how to learn new skills through online courses.

If you find yourself looking for work during COVID-19, you're not alone. Workers around the U.S. are being furloughed or laid off as states increasingly mandate that non-essential employees stay home. We know this period of uncertainty is challenging, but there can be a small silver lining: if you use this time to learn some new skills, you can improve your prospects once things return to normal — or normal-ish, anyway.

While there's no way to know how long our "new normal" will last, if you're proactive and use your social-distancing time to acquire new skills, you might just find better opportunities in tomorrow's workforce. Here's everything you need to know in order to upskill or learn new skills, find courses online and ultimately grow your skill set, despite COVID-19 downtime. Just keep the following guidance in mind.

don't wait on an employer to train you

The current climate may be uncertain, but one thing is very clear: skilled talent is in short supply. For employers, it's more difficult than ever to find workers. But for employees, there's a real opportunity to seize the moment, learn new skills and advance your career.

That said, it's going to be up to you to do your own upskilling. Our study shows that the majority (82%) of U.S. workers believe continuous learning and development is important, but 40 percent say they do not have access to adequate training opportunities through their current employers. That means it's on you to teach yourself the skills you'll need to drive your career forward. And now that you've likely got some downtime, you've got a great opportunity to teach yourself the skills you want but can't get through an employer.

take charge of your own growth

Randstad's research also uncovered some interesting differences between generations in their expectations around upskilling.

• Sixty-six percent of U.S. employees between 18 and 34 years old say they need to strengthen their interpersonal skills.
• Seventy percent of U.S. employees 45 years and older say that vocational skills are the most critical to their development. Only 28 percent of this age group say they need to improve their interpersonal skills.

It's clear that upskilling needs can vary significantly with age, but no matter your generation, here are some tips to help you get the skills you need.

do your research

Think about the types of jobs you want — one year from today, and perhaps five years from today as well. Do some research online, or check out some of Randstad's job postings to see the specific qualifications, including education or certifications that are required for the job.

It's also good to know what's going on in your town or city since it can impact the type of opportunities that might be available to you.

With skilled talent in such short supply, spend some time reading through local job descriptions, and note the in-demand skills that appear again and again. Your market might, for example, have a shortage of licensed forklift operators or Java developers or graphic designers. In each of those cases, there are clear skills to learn or certifications to pursue — and you don’t need an employer to help you get there.

know where to go

Once you determine the skills you will need, you need to know where to go. You can learn through internship programs, vocational schools, technical colleges, on-the-job training or online.

Online, or e-learning, platforms are popping up everywhere, offering course options for nearly any skill you need to master. Because e-learning can be accessed on the go, you can progress at your own pace.

Before you get started, however, you should check out our webinar "free learning resources to help you thrive." In it, Jenn Gosselin, senior manager of learning and development at Randstad, gives a great overview of the space — paying particular attention to low-cost and no-cost options. You'll learn:

• key differences between upskilling and reskilling
• how digital tools can improve your employability
• how to navigate free resources for upskilling and reskilling
• tips for staying ahead of potential future skills gaps
• new avenues for networking and building connections

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. So be sure to check out the full webinar today.

start learning

catcat

Catcat.com has almost 400 free courses for you on everything from communication to management to customer service — all designed to help you build the skills you need to improve your career trajectory. Whether you're a work-from-home newbie or a remote working veteran, there are free courses on Catcat.com to help you structure your day and make the most of your time working at home.

edX

Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX.org is home to more than 20 million learners, the majority of top-ranked universities in the world and industry-leading companies. Designed to empower people to learn on their own terms, edX has reimagined the possibilities of education, providing the highest-quality, stackable learning experiences including the groundbreaking MicroMasters® programs. Supporting learners at every stage, whether entering the job market, changing fields, seeking a promotion or exploring new interests, edX delivers courses for curious minds on topics ranging from data and computer science to leadership and communications. Most edX courses are free, and you can always add a verified certificate if you choose.

udemy

Udemy is the leading global marketplace for teaching and learning, connecting millions of students to the skills they need to succeed. Earlier this month, they released the Udemy Free Resource Center, a place where individual learners can find a curated collection of over 150 free courses to help people everywhere face new challenges and opportunities and do whatever comes next. (In other words, a lot of Udemy courses are now free.)

coursera

Every course on Coursera is taught by top instructors from world-class universities and companies, so you can learn something new any time, anywhere. And with hundreds of free Coursera courses, you can access everything from on-demand video lectures to homework exercises and community discussion forums, all at no cost. Plus, there are paid courses, too, which come with additional quizzes and projects as well as shareable certificates upon completion.

takeaways

This isn't an easy time for anyone, but there can be an upside to social distancing and self-isolation — and if you use this time to pursue new skills, you'll have a real opportunity to improve your career once the pandemic passes. We can't say when that will happen, but once factories, offices, shipping facilities and others reopen their doors and business resumes as usual, skilled talent will be in high demand. So why not put Netflix on pause and use this time to improve your prospects down the line?