{"id":3243,"date":"2023-05-25T14:00:18","date_gmt":"2023-05-25T19:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitalstristg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=3243"},"modified":"2024-06-11T14:09:02","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T19:09:02","slug":"14-job-ready-digital-skills-you-can-learn-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/14-job-ready-digital-skills-you-can-learn-online\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Job-Ready Digital Skills You Can Learn Online"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While higher education is certainly the right choice for some people, college isn\u2019t the right path for everyone\u2026 and that\u2019s okay! You don\u2019t need a university degree to get the skills and certifications necessary to jumpstart a fulfilling career with good pay and benefits. In fact, many times you can learn job-ready skills for industries like digital marketing, content publishing, IT, and much more online at a fraction of the cost of a traditional college degree.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If that sounds appealing to you, then let\u2019s talk about which digital skills are in demand that you can easily learn online, the jobs (and salaries) they prepare you for, and where you can learn many of these skills for FREE.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14 In-Demand Digital Skills<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are countless skills you can cultivate for exclusively online or digital-focused jobs. The following, however, are some of the most useful, in-demand skills that digital industries are looking for.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Web and App Development and Programming<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re reading this article, then you can thank a web developer. These professionals know how to create and maintain websites and apps so that the Internet (and your favorite mobile games) can run smoothly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A crucial part of being a web developer is learning programming languages. The most in-demand programming languages include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">JavaScript<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PHP<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SQL<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CSS<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HTML<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Python<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These languages tell software and websites how to operate and communicate with other software and websites. The Internet wouldn\u2019t work without them!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWeb dev\u201d skills are vital to our modern way of life, which is reliant on our gadgets, apps, and web services. As such, web developers are paid well for their necessary skills. The median salary of web developers in 2020 was $77,200, with the best 25% being paid well over $100,000 annually, according to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/money.usnews.com\/careers\/best-jobs\/web-developer\/salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">U.S. News &amp; World Report<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This same report found that even the lowest-paid 25% of web developers made well over $55,000. For reference, the median annual wage across all positions in the United States that same year was just <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/oact\/cola\/central.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$34,612.04<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get started in this field, you\u2019ll need to learn web development basics, including learning at least one (preferably more) programming languages. One way to get started is with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.launchcode.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LaunchCode<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which offers free tech training and help with job placement. All you need is a laptop to get started.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Data Analytics<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making sense of a mess of data will always be in demand, whether you have an in-person job or work online only. To succeed in data analytics, you need to not only be good with numbers, but you also need to be good at telling stories. Namely, you need to know how to convey to your audience (employers, clients, investors, etc.), in a compelling narrative, just what this data means.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data analysts typically earn between $87,500 and $126,250 annually, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.roberthalf.com\/salary-guide\/specialization\/technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">according to Robert Half Technology\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2022 Salary Report<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. That said, data analytics is sometimes not a job unto itself, but merely part of a different position altogether. That means that learning data analytics can help you succeed in a wide range of well-paying jobs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One way to get started with learning this in-demand skill? Grow with Google. This program is offered through a partnership of Google and Coursera. In this program, participants take a course through Coursera and receive a professional certificate from Google upon successful completion of their course. One popular certification from this program is the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/grow.google\/certificates\/data-analytics\/#?modal_active=none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Data Analytics Certification<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which you can use to start a career in the rapidly growing field of digital data analytics.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Graphic Design<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that is never more true than on the Internet. The reason? Human beings are incredibly visual: according to some research, our brains process images up to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.t-sciences.com\/news\/humans-process-visual-data-better\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">60,000 times faster than text<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How logos, brands, and websites look and feel can influence how we navigate online shopping experiences, brand loyalty, and so much more\u2013all making people with great graphic design skills a valuable asset for any business or brand. And while graphic designers may be artists, they certainly don\u2019t earn \u201cstarving artist\u201d wages. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/oes\/current\/oes271024.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the average wage for graphic designers is $59,970 and the median annual wage is $50,710.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If graphic design is your passion and you want to make it your career, you can start learning the skills you need with any number of online courses, including this <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coursera.org\/specializations\/graphic-design\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Graphic Design Specialization course<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from CalArts (California Institute of the Arts) on Coursera. You can take the course for free if you only want to read and learn the course content. If you want a certification, however, you will need to pay a fee. Fortunately, financial assistance for this certification is available.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If Coursera isn\u2019t for you, you can also explore the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adobe.com\/creativecloud\/design\/discover.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">basics of graphic design for free from Adobe<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Data Visualization<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Websites and brands aren\u2019t the only things in need of a digital makeover; data oftentimes needs to be presented in a visually compelling manner, too. Businesses need professionals who know how to turn mounds of seemingly gibberish data into attractive, easy-to-understand graphics like pie charts, shareable infographics, and more. This way, it is easier to share and understand research and company data in a way that leads to real insights and actionable next steps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People whose primary job is to create such graphics are often known as data visualization specialists. However, data visualization is oftentimes not its own job, but rather just one part of it. Either way, having data visualization skills can make a big difference in income. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.payscale.com\/research\/US\/Skill=Data_Visualization\/Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to PayScale<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, jobs that require data visualization skills have salaries, on average, of $77,000 a year in the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Becoming competent in both graphic design and data analytics can help you get the data visualization skills you need to work as a data scientist, analytic manager, and more. You can also take online courses that specialize in data visualization, such as this <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.edx.org\/course\/data-science-visualization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data Science: Visualization course on edX through Harvard University<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Auditing the course is free for a limited time, while taking the course to earn credit and certification requires a modest fee.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019re not the only one who enjoys reading content; so too do search engines like Google and Bing! And how much these search engines like a piece of content can affect whether or not anyone will ever read it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It works like this: the Internet is an unimaginably vast place filled to the brim with content. But not all of the content is good, and search engines like Google only want to show the best content to their users. That is why search engines use algorithms to read or \u201ccrawl\u201d web pages to both learn what each page is about and rate it accordingly. That way, when someone searches for something online, Google can almost instantaneously pull up a list of high-quality content that is relevant to that specific search query.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This all means that, when you write content, you need to keep search algorithms in mind as much as you do your human readers. The ability to optimize your content for search engines is known as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/solutions\/search-engine-optimization\/\">Search Engine Optimization, or SEO<\/a>. SEO is constantly evolving, which means SEO experts need the ability to think fast, problem-solve, and more to meet the ever-changing demands of search algorithms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SEO specialists earn an average of $57,196 a year, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career\/seo-specialist\/salaries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">according to Indeed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If that sounds like a good salary to you, then you can take advantage of online classes to learn the basics of SEO. Free or reduced-cost SEO courses are available from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/yoast.com\/academy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yoast Academy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/academy.hubspot.com\/courses\/seo-training\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HubSpot Academy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. SEM (Search Engine Marketing)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SEM, or Search Engine Marketing, is a form of digital marketing that boosts the visibility of web pages on a search engine results page, or SERP. While SEO focuses on improving organic (non-paid) traffic to a web page, SEM concentrates on paid traffic through advertisements. An SEM specialist therefore needs a strong understanding of SEO, advertising, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/solutions\/search-engine-optimization\/keyword-research-services\/\">keyword research<\/a>, data analytics, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because SEM specialists wear so many hats, they can expect a decent salary in return for their hard work. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ziprecruiter.com\/Salaries\/SEM-Specialist-Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to ZipRecruiter<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the national average salary for this position is $58,262 annually.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To learn SEM fundamentals, you can explore courses like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/intellipaat.com\/sem-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SEM Online Course on Intellipaat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coursera.org\/projects\/google-ads-beginner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Ads for Beginners from Coursera<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. PPC (Pay-Per-Click) Marketing<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Closely related to SEM is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/solutions\/paid-search\/\">PPC, or Pay-Per-Click, marketing<\/a>. When using a PPC model, advertisers pay their publisher (whoever published the advertisement, such as Google) when someone clicks on their ads.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PPC marketers have it all\u2013advertising skills, keyword-researching skills, data analysis skills, writing skills, budgeting skills, and much, much more. It\u2019s therefore no surprise that these professionals often receive ample compensation for their work. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ziprecruiter.com\/Salaries\/PPC-Manager-Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to ZipRecruiter<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the national average base salary for PPC managers is just over $67,000. Many PPC managers also receive regular bonuses or incentives based on the success of their PPC campaigns.