How to upskill on your own terms and without breaking the bank

Author: Michelle Dobson, head of brand at Pnet

Learning is more accessible than ever, thanks to the wealth of materials available for free or a nominal cost on the internet.

Here are some ways to develop new skills that will strengthen your CV without you needing to make a large financial investment:

Free and low-cost learning platforms

The internet has transformed education over the past two decades. It has made learning and upskilling accessible to nearly anyone who has some spare time and an internet connection. Platforms like Udemy offer affordable short courses in fields ranging from finance and marketing to coding, AI and leadership.

Coursera and GetSmarter, meanwhile, offer a gateway to video lectures, readings and coursework from world-leading universities and companies. There is also an abundance of learning materials available on YouTube and LinkedIn as well as via podcasts, webinars and industry blogs.

If you’re working full-time and your budget stretches further, South African institutions like Rosebank College and Tshwane University of Technology offer formal degrees, diplomas and certifications via online learning. These programmes usually give more flexibility to working people who need to pace their studies to fit in with their busy lives.

Learning by doing

Professional development is not restricted to courses and seminars. In fact, learning by doing is one of the best ways to develop new skills or enhance your capabilities. An added benefit of developing skills in a real-world setting is that you can show recruiters and employers that you have practical experience.

Volunteering with a community organisation or non-profit is a wonderful way to build your skills while giving back. If you want to become a project manager, you could take responsibility for coordinating a small community event, such as a fundraiser or local workshop, where you plan timelines, manage tasks and work with different stakeholders.

Another option is to build a side gig or pursue a passion project. If you have coding skills, for instance, but have never used them in your job, you could freelance for a small business. Or if you want to become a digital marketer, you could launch a novelty T-shirt business and use it to showcase your ability to build a brand, manage social media campaigns and analyse customer engagement.

Concluding words: Focusing on career impact

Before investing your time and money in a course or seminar, look at the types of roles you want to apply for and the skills employers are asking for. This will help you focus your time and money on learning capabilities that are relevant to your career and in demand in the job market.

Also remember that your investments in upskilling will pay off if they translate into proven workplace experience. Recruiters will want to see not only what you have learned, but how you have applied those skills in practice. Look for opportunities to apply new skills you have learned in a practical setting.

You do not need to wait for someone to give you an opportunity to develop you skills and start building experience. Volunteering for a charity, taking on freelance work or working on a side hustle are all ways to get developed your competencies and offer evidence of your skills to recruiters.

A combination of relevant skills and practical exposure will give you a stronger story to tell when you apply for your next opportunity.