30 Most Lucrative Skills You Can Learn Online

Education isn’t just about getting that degree––it’s about honing skills that will make graduates desirable in a competitive workplace. Here are 30 skills that could set people apart from the rest or be the foundation of a brand new career.

• Suggested Course Providers:
  • Udemy

1. Advanced Excel skills.Microsoft Excel is used in offices across the country to manage and review data. Surf over to Lynda to take beginner, intermediate, or expert Excel courses so users can make graphs and charts quicker than ever.
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2. Coding. Whether learners want to start with basic HTML or move up to CSS, PHP or JS, taking online crash courses can prepare people for creating and managing digital content from the ground up. Codecademyoffers a wide range of interactive courses, serving 24 million users across the world.

3. Data scraping. Once users have conquered coding, data scraping is the next step. With a base knowledge of HTML and CSS, learners can dig deeper into websites and PDFs and mine data that could be useful to others. Currently, there are multiple apps available to help people mine data across the Internet. Increasing current knowledge could help make these apps better or allow users to develop new ones. Check out this Udemy course offering on data scraping.

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4. Speaking and translating other languages. Being able to communicate or translate content and other materials into different languages could help a company forge worldwide business connections. Duolingo is an online platform that offers free coaching for Spanish, French, German, Italian, German, Dutch, Swedish and Irish. To get started, users simply select the language they want to learn and then can read discussions or try immersion by reading articles from the Internet in other languages.

5. Photography and Photoshop.Photography can be a great career covering a variety of subjects from travel, sports, weddings, fashion, food, and beyond. Kelbyone offers access to some of the world’s leading photographers, as well as online courses in Photoshop and Lightroom, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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6. Listening. Everyone knows how to listen, right? Wrong! Communicating effectively is an art and BigThink has a variety of videos on the subject to help new team members to seasoned managers succeed. Click here to scroll through a selection of videos.

7. Writing. Preparing materials for print or maintaining an online presence through a blog takes impeccable writing skills. Purdue University offers online professional writing courseswhile Grammarly@edu offers grammar tutorials and apps to help both K-12 and college students improve their writing.

8. Social media marketing.Navigating the world of social media includes everything from using hashtags effectively and in the right context to scheduling Facebook posts.Alison allows users to earn a diploma in social media marketing at their own pace, as well as individualized courses on using Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.

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  • Social Media Marketing Automation in 2016
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9. SEO. Search Engine Optimization allows companies to get free traffic by using particular keywords or phrases in a search engine. SEO Bookhas an online training program focused on keyword search, link building, domain names and tracking results.

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10. Public speaking. Being able to speak gracefully and powerfully is an important skill for leading and managing a team, and yet many employees lack this soft skill. The University of Washington offers a free online course via Coursera covering the history of public speaking back to ancient times, reviewing effective speeches with over 18 hours of online coursework.

11. Economics. Thinking critically on your feet and and being able to analyze situations and develop solutions are all skills gained from economics. MIT Online Coursework offers an archive of video and online lecture materials for students to consider as they build their analytical and thinking skills.

12. Budgeting. While the economy continues to recover from high unemployment rates and tight job market, cutting costs and managing cash flow is more important than ever. Universal Class allows users to earn a CEU certificate in business budgeting with 10 hours of self-paced lessons.

13. Mac skills. With Apple producing new and innovative products and systems, users need to understand how to use these products and software in business settings. As an extension of Southwestern Illinois College, the Selsius Corporate and Career traininghas online seminars on Mac OSX Tiger, Lion, and Snow Leopard available to students 90 days after purchase.

14. Project management.Effectively managing a project from start to finish means using multiple skills from start to finish. From interacting with the client, to understanding the manpower and funds going into the project, project managers must build a unique range of skills. The Project Management Institute site includes e-learning seminars, on demand courses, and quizzes to support new and seasoned project managers.

15. Adobe skills. Adobe software is the basis for building professional website and other online content. Train Simpleoffers Adobe training for a monthly or annual fee, allowing users unlimited access to courses. Students can also earn certificates once their training is complete.

16. Intranet skills. An intranet allows a network of employees to dynamically communicate. Building these types of websites requires extensive knowledge in firewall protection while trying to boost internal company engagement. Ragan Training has multiple video presentations on building great intranets for companies, taking both employees and information safety into consideration.

17. Law. A background in law could be helpful in a variety of careers, from a career in publishing––where copyright and plagiarism remain top of mind––to paralegal or law clerks. Harvard Universitycurrently offers free online courses covering copyright, justice and leadership.

18. Data analysis. Understanding data––and being able to use it to better serve customers or anticipate the needs of a particular audience––is an impressive skill to add to any resume. Full Sail Universityprovides a Master’s Degree in Business Intelligence, which includes the full curriculum and a laptop.

19. Entrepreneurship. Start-ups are a popular way to build local brands or provide a service that is greatly needed within the community. Many small business owners have myriad details to consider when building a company from the ground up. Skillshare offers videos on creating your own brand, increasing your productivity, and promoting your skills.

20. Inbound marketing. Reaching the right audience relies on converting––through clicks or making phone calls––which leads to sales. Learning the ways to connect right off the bat can boost your marketing abilities. Hubspot Academyoffers a variety of free and at-cost certifications, including inbound marketing and contextual marketing.

21. Leadership. Taking the initiative is something everyone will have to do at some point in their career. Learning to be a better leader and confident can lead to success or landing that promotion or starting on a new career path. The Institute of Personal Leadership gives a toolkit and flexible learning opportunities to users wanting to improve upon their current skills.

22. Video production. A career in broadcast media relies on learning how to utilize new video equipment to effectively tell the story at hand. Having video experience can also make a person more viable for a job that includes traditional writing and design elements but may also require audio/visual messaging. Videomakerfeatures online video courses on editing, audio, lighting, and green screen.

23. Human resources. Many managers may be charged with human resources responsibilities in smaller businesses. Learning the best practices in HR can make sure all issues are taken care of and that employees are in good standing. Study has a comprehensive listing of credentialed and non-credential courses for avid learners.

24. IT training. IT careers have been on the rise since the early 2000s, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics, and show no signs of stopping. Pluralsightcurrently offers over 3,700 courses online for individuals, businesses, schools and governments in need of extra training.

25. Job sharing. Many professions are leaning toward job sharing as a way to reduce work costs or allow employees to prepare for a career transition. Job Skill Share lets experts share their knowledge with high school students, immigrants, and people wanting to learn new job skills.

26. Math skills. Engineers, analysts, investment bankers and planners all use math as part of their job. Open Culturefeatures free online math classes, including algebra, statistics, calculus and math logic.

27. Culinary skills. Cooking is not just a skill limited to the home kitchen. It can also lead to the start of a successful full-time career or side business. Chef Steps allows users to sign up for a variety of online tutorials at a small cost, search for recipes or connect with other learners via online forum.

28. Tutoring. Teachers may consider tutoring as a way to stretch their wings in between semesters and allow them to make extra money. Oxford University has an online course geared towards people wanting to break into online tutoring.

29. Medical training. Healthcare reform has brought unique challenges to the healthcare industry, and there’s a great need for providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The Open Education Database offers a variety of free courses on health subjects such as immunizations, acute adult nursing, anatomy, and health organization management from the world’s leading institutions.

30. Pet care. There’s more to pet sitting than feeding, walking, and grooming. For people interested in honing their skills or breaking into an animal-centered career, Universal Class has a variety of courses on caring for house pets, such as dogs and cats, to more exotic animals, such as reptiles or marine wildlife for those wanting to work at aquariums and zoos.