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get started with PPC, you can enroll in this free <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/academy\/courses\/ppc-fundamentals-course-with-joel-bondorowsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PPC Fundamentals Course with Joel Bondorowsky through SEMRush Academy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. Digital Research<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keyword discovery for successful PPC campaigns, audience insights, staying on top of industry trends, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/solutions\/search-engine-optimization\/content-marketing\/\">content creation<\/a>, and more all rely on digital research skills. Learning where to look for information, how to search for it, and how to weed out bad results is critical for industries like digital marketing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oftentimes, digital research is not a complete job in and of itself; rather, it is a critical skill in a wide variety of other jobs, such as PPC managers and content writers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Florence Digital Research Academy offers a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/florencehc.com\/florence-digital-research-certification\/digital-research-certifications\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital Research Certification<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that can help you become a better digital researcher, no matter what job you end up pursuing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. Google Workspace Familiarity<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As full-time work from home and hybrid work become more popular, online workspaces are increasingly important to ensure that everyone can work together smoothly, no matter where they are. One of the single-most popular and accessible digital workspaces is Google Workspace. Formerly known as G Suite, this collection of software and online tools includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gmail<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Google\u2019s email service<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Google Calendar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a calendar and event-tracking software<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Google Docs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a word processing program<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Google Sheets<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a spreadsheet software<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Google Slides<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a presentation software<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Google Meet<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a voice-chat app<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Google Forms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a survey software<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And much more!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anyone looking for an online or hybrid job will need to learn how to use Google Workspace (or similar) products at some point, as will most in-person office workers. Fortunately, learning the ins and outs of these products is relatively simple. Google offers a free-to-use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/a\/users\/?hl=en#topic=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Workspace Learning Center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to help anyone learn to use these tools with ease.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. Project Management<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strong organizational and leadership skills can make life easier for everyone, especially when not everyone works in the same office together. That is why project management is such an in-demand skill for digital jobs. Project managers, as the name suggests, manage projects. That means they have to know how to allocate resources, communicate effectively, lead a team, budget, analyze data, and document everything.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career\/project-manager\/salaries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Indeed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the average base salary for project managers in the United States is nearly $78,000 a year. Cash bonuses are also common for these professionals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you enjoy taking the lead in team projects? If so, project management could be a great career fit for you. Grow with Google offers a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/grow.google\/certificates\/project-management\/#?modal_active=none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project Management Certificate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where you can learn all the skills needed to become a successful project manager.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11. Social Media Management<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media currently dominates the online social sphere, from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, and more. It\u2019s not just young people that are on social media platforms, either. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/436417\/us-baby-boomer-selected-social-networks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Statista<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 70% of Baby Boomers used YouTube and 68% used Facebook in 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no doubt about it: social media is <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">popular<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. That popularity can work to any brand or organization\u2019s advantage, if done well. From spreading brand awareness to facilitating sales, businesses use social media every single day\u2026 and the people who can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/use-tiktok-for-business-like-a-pro\/\">use social media for business<\/a> are highly sought after.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/solutions\/social-media-marketing-services\/\">Social media managers<\/a> often have a wide range of skills that include copyediting, a good sense of humor, effective communication, graphic design, SEO knowledge, advertising expertise, and more. It\u2019s therefore no surprise that employers are willing to pay well for employees that can wear so many hats. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.payscale.com\/research\/US\/Job=Social_Media_Manager\/Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to PayScale<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, social media managers in the United States most often make a salary of roughly $53,000 a year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To learn more about social media management, you can take the following certification courses: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/academy.hubspot.com\/courses\/social-media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social Media Marketing Course: Get Certified in Social Media Strategy through HubSpot Academy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (free) or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coursera.org\/learn\/social-media-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social Media Management course from Meta on Coursera<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (free to enroll for a limited time with financial aid available).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12. UX (User Experience) Design<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People interact with thousands of products every single day, from apps to websites to physical items. The professionals who ensure these products are accessible and work well for users are known as UX, or User Experience, designers. In other words, their job is to use data and other types of evidence to improve a user\u2019s experience with a product. Successful UX designers therefore have skill sets that include data analysis, visual design, and research.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Businesses are always looking for ways to improve user experiences, which means that UX designers are in high demand. But don\u2019t just take our word for it. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/business\/talent\/blog\/talent-strategy\/linkedin-most-in-demand-hard-and-soft-skills\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LinkedIn listed UX design<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as one of their five most in-demand hard skills in 2020; that demand translates to good pay. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career\/user-experience-designer\/salaries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Indeed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the average annual base salary for UX designers in the United States is $93,070.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to get started in UX design? Grow with Google currently offers a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/grow.google\/certificates\/ux-design\/#?modal_active=none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UX Design certification course<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>13. Cybersecurity<\/h3>\n<p>The need to protect organizations from cyber attackers has created a rising demand for cybersecurity professionals across various industries. According to a McKinsey report, there are currently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/capabilities\/risk-and-resilience\/our-insights\/cybersecurity\/cybersecurity-trends-looking-over-the-horizon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">3.5 million cybersecurity job openings worldwide<\/a>, and this demand is expected to grow further as technology continues to advance, and our reliance on it deepens.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts an impressive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/computer-and-information-technology\/information-security-analysts.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">35% job growth for information security analysts<\/a> in the next decade, positioning it as one of the fastest-growing job sectors in the market. Moreover, cybersecurity engineers in the U.S. enjoy an Average Base Pay of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glassdoor.co.in\/Salaries\/us-cyber-security-engineer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,26.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$1,31,637 per year<\/a>, making it an exceptional and lucrative career opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>These compelling reasons provide strong motivations to consider learning cybersecurity online!<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14. Problem-Solving Skills<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All other skills on this list rely on good old-fashioned problem-solving skills. That\u2019s why the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/agenda\/2016\/01\/the-10-skills-you-need-to-thrive-in-the-fourth-industrial-revolution\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">World Economic Forum<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> listed \u201ccomplex problem solving\u201d and \u201ccritical thinking\u201d as the top two job skills in 2020. No matter your job, you can be sure that robust problem-solving skills will make you an invaluable asset to your company.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to improve your current skill set? You can boost your problem-solving skills through a number of online courses, such as this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/learning\/paths\/develop-critical-thinking-decision-making-and-problem-solving-skills\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Develop Critical Thinking, Decision-Making, and Problem-Solving Skills&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:513,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0}\">Develop Critical Thinking, Decision-Making, and Problem-Solving Skills<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0learning path on LinkedIn or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.edx.org\/course\/critical-thinking-problem-solving-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Critical Thinking &amp; Problem Solving<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> course from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) through edX. The LinkedIn learning path is free with a LinkedIn Learning subscription while the RIT course is free to take but has a fee for exams and certifications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn Job-Ready Skills for FREE with Digital Strike &#8211; Targeted Marketing<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Digital Strike &#8211; Targeted Marketing, we believe in investing in the future and our community. That is why we started our Growth Initiative in 2021. Our Initiative\u2019s mission is simple: to provide free job training and tools to St. Louis-area students who don\u2019t want to take the traditional college route after high school.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specifically, our program accepts students graduating from high school in the St. Louis area each year. If chosen for our program, participants will enroll in one of Grow with Google\u2019s five career certification courses through Coursera:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grow.google\/certificates\/it-support\/#?modal_active=none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IT<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grow.google\/certificates\/data-analytics\/#?modal_active=none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data Analytics<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grow.google\/certificates\/project-management\/#?modal_active=none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project Management<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grow.google\/certificates\/ux-design\/#?modal_active=none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UX Design<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grow.google\/certificates\/digital-marketing-ecommerce\/#?modal_active=none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital Marketing &amp; E-Commerce<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grow.google\/certificates\/cybersecurity\/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=paidsearch&amp;utm_campaign=ha-sem-sk-cs-phr__geo--US&amp;utm_term=best%20online%20courses%20for%20cyber%20security&amp;gad=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwq4imBhBQEiwA9Nx1BhflaIDrPtIuNDLg-Q_4D3fKK-S8Y4slxFBvi2uEPRzpKoj9RWq5ORoCPzQQAvD_BwE#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cybersecurity<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We cover course fees AND provide participants with a free laptop to take these courses. We also make our office available most days of the week to participants, so they can have access to a reliable Internet connection and meet other program participants.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But we don\u2019t stop there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We also mentor our Growth Initiative participants so that they have other skills needed to land a job after they complete their chosen course, such as interviewing skills. We also connect current participants with program graduates from previous years, so they can learn from their peers while also growing their professional network.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re interested in this opportunity, we recommend that you <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/google-growth-with-digital-strike\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">apply for our Growth Initiative<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. We would love to help you learn valuable skills for a fulfilling, well-paying career.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While higher education is certainly the right choice for some people, college isn\u2019t the right path for everyone\u2026 and that\u2019s okay! You don\u2019t need a university degree to get the skills and certifications necessary to jumpstart a fulfilling career with good pay and benefits. In fact, many times you can learn job-ready skills for industries [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":3249,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[30,131],"class_list":["post-3243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-digital-marketing","tag-professional-development"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3243\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}