Back in April 2020, I was laid off from my job. Since then, I have been on a journey to hone my skills and learn something new.

During the time I was laid off, it became clear that the job market was pretty dismal. So I set out to learn something new. I signed up through a program that New York State set up which was free learning to become a Covid Tracer, which I did. Then I signed up to take an instructional design class though this website that the New York Department of Labor set up, https://dol.ny.gov/online-learning-coursera . They curated a list of over 4,000 programs that provide professional certification.

I also looked into other affordable options such as Udemy and LinkedIn Learning (originally Linda.com), now given free through the professional memberships of LinkedIn. LinkedIn took over the library of Linda.com, so there are many video tutorials on a phenomenal range of subjects. Also check in with your local library’s website, many offer free access to LinkedIn Learning as a library member with card.

Ah yes, the time…. do you have the time? Well, some of these online courses do have a paced schedule, but they are made specifically for busy people. I mean why not… are you just going to watch another show on Netflix? Take a course and reap the benefits, you may find you gain a whole new skill set !