goal by setting a beginning and end date, as well as smaller goals to achieve along the way.
Find a mentor. A professional mentor is typically a superior you respect and trust. Once you find your mentor, you can reach out for informal meetings, which can then naturally develop into a professional relationship.
Seek feedback about strengths and weaknesses. You can ask superiors, colleagues or even friends or family about your strengths and areas for improvement. It is important to seek feedback from people who will give you honest critiques rather than automatic praise. Once you identify your weaknesses, you can focus on developing those skills.
Review job descriptions for positions you want. These job descriptions will give you an idea of the transferable skills you have, as well as the job-specific skills you will need. Once you identify the skills you need, you can research job shadowing or education programs that can provide you with the necessary skill set to transition into that position.
Enroll in an online degree program. Companies often encourage employees to further their education with a degree, and some offer tuition assistance or reimbursement. If you are advancing your career with a related program, such as accounting and finance, you may also find that many of your credits are transferable.
Take continuing education courses in career-related fields. These courses are often taught by professionals with experience in their field. For some professions, continuing education courses are required to stay current in the industry. Many colleges and universities offer continuing education courses in a variety of fields.
Take advantage of company training. Many companies use independent training departments with experts in different fields that train on specialized skill sets. Check in with your supervisor about what your company has to offer and which courses would be especially beneficial for your professional growth.
Participate in job shadowing. Job shadowing is a great way to learn more about the day-to-day responsibilities of another profession and to learn new skills. Generally, it is best to choose individuals who are experienced or perform well in their positions. Job shadowing usually involves following a professional while they perform their job duties and learning about different skills.
Join a professional association in your field. In a group setting, you have the opportunity to converse with colleagues about your industry and to discover skills you may want to develop. These professional associations are usually available on local, state, national and international levels.

Which skills to include on your resume

To determine which skills to list on your resume, carefully review the job description. This will include both the technical and soft skills the employer is looking for in their ideal candidate. It is important that you include the technical skills they list if they align with your own personal skill set. Technical skills show your potential employer that you have the necessary training or education for a particular role. Depending on the role, you might also list relevant soft skills on your resume.

You should also include any skills that you feel set you apart from other candidates. For example, you might include that you have strong relationship-building skills. While this skill might not necessarily be required for an IT job, for example, IT administrators can be even more successful with strong interpersonal skills.

Your resume should only include the most relevant skill sets for the job role you seek. Remember to consider your skills in each of the following categories:

Job posting skills: Skills, qualities and traits listed in the job description. Include accomplishments that verify these skills in your professional history section.
Transferable skills: These are the key skills that can be used in multiple jobs, such as basic computer programs or team building.
Job-related skills: These are the skills that are required for you to perform a certain job, such as accounting or computer programming.
Adaptive skills: These are the personal traits or skills you use in daily life, such as patience or confidence. Example of adaptive skills includes relationship building, the ability to learn quickly, flexibility, coachability, responsibility and more.
Skills from others in the industry: Find more skills by looking at examples of other professionals who are in the same field. This will give you an idea of what skills and abilities are valued by employers.
Universal skills: These may include skills like critical thinking or punctuality. It is typically good to add a few of these, but do not oversell yourself. Only a few universal skills are needed. If you have more technical skills relevant to the position, put those down instead.