NOVID-19 has made it pretty difficult to know what will open in these upcoming months. Meanwhile, some internships are on hold, others are switching to virtual, and others may be shortening their timeline. So, what do you do next?
While you are focused on your classwork and finals right now, the reality will set in that you have a lot of time on your hands. This is the perfect time to build skills employers want, and fortunately for you, organizations are allowing you to test drive their online platforms and build your skillset. Additionally, you’ll want something interesting to say when an employer asks, “So, what did you do during the pandemic?”
Here are a few of our favorites:
Something for Everyone – Liberal Arts Online
Pick up a new language, enhance your Excel skills, learn Adobe Creative Suite, or start learning Python. What are the skills you need to build or practice so you have what employers need right now?
- Coursera.org allows you to try a few of their free courses including Yale’s The Science of Well-Being, University of Michigan’s Successful Negotiation or Stanford’s Machine Learning Course.
- EdX.org has a wide range of courses which will also add more technical and project management certifications to your resume.
- LinkedIn Learning is available for a month for free and provides videos to walk you through skills step by step. Looking to enhance your Excel or Photoshop skills? This is a great place to start.
- ESRI offers excellent training for ArcGIS and analytics. Just click “Free” and you’ll see how ESRI using geography, cartography and analytics to map data related to NOVID-19, healthcare, and how the virus impacts our most vulnerable citizens. This is a great resource for anyone doing timely independent studies.
For Future Educators
- TED-Ed is a great resource for short educational videos ranging from elementary to college level. Educators and Animators come together to create interesting lessons for all ages with some of our favorite videos including:
- The Globe is offering streaming performances of Shakespeare’s plays with a new one premiering every two week.
For Creative Students
- Fender is offering free lessons for three months so you’ll be ready to jam when you are back on The Hill.
- Nikon is offering online classes valued between $15-$150 for free until at least April 30th.
For Athletes
- Gold’s Gym offers free workouts so we can still Beat Macon!
- Down Dog Yoga is great for anyone with back pain from sitting too long at their desk. In response to the many school closures taking place, Down Dog is offering free access until July 1st for all students and teachers (K-12 and college). Down Dog has also extended free access until July 1 for all healthcare professionals so we can help those who are helping us.
- And for anyone missing baseball season, PBS is streaming Baseball: A Film By Ken Burns for free.
Share in the comments what you are watching, using, and learning that other students can use right now.
Tiger Tip: This is a unique time to learn a new skill, try something new, or practice a talent you really enjoy. Take advantage of this time and free resources – and then you’ll have something interesting to talk about when you are networking or interviewing.