The coronavirus outbreak has shown that virtually nothing material is indispensable. If you feel like your life has turned topsy-turvy during the lockdown, cherish this time as a period for discovery so you’ll be able to step out of the crisis with a renewed perspective and skillset.
Overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin? Microsoft has got your back. The tech behemoth has launched a new program to help 25 million people around the world advance their careers by equipping them with in-demand skills by the end of the year—and for free, according to Fast Company.
To start out, Microsoft sought to discover the jobs predicted to be the most coveted with a likelihood of staying power lasting over the next decade. It thus adopted LinkedIn’s Economic Graph, which culls “all the data on LinkedIn that shows available jobs, the required skills, and the existing skills job seekers have.”
In no particular order, the model forecasts the 10 in-demand roles to be sought by employers as:
1. Software developer
2. Sales representative
3. Project manager
4. IT administrator
5. Customer service specialist
6. Digital marketer
7. IT support or helpdesk
8. Data analyst
9. Financial analyst
10. Graphic designer
After which, Microsoft rolled out a series of LinkedIn Learning video courses—taught in English, French, German, and Spanish—to help nurture these skills, which will remain free until the end of the year.
If you prefer, you can also take online exams after completing the courses to get certified under “industry-recognized, Microsoft Certifications based on exams that demonstrate proficient in Microsoft technologies” with a top-up of just US$15, a “large discount on the price of exams that typically cost more than US$100,” Microsoft described in a press statement.
The company also hopes to further lower education costs by teaming up with governments, foundations, nonprofits, and other organizations who wish to subsidize the exams.
Find out more about the initiative, or start learning, by
clicking here
.
SEE ALSO:
blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/06/30/micr...n-a-covid-19-economy
