Google is Offering 100,000 Free Certifications for In-Demand Skills

In a crowded job search market, anything you can do to stand out makes a difference. Some hiring managers thumb through dozens of applications in a day, so what makes yours worth taking a closer look at? Whether you’re trying to start your career or find a new job, you can go as far as your skills take you.

That’s why Google is launching certificate courses in major fields for free. The tech giant is launching an initiative to train people in data analysis, project management, UX design, and IT support. Courses promise to turn even beginners into highly trained professionals in three to six months. Interested? Here’s what you need to know.

Google Career Certificates

Google is still developing its certificate program, but it seems incredibly promising. Each course prepares learners to step into a job with a salary of $50,000 more in fields with high demand. Certifications, particularly highly relevant ones in a given field, can go a long way toward helping you land a job. Not only that, but by developing more skills you potentially open new career paths for yourself or can increase your earning potential in your current role.

To run the program, Google partnered with Coursera, one of the most highly respected skill development platforms on the internet. Coursera does charge a monthly fee, but Google has financial aid, grants and scholarships available.

Courses are created, developed, and led by Google employees, meaning you get the best user experience possible. Should you apply for a position at Google after completing a certification course, the company will consider it as a four-year degree equivalent to boot.

Courses Offered

As of now, only one course – IT Support – is live, but Google plans to launch the next round of courses soon. For the other three courses – data analysis, project management, and UX design – Google is offering 100,000 scholarships to skill seekers. 

In addition to the 100,000 scholarships, the company also pledged more than $10 million in grants to community organizations like YWCA and JFF.

Although these courses have not yet been launched, Google will post updates as they happen. As the coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented employment and demand for in-home education options, Google Career Certificates may be launching at just the right time.

See Also: How LinkedIn’s Free Tools Can Help Rejuvenate Your Career