Top Certificates to Get While in Quarantine to Advance Your Career

man on laptop

How are you coping during this quarantine? For many, this shift to online platforms has been a stepping stone for them to advance their careers.

This is evident in the increasing number of online learning opportunities available worldwide. As countries remain on high alert for the global pandemic, several education institutes have already shifted their strategies to e-learning. 

In turn, people are maximizing this opportunity to pursue certificates that can be useful for career advancement. Whether or not you already graduated with a diploma, there is a variety of e-learning opportunities guaranteed to make your time worthwhile while in quarantine.

Read on to know the top certificates to get while in quarantine to advance your career. 

What are Certificate Programs?

Usually, if you want to land a good-paying job, you need to have a degree. However, this path requires many resources – resources that may not be readily available to everyone. 

This gap is being addressed by certificate programs. Nowadays, you can get a job even if you only have a high school diploma or a specialized certificate. Certificate programs offer short-term training programs that you could use for your employment.

Certificate programs aren’t only if you don’t have an degree. Many people will get a certificate if they want to gain additional knowledge in a specific field or topic. These are great enhancement to a baseline degree that can help set you apart.

These programs can be completed from months to years. 

Why Should You Get a Certificate?

Acquiring a certificate validates your skills and abilities. This is crucial in finding jobs. Employers are looking into these types of validations to ensure your capabilities. Yes, they are looking for experiences but these certificates could be the cherry on top for your hiring.

Getting a certificate is not limited to those who weren’t able to finish high school or college. Even if you already have an accomplished resume, it wouldn’t hurt to pursue other learning engagements. 

Top Certificates to Pursue

After the situation has stabilized, you may face challenges in returning to work especially if you’re just starting. There will be careers that would be more in demand than the others. Here are some certificate programs you should consider. 

Programming

programming

Even after the quarantine is over, anything online will still be highly in-demand. Being a programmer is one of the jobs that would be pivotal to make this shift happen. 

Here are some online certificates you can apply for to hone your skills in programming.

Harvard University’s Introduction to Computer Science, edX

Originally delivered as a face-to-face course, this course includes learning the basics of computer science. This course covers problem solving and algorithms to an introduction to some of the top programming languages.

Level: Beginner

Duration: 180 Hours / 9 Lessons

Fee: Free. HarvardX Verified Certificate is optional for $90.

 Introduction to Programming in Java, MIT OpenCourseWare

If you have experience in programming, you may want to take this course on Java Programming. The course involves teaching the essentials in Java programming for real-life applications.

Level: Intermediate

Duration: 16 Hours / 7 Lectures, 7 Labs

Fee: Free

 This Is How You Make iPhone Apps, Udemy

From its course title, this Udemy course entails the technicalities in developing mobile apps. At the end of this course, you are also required to create your own app. 

Level: Beginner

Duration: 5 Hours / 23 Lessons

Fee: Free

Robotics

robotics

As social distancing rules are at place, several people have recognized the future of automated and remote transactions. The field of robotics is detrimental to make these things happen. 

If you’re interested to take a course on this, you may want to refer to the following online certificate programs: 

Robotics Certification by Penn – University of Pennsylvania, edX

Designed for those who already have ample background on robotics, this UPenn course covers a comprehensive overview on the topic. The course is scheduled for a year and it is classified as a MicroMasters program.

Level: Advanced

Duration: 4 courses, 12 weeks per course, 8 to 10 hours per week

Fee: $1,256.40

 Electricity & electronics – Robotics, learn by building, Udemy

Offered by Udemy, this robotics course is perfect for those who are inclined in practical learning. Upon payment, you can also have a full time access of the course even after finishing it. 

Level: Beginner

Duration: 10 hours

Fee: $9.99

Digital Electronics: Robotics Course, Udemy

For a step further, you may also want to apply for this course. Packaged in a program series, this course already has more than 7,000 enrollees. 

Level: Intermediate

Duration: 10 hours

Fee: $9.99

Entrepreneurship

businessman

Being able to elevate an idea into a whole business is challenging. If you’re worried how long your money will last during these times, then trying to learn about business might be a good thing for you.

After all, almost everyone dreams of becoming financially-independent and starting their own business. To make sure your business will stay afloat even after a crisis like a pandemic happens, make sure you are equipped with the right tools. Here are some certificate programs on entrepreneurship to guide you:

Competitive Strategy, Coursera

If you want to start from the basics, this course on Competitive Strategy is the way to go. This class highlights the importance of strategic decisions in managing an organization/ business..

Level: Intermediate

Duration: 10 Hours / 6 Lessons

Fee: Free

New Venture Finance: Startup Funding for Entrepreneurs, Coursera

Perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs, this course covers how to secure funding for your company. Considering the financial challenges in starting a business, this is a good course to take.

Level: Intermediate

Duration: 12-20 Hours / 4 Lessons

Fee: Free

 Product Design—Validation and UX Through Design Sprints, Udacity

UX has been one of the up and coming fields relevant today. This course built by Google can provide you insights on transforming your business by focusing on your product design.

Level: All Levels

Duration: 48 Hours / 4 Lessons

Fee: $399 per month. This pay as you go scheme covers access to other courses in Udacity.

Healthcare

health care

If there’s anything the COVID-19 pandemic taught us, it would be the value of healthcare. People should put a premium on healthcare. Knowing this, several opportunities have opened in continuing this conversation.

Here are some certificate programs you can take on healthcare. 

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), World Health Organization (WHO)

Timeline and relevant, this course developed by WHO, aims to enlighten its learners on how to deal with the virus. It is a self-paced course offered in different languages.

Level: All Levels

Duration: 1 Hour

Fee: Free

 Stanford Introduction to Food and Health, Coursera

We should be conscious of what we eat. This is also emphasized during this time where our health is at risk. This course covers a general 101 on food and health.

Level: Beginner

Duration: 4 Hours

Fee: Free

Essentials of Global Health, Yale University, Coursera

For a holistic perspective on health, you might want to take this course. Essentials of Global Health touches on topics on social and economic discourses.

Level: Beginner

Duration: 19 Hours

Fee: Free

Final Thoughts

Making use of what you have right now is one of the best ways to cope during quarantine. If you already have a computer and a stable Internet connection, then you might find taking an online course worthwhile. It may not be one of the ways to make money online but its return of investment will surely be high.

However, learning about these online certificate programs is just the first step. Applying for it and actually completing the course is the challenge. If you want to advance your career, make sure you follow through with your decision.

Completing an online course may be unfamiliar territory for many but it’s one worth exploring. 

 

Author
C. James

C. James is the managing editor at Wealth Gang. He has a degree in finance and a passion for creating passive income streams and wealth management.