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 So you want to take an online certification course to amplify your skill-set? Google generates a plethora of options to choose from. Where do you start? Here’s my personal review on trying out two separate courses from two major learning platforms!

1. Hubspot Academy: ​Hubspot Academy is the worldwide leader in free online training for inbound marketing, sales, and customer service professionals. They specialize in comprehensive certificate, singular topic courses, and bite-sized lessons for professionals looking to grow their career and business.

2. Udemy​: Online education provider for professionals and students enhance career development. 

    
As we all know, 2020 has been one heck of a year. The fact that for months on end, we’ve all been creating a new routine in quarantine has been INSANE. Finding normalcy and motivation has been a struggle. I don’t know about you but after graduating in the midst of a pandemic, I needed a time out. Time to myself. No school, no job hunting, no responsibility other than wearing a mask and socially distancing. Also, to my 2020 grads, pat yourself on the back for that one because it was a wild ride.

After giving myself that much needed break, I was ready to start exploring for jobs. I was updating my LinkedIn and trying to think of ways to revamp my resumé. I felt with the roles I wanted, I needed more under my belt. I had a strong desire to learn about Marketing, specifically Digital Marketing and Social Media, as I had worked on projects in the past and loved it! Next thing I know, I’m googling “best free and paid marketing courses.” After a multitude of indecisiveness, recommendations and reading reviews, I went with HubSpot Academy’s “Social Media Marketing” certification course and Udemy’s “Canva Graphic Design for Entrepreneurs - Design 11 Projects.”

Here’s my breakdown of each:

1. HubSpot Academy​ offers free online certification courses. I took the Social Media Marketing Course, a lengthy six hours course that is broken up into sections, making it easier to learn and retain the information. Its layout was filled with vibrant pre-recorded lectures and slides. It’s stocked with lots of information and a great introductory on the basics of Social Media Marketing. From understanding the differences of ‘B2B’ vs ‘B2C’, analytics and the differences between how each platform engages with their audience or client. Not only were the slides visually appealing, but the instructors were very engaging. Some guest speakers from Brand Development and Social Media sectors within both large and small businesses shared their strategies which was insightful. Overall the course was aesthetic to the eye, easy to follow, and I didn’t have a problem navigating the course especially when note taking.
Hubspot Academy: Social Media Marketing Course: Get Certified in Social Media Strategy

2. Udemy​, on the other hand, was a paid course and featured a very similar format with a more interactive approach. There were 11 chapters with each chapter focusing on a design ranging from creating a Facebook Ad to a Pinterest Graphic, and more. The instructors provided self-recorded videos of themselves; however, the majority of videos shown were shared screen recordings of the instructors’ PC/laptop. Ideally as you are watching the course, you would be following along by having a separate browser open for Canva. In each chapter, you were tasked to upload your final product creation to the community wall for peer and instructor feedback. An issue I faced included layout differences of the instructor’s version of Canva versus mine. The Canva shown in the course was slightly outdated. It took some playing around with the website to figure out where all the new tabs locations were placed. Other than that, I enjoyed this hands-on approach to learning and found it as a very useful guide. Definitely was very beginner friendly to anyone who isn’t familiar with many social media platforms or creating designs. I loved how Canva does not require a software installation while showcasing a wide variety of templates.

Udemy: Canva Graphic Design for Entrepreneurs - Design 11 projects

As this was my first attempt at trying an online certification course, I am pleased with the outcome. If I had to choose between the two, I would recommend HubSpot based on its ease of use and the value (hello -- Free!). Udemy charges for their curriculum and offers a range of prices to fit your budget constraints. Overall, I was highly satisfied on both platforms and would encourage anyone who is interested in Social Media and Digital Marketing to check these out.

 With the uncertainty of when in-person gatherings will be safe again, mid-day coffees and networking events have been put on hold, right? Not so much! Here are 6 ways to network virtually and make the most of your professional network from the comfort of your home. The best part? You may even be able to network with someone in a completely different state or even country! Here are 6 ways to network and enhance your professional network. 

1. Set Informational Interviews!

• The myth that nobody has time for informational interviews is simply not true. It is a great time to network and connect with people in your community and people that work at companies you aspire to intern or work for. Email and ask if they have 20 minutes to chat about their professional journey and share any advice for yours. Go into the call with set questions and an agenda. Remember, their time is valuable and you want to get the most out of the call!

2. Set up Zoom Coffees

• Informational interviews seem too serious? Start with a Zoom coffee meeting. It is just as great as a meeting in person with an added bonus – no commute time!

3. Zoom Fatigue = Phone Call!

• If people are experiencing zoom fatigue and you can tell they are not into utilizing zoom at the moment, ask to hop onto a quick phone call. You can even take the call in your pajamas - no judgment here!

4. Utilize LinkedIn

• Send out messages to people that you are not connected to on LinkedIn and ask to have a quick chat. You will be surprised how many experience executives are willing to connect and hop on the phone to give you advice!

5. Use the Student Card!

• Reach out to alumni from your school who work at your dream companies – they are always willing to help you out!

6. Attend Virtual Events!

• Previously, events were in specific cities that you either had to miss out on or travel too to attend, now these events are virtually and sometimes even globally! A majority of virtual events are free. Utilize social media and Eventbrite to find events happening soon!

1. Prioritize spending on essentials like food and housing. Plan several months ahead: there’s no telling how long quarantine will last. Use a notebook, spreadsheet, or budgeting app to keep track of your finances.

2. Don’t spend if you don’t have to! Specifically... Cut down on things you can live without: online shopping, subscriptions, luxuries, etc. Avoid traveling (you should be staying home anyway!).

3. Minimize eating out. Most food delivery costs 10cedis, minimum. If you’re ordering food daily, that’s at least 70cedis spent every week, for just a single meal. Cooking is more cost efficient. With the 70 cedis spent on delivery, you could probably feed yourself three meals a day from the grocery store, if you know how to shop frugally.
 

This tip is all about minimizing your risk for the time being. Say you’ve been regularly using your credit card before quarantine, paying the full balance each month. Everything has been going fine, but then you get hit with an unexpected bill. Once you take care of that bill, will you have enough left to pay your credit card balance? 
If not, you’ll start to owe interest, which increases the total amount you pay for what you bought. And if you miss payments, you could face damage to your credit score. Even if you have an internship or job lined up right now that could provide some income in the future, it’s better to play it safe in the present. Things could change, and no matter what your situation becomes, credit card companies will still expect you to pay. Keep that balance as low as possible and only use your card if you have to.

If you’ve lost upcoming opportunities, here are some things you can do right now for additional income.There are so many ways students can do it not even needing to move from their sofa. We have put together different ways to earn money.

Get a part time job

This is one of the easiest ways to earn a steady flow of income as a student as you know you are guaranteed to be paid! Try to look online for job vacancies in your local area, this is not only a good way to service your debts but also you can gain some highly regarded work experience.

Sell your old books 

The market for used books is hot right now, with more people spending time indoors and having time to read. Sites like BookScouter and others are great resources for selling used books (including textbooks). You could also look at more established marketplaces like Amazon. 

Publish a Kindle book

If you’re into writing then this one is definitely for you! You can write and publish a book on kindle and then sell it. You will get 70% of the profit! Also what is really good about selling it on Amazon is that they have a large market, so hopefully you will sell lots of copies of your books.

Get a side hustle

Consider a side gig if you’re willing and able. There are still a lot of businesses that have remained open and need workers. Some popular ones include food delivery services, grocery stores, and online tutoring sites. Of course, the main consideration here is your health and safety: if you do decide to work, make sure you have the right safety gear and are able to stick to social distancing guidelines. If you’re really strapped for cash, try alternatives like short-term loans. Many companies that offer such loans are aware of the needs of college students and may offer special plans for repayment.

Become A Virtual Assistant

Another great way to earn money online is to become a virtual assistant. A lot of people and businesses are looking to outsource “assistant-type” work, such as responding to emails, handling basic writing and organization, research tasks, and more. If you are looking to do this type of work online, consider becoming a virtual assistant and you could earn several hundred dollars or more per month.

Start A Blog Or Website

If you really want to make money online, you need to start a blog or website. This is your home-base for everything that you do online, and it, by itself, can turn into a hugely profitable venture. Forbes.com has has recorded thousands of bloggers earning a 6 figure income monthly that started in college. It's really easy to get started.

Become A YouTube Video Blogger

