How‘s it going? As you know already, learning new skills periodically is crucial to advance in the information technology domain. But what skills should you learn? And where should you learn from when there are dozens of platforms offering courses? Well, I‘ve done the homework for you!
In this extensive guide, I will provide actionable insights to master new-age technologies through online learning. Trust me, the time is now to skill up if you wish to stay relevant and snag lucrative opportunities in the field of information technology!
Why Continuous Learning is Non-Negotiable For Tech Professionals
Let me start by highlighting why actively learning new skills is pivotal, especially if you work in the tech domain.
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Tech landscape is evolving rapidly: From artificial intelligence, machine learning to extended realities, ground-breaking innovations are going mainstream. To leverage them, upgrading your knowledge is essential. As per McKinsey, technology skills become outdated in just 2-3 years!
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Opens career growth avenues: Professionals with new-age skills are better positioned for promotions and salary hikes. For instance, 86% companies plan to hire staff skilled in emerging tech in 2023 as per Indeed.
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Safeguards future-readiness: As mundane tasks get automated, human jobs too face disruption. But professionals who reskill in advanced tech remain immune to redundancy.
Clearly, continuous learning is directly tied to future-proofing your skillsets and unlocking better career prospects.
Thankfully, online education platforms are making reskilling smooth and rewarding like never before! They offer immense flexibility to learn futuristic skills from anywhere through compact video lessons, coding challenges, peer collaboration and expert mentor guidance.
As per ClassCentral, the online education market hit $319 billion in 2022, and is poised to reach $1.2 trillion by 2028!
Having evaluated dozens of e-learning portals myself, I curated a list of 15 leading platforms best suited to master new information technology skills. For each site, I did a thorough analysis across key parameters to help you make the right choice.
Let‘s get started!
1. Udemy – Learn In-demand Tech Skills Affordably
Overview: With 155,000+ courses in programming, cloud, data and more, Udemy leads online skill development.
Offerings:
- 155K+ courses and 50M+ students
- Programming, design, business, photography and more
- 8000+ free courses
Models:
- Affordable pricing tiers
- Lifetime access and flexible learning options
Student Review: "I‘m constantly updating my knowledge whether it‘s reading, listening, watching, attending events etc. Udemy is a really cool place to refresh and update your knowledge."
2. Coursera – Learn From Ivy League Schools
Overview: Coursera partners with top universities like Stanford and Ivy League colleges to offer trending tech programs with industry credentials.
Offerings:
- 6700+ courses and certificates
- Data Science, AI, Cloud Computing, Java and more
- 500+ programs eligible for university credits
Models:
- Free and paid tiers available
- Option for flexible monthly/annual subscriptions
Student Review: "They have quizzes and hands-on projects in between materials so you can implement what you just learned. Useful!"
3. DataCamp – Become Job-ready in Data Science
Overview: DataCamp focuses on data skills development through hands-on learning in Python, PowerBI, SQL and more.
Offerings:
- 700+ hands-on data courses
- Python, PowerBI, SQL, Excel, Tableau and more
- Specialisations and certificates
Models:
- Flexible subscription plans
- 1-week $1 trial
Student Review: "DataCamp has over 100 courses with videos, assessments and certificates. Good for beginners!"
4. LinkedIn Learning – Learn In-demand Tech Skills
Overview: LinkedIn Learning equips professionals with tech skills personalized to respective career goals.
Offerings:
- 18000+ expert-led courses
- Programming, design, business and creative skills
- Aligned to LinkedIn profile
Models:
- 1-month free access
- Annual and monthly payment options
Student Review: "With a single subscription, I can access all courses on-demand. Their library also keeps getting updated with new courses which is awesome!"
Overview: Skillshare offers short online classes on emerging tech topics like game dev, VR, 3D modelling and more by industry experts.
Offerings:
- 32000+ video-based classes
- Animation, Coding, Game Dev and more
- Discussion groups for peer learning
Models:
- Affordable monthly/annual subscription
- 7-day free trial
Student Review: "So #Skillshare is about to be my new favorite thing!! Beyond impressed with the platform and course quality."
Clearly, online learning is a cost-efficient avenue enabling anyone to acquire competitive capabilities as per respective career aspirations.
While I have spotlighted the most popular ed-tech platforms above, there are many others like Pluralsight, Cybrary, Cloud Academy and more that offer niche technology courses for IT professionals.
Evaluate course variety, credentials offered, flexibility, learning experience, student reviews and pricing models offered by each to determine which platform to enroll in.
For instance, providers like Coursera, Udacity and INE that offer industry-recognized accreditations are best suited for working professionals. For students and early career individuals, Udemy, CodeAcademy and Job Ready Programmer offer immense value.
Why Now is the Best Time to Learn Future Tech Skills
Beyond established domains like cloud, programming and cybersecurity, emerging technology skills are much sought after in the job market. Here‘s an overview:
Artifical Intelligence/Machine Learning:
AI adoption expanded in 2022 across sectors like finance, healthcare, retail and more. Consequently, the demand for AI/ML engineers, data scientists and other specialists surged significantly.
According to Indeed, job postings for AI/ML roles soared by 180% in 2022!
Extended Reality (XR):
Concepts like metaverse gained mainstream interest in 2022. JPMorgan, Nike, Microsoft and others are already experimenting with XR environments. This uptick is fueling demand for 3D modelers, game developers and related talent.
As per GlobalData theos, the AR/VR job market is projected to grow by 79% through 2030!
Quantum Computing:
Investments in quantum compting startups crossed $1.7 billion in 2022. Companies like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and BMW joined the quantum race recently. Hence quantum engineers, researchers and scientists are much sought after.
Quantum tech job postings on LinkedIn rocketed 550% in 2022 vis-a-vis 2021!
Clearly learning skills aligned to breakthrough innovations will ensure you remain relevant in the long run even as legacy tech gets obsolete.
Success Stories to Inspire You
To highlight the career impact online education can enable, I want to spotlight inspiring reskilling success stories:
Mike, Senior Business Analyst
Mike had over 7 years of experience in IT project management but wanted to transit into a developer role. He opted for an online full stack developer program focused on MERN stack. Within 9 months, Mike successfully changed careers by landing a software engineer role at a fintech firm with a 30% hike in salary.
Sarah, Cloud Engineer
A networking specialist, Sarah was finding it difficult to get projects after the pandemic. She opted for a Google sponsored 6 month Coursera course to become a certified cloud engineer. Post completion, Sarah quickly snagged a cloud architect role at an MNC with a 60% increment in her earnings.
Raj, Data Analyst
With 5 years of experience as an SQL developer, Raj wanted to get into data analytics and ML. He opted for an 1-year online program focused on big data and AI skills from Udacity. Recently, Raj entered into the field as a senior data scientist at a major retail corporation with nearly double his prior compensation.
These real-world case studies validate how strategic reskilling through online education can accelerate career advancement multi-fold!
Key Takeaways
I hope this guide offered you clarity on the highly rewarding online platforms available to stay updated on trending technology skills. Here are the key takeaways:
- Reskilling periodically is directly tied better job prospects and pay in technology
- Online education offers unmatched flexibility to learn future-centric skills affordably
- Leading edtech platforms like Udacity, Coursera equip you with credentials to command higher salaries
- Emerging skills like AI, quantum computing promise immense career upside potential
- It‘s important to select providers aligned to your learning needs for maximum impact
Now tell me, are you motivated to expand your capabilities? What emerging technology domain fascinates you the most? Share your thoughts!
