Whether you’re currently employed, furloughed, or have been laid off, continuing development courses are always a great addition to your resume. They show employers that you’re committed to constantly improving your professional development and that you’re passionate about your work.
Plus, if you’re currently on furlough or have been laid off, taking professional development courses now will allow you to comfortably speak to how you’ve been filling your downtime during a job interview. In addition to speaking about your professional dedication, taking the time now to improve your professional skills also tells hiring managers that you can work autonomously and that you have strong time management skills.
Of course, the cost can be a consideration, especially for anyone not currently working. So consider some of these free and low-cost courses that can easily be accessed online.
LinkedIn Learning: Formerly Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning offers an extensive library of online courses, which can all be accessed for $19.99 per month after a free month trial period. Most courses range from 20 minutes in length to three or four hours. So even if you take advantage of the free month and then pay for a second month, you can still make the most of a wide variety of business-related courses that include various Excel and even Zoom training customer service tutorials, and more career-specific learnings like Google Analytics.
iTunes U: This free-to-download app is available in the Apple App Store and although it’s aimed at professional educators, there are a number of “Business and Economics” courses that are applicable to anyone looking to forge a management career in hospitality. Yale University’s “Financial Markets” is a comprehensive course with over 100 downloadable modules that cover everything from insurance and real estate to corporate stocks and behavioral finance. New York University has a course on Investment Philosophies and another on Corporate Finance while The Saylor Foundation offers courses on Business Statistics and Business Law and Ethics.
Alison.com: This website’s extensive library of free online courses includes a wide range of marketing, business and technology programs, many of which offer a certificate or diploma. There are even dedicated Tourism & Hospitality courses under the “Business” section where learners can earn certificates or diplomas in Hospitality Management, Hotel Operations, and Restaurant Profitability.
SkillShare.com: This website offers both paid and free classes that cover topics ranging from Film & Video and Web Development to Business Analytics and Marketing. The fastest way to search the catalog of free classes is to go to https://www.skillshare.com/classes/free and then search the topics located in the column on the left side of the screen. These courses range in length from about half an hour to over an hour. So they can be a great way to start your day with a cup of coffee or a means of creating your very own “Lunch and Learn.”
edX.org: Created by Harvard and MIT, this website is the mother of advanced learning with over 2,000 free courses from more than 140 higher education institutions like Harvard, the University of California Berkeley, and The Smithsonian. With so many courses available –many of which aren’t necessarily applicable to the hospitality industry—the fastest way to search for courses that may be of interest to you is to go to https://www.edx.org/search?tab=course and then search by subject, where you’ll find relevant categories such as “Business & Management,” “Communication,” “Data Analysis & Statistics,” and “Economics & Finance.” You can then use the search field to narrow down your options to your specific interests. You can also go directly to the site’s selection of hospitality management courses by going to https://www.edx.org/learn/hospitality-management.
Envato Tuts+: This online publisher of video courses, eBooks, and written tutorials focuses on helping users gain new creative and technical skills. This is a great resource for anyone who wants or needs to deliver better presentations or gain more familiarity with social media by learning more about programs such as PowerPoint and SlideShare. The site also offers access to a large number of resume templates.
Udemy.com: Most of the courses offered on this online learning platform cost $9.99 each and are about an hour in length although some can be several hours long. As of January 2020, the site is said to have 57,000 instructors teaching in 65 languages. So searching for available courses can be a bit overwhelming as the breadth and depth of subject matter ranges from programming, marketing, and data science courses to neuroplasticity to an animal Reiki certification. But jumping straight to https://www.udemy.com/topic/hotel-management/ for almost 60 courses from basics like “Front Desk Management and Operations” to more advanced learnings like “Rooms Divisions Profit & Loss.”
Oxford Home Study College: This UK-based distance learning college is dedicated to providing accredited online courses worldwide and that includes a selection of free online hospitality management courses: https://www.oxfordhomestudy.com/courses/hospitality-management-courses-online/free-hospitality-courses. This is a great option for anyone with an interest or minimal experience in the hospitality industry and a desire to forge a long-term career in the hotel or restaurant business. Course content is divided into three distinct focus areas: an introduction to hotel management; an overview of key front desk operations and responsibilities; and housekeeping responsibilities. Courses are self-paced and enrollment is open 365 days a year.