Learning a new business skill is an excellent way to break into an industry, make yourself more attractive to employers or earn more money and responsibility in your current career. But between work, family and life, the thought of spending years in a classroom can be overwhelming. Fortunately, you don’t have to. It’s possible to learn many in-demand skills in less than a year — some in just a few weeks or months.
Potential earning increases for adding new skills to your resume are wide-ranging, but the more skill you can bring to the table for an employer, the better your advantage over other candidates, the higher your value in your industry and the more negotiating power you’ll have when discussing your wage or salary. Enrich your career and increase your paycheck with these 94 money-making skills and certifications.
Last updated: Sept. 16, 2020
1. Touch-Typing and 10-Key
Learning touch-typing or 10-key can improve accuracy when drafting documents and speed up productivity, both of which are skills that many employers consider major assets. Typing is necessary for data entry, administrative and writing jobs. The cost of improving typing skills ranges from the practice you can do on your own for free to courses that cost a couple of hundred dollars. Online learning marketplace Udemy, for example, offers several typing courses ranging from $10.99 to $199 to help you increase your typing speed in just a few days.
In addition to data entry jobs, cashier jobs and similar roles typically require 10-key skills. If you want to work in retail or land a role requiring numerical data entry, you can learn 10-key number-pad typing skills using free online tools, such as through Typing.com or by taking an online course through a site like Lynda.com. Lynda.com subscriptions start at $29.99 a month for access to thousands of courses.
2. Computer Programming
You don’t need a four-year computer science degree to learn basic computer programming and get entry-level jobs in information technology or roles related to website or software development and database management. Complete the Penn Foster Career School online Computer Programming Languages Certificate program in four months and learn programming skills as well as JavaScript, Microsoft Visual Basic and Access. The program costs between $499 and $589.
3. Public Speaking
Taking a public speaking course and learning how to communicate effectively can enrich your career, especially if you’re seeking leadership or motivational speaking roles. Public speaking classes are taught online, at community colleges and at adult continuing education centers. Online training company The Leader’s Institute, for example, offers a five-part online public speaking course for $595.
4. Microsoft Office Suite Certification
Obtaining a Microsoft Office Suite certification indicates proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. This is perfect if you’re seeking jobs that involve preparing documents and spreadsheets, such as administrative jobs and research jobs. Complete free online tutorials at your own pace, or sign up for a course at an adult continuing education center. For example, Chesapeake Public Schools in Chesapeake, Virginia, has four-week Microsoft Word and Excel classes starting at $71 for residents and $137 for nonresidents.
5. Google Analytics Certification
Google Analytics Academy for Beginners is a smart option if you’re on the hunt for entry-level positions in digital marketing or advertising, or if you’re in the industry and need to improve your data gathering and analysis skills. It can be particularly helpful if you’re switching from a nondigital role, like print marketing, to a digital role, like website marketing. The online training is free through Google Analytics Academy. Courses — which can be completed in about four to six hours — help prepare you for the Analytics Individual Qualification certification test, which is also free to take.
6. Google Ads Certification
Getting certified in Google Ads is another valuable tool for digital professionals, especially if you’re interested in search engine marketing and related web marketing or advertising roles. Register through Google’s Academy for Ads and complete any of the hundreds of free training videos, ranging from five minutes to more than an hour long, at your own pace. Classes include Google Ads certification, search marketing, dynamic search and Ads display certification.
7. CPR or First Aid Certification
Being certified in CPR or first aid provides you with life-saving skills that can be used in a variety of jobs, from child care and lifeguard work to roles as a flight attendant or in construction. Typically, CPR training takes about one to three hours, and the cost ranges from around $25 through local class providers to $65 to $115 through the American Red Cross courses in the Los Angeles area.
8. Driving for Ride-Sharing, Taxi or Delivery Services
Becoming a noncommercial…
