With more spare time on our hands recently and only so much Netflix you can watch before even that gets boring, turning to online learning and skill development has become very fashionable. Recent converts to online courses like the structure and routine they can add to your day, but you might be surprised by the benefits online learning can add to your career development and employability too! Whether you’re just looking for a new interest to keep your mind active or would like to impress prospective employers with your commitment to developing career-related skills and knowledge, there will be an online course or learning activity out there for you. And best of all, the vast majority of them are free! The suggestions below are by no means exhaustive, and much will depend on your individual circumstances and interests, but hopefully they’ll get you hooked and give you a starting point for your own online learning.

1. Brush up your language skills
   Did you know that LJMU Library Services provides you with free access to Rosetta Stone language learning resources for 24 languages? With a three-month subscription to Rosetta Stone usually retailing at £50, make use of this free offer for LJMU students. If fun and addictive bite-sized lessons are your thing, you will enjoy Duolingo’s free mobile app with a choice of over 30 languages, including High Valyrian for anyone missing Game of Thrones!
2. Take an online course
   You can choose from a wide range of online platforms, with many making your learning experience more fun by providing the opportunity to learn together with people from around the world and to benefit from the expertise of educators from universities and cultural institutions from the UK and further afield. Courses are available in subjects like business and management, creative arts and media, education, healthcare and psychology, history and law, environment, science, and technology and engineering.

   Popular platforms include Futurelearn, Coursera, and the Open University. The National Careers Service advisers have also compiled a list of course providers across different subject areas. LinkedIn are currently offering a free one-month trial of their online courses.

3. Attend a webinar
   Webinars are online, virtual workshops which can provide a great opportunity for learning from home. Your Careers, Employability & Enterprise Team regularly delivers webinars on topics like job-hunting, CVs and applications, interviews, LinkedIn skills etc. Check our events page for further details and to register for an upcoming webinar.

   Many graduate employers are also increasingly looking to webinars to engage with current students and recent graduates as an alternative to campus-based activities. For example, Grant Thornton recently hosted four webinars on job-searching, interviews, commercial awareness and accountancy careers, and you can listen to the recordings on their website. Rate my Placement hosted a webinar on building your personal brand.

   Professional bodies and similar organisations representing employers across a certain sector also use webinars to update and communicate with their members, but some webinars also are available to non-members via Youtube. For example, you can view recordings of a range of webinars delivered by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) on topics like integrated marketing, or building your career as a modern marketer. Following any professional bodies and potential employers of interest to you on social media will help you find out about any webinars or other virtual events hosted.

4. Develop your digital skills
   Strong digital and IT skills are crucial for the 21^st century workplace, and no longer just a must for computing students. SPSS and Excel skills are essential for many science and psychology-related roles, so making good use of any spare time to develop these skills through free Youtube tutorials or online courses on platforms like Udemy will strengthen your CV.

   Google Digital Garage is a great resource for anyone looking to understand how digital technologies are affecting organisations and their interaction with customers. Courses range from general topics like effective networking, business communication and strategic innovation, to more specialist subjects like digital marketing, search engine optimisation, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

   Some knowledge of programming languages can give you an advantage when applying for roles across different industries that require advanced data analysis skills. Code Academy is a great starting point to learn to code in different languages, and a useful quiz helps you to identify which language would be right for you and your career plans.

5. Listen to podcasts
   If you’re a natural at multi-tasking, you might find that learning through podcasts while doing household chores or out on a walk fits well into your daily routines. The Future You podcast produced by the Prospects team is a useful resource for any student looking to explore and take the next steps in their career journey, but you will also find podcasts aimed at students looking to build a career in specific sectors, such as the net podcast.

   Beyond careers research, podcasts can be an ideal resource to develop your commercial awareness and to demonstrate to prospective employers that you are committed to keeping up-to-date with what’s going on in your industry. For example, budding teachers and anyone interested in working in education should find the TES podcast useful and informative.

Hopefully we’ve whetted your appetite to start your own remote learning journey, and our suggestions above have motivated you to get googling and find your own ideal online learning opportunity!

Further advice and information
The Careers, Employability and Enterprise Team is available to help from 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday. The Careers Team is offering remote appointments by telephone, video or email; these are particularly useful when you are exploring your options or starting your own business.  Call 0151 231 8740, email careers@ljmu.ac.uk or visit the Careers Team website.   For advice on starting your own business or freelancing, contact startup@ljmu.ac.uk.