Photo by Peter Olexa 

As we already know, the tech industry is moving faster than we can blink. If you are already a tech professional, you will know that the learning never stops. You have to move with the industry, and there’s always something new popping out. 

If you are looking to enter the tech industry, the main piece of advice that many current tech professionals will give you is that you have to be a keen learner, because that is what you will be doing for most of your career. 

With that being said, some may not know where they can get knowledge from or continuously learn. Therefore, I have put this article together to provide you with different platforms that will cater to different needs. 

Coursera

Link: Coursera

Coursera is a well-known learning platform and is not specific to technology courses and certifications only. They cater to individuals, businesses, universities and governments. Over the years, Coursera has become more and more popular, especially in its partnership with many popular universities such as the University of Michigan and Princeton University. 

They offer a wide range of courses, from data science, computer science, personal development and more. You may be interested in learning a new programming language whilst building your public speaking or leadership skills. Coursera has it all!

If you are looking to become a Data Scientist, check out A Free Data Science Learning Roadmap: For All Levels with IBM or if you’re looking into SQL, check out Boost Your Data Science Skills: The Essential SQL Certifications You Need.

edX

Link: edX

Another platform that provides you with a variety of online courses, in different backgrounds is edX. You can take a course, earn a certificate or even earn a degree!

The areas of interest on the edX platforms are up to date, for example, you can specifically learn about artificial intelligence and ChatGPT if you’re looking to become a prompt engineer. Or you could dive into the Finance industry and learn about blockchain. The courses provided on edX once upon a time were for specific sectors, however with the way the tech industry is moving - the skills are highly transferable and can benefit anybody!

For example, if you are looking to be an all-rounder data professional, check out 7 Free Harvard University Courses to Advance Your Skills.

DataCamp

Link: DataCamp

DataCamp is a well-known learning platform that is specific to individuals who are looking to build their data and AI skills. The platform offers a range of free courses which you can take on the free plan, or you could access their full content library with the premium version which is under £11 a month! You can also learn as a team and also implement the learning platform in your company!

They have a variety of courses from beginners to experts, ensuring data professionals have all the skills and knowledge they need to keep up with the tech world. You can also benefit from their webinars, code-alongs, blogs, podcasts, and real-world projects!

If you are looking to jump into the tech industry, check out 4 Certifications to Become Job-Ready in 30 Days.

O’Reilly

Link: O’Reilly

O’Reilly is well known for being a publisher, but that’s not all they offer. Over the years they have produced a lot of tech conferences, live training, interactive learning, certification experiences, videos, and more. 

Their online learning and training platform caters to people who like to learn through books and also those who prefer learning through classes. You can learn as an individual or you can learn as a team, through your business, government or higher education institution. 

Outside of the courses, certifications and interactive learning, O’Reilly also provides insight reports where they analyze data to discuss what is currently happening in the tech market. 

If you would like to learn through O’Reilly, check out Books, Courses, and Live Events to Learn Generative AI with O’Reilly or if you’d like to get your hands on a free report, check out 2024 Tech Trends: AI Breakthroughs & Development Insights from O’Reilly’s Free Report.

Pluralsight

Link: Pluralsight

You probably haven’t heard of this platform and I’m here to tell you that you’re missing out! Pluralsight stands for helping individuals and teams learn to cut cycle times. They want organizations to speed up their onboarding and ensure that your team has the right skills to do what they need to do! They aim to cut out the challenges and priorities making work more efficient and effective. 

The learning platform believes that technology teams are only successful if the skills are relevant. The learning platform has a wide range of courses, assessments, and labs to ensure individuals are tech-fluent in the business world. 

Wrapping it up

As a tech professional, learning should be part of your career goals. If not - you will unfortunately fall short and feel like you’re on a constant run of catching up with the industry. Learning platforms are here to eradicate those challenges so that you are up-to-date and feel secure in your career. 

Self-development should not look like a cost, but how you can elevate your career.
 
 

Nisha Arya is a data scientist, freelance technical writer, and an editor and community manager for KDnuggets. She is particularly interested in providing data science career advice or tutorials and theory-based knowledge around data science. Nisha covers a wide range of topics and wishes to explore the different ways artificial intelligence can benefit the longevity of human life. A keen learner, Nisha seeks to broaden her tech knowledge and writing skills, while helping guide others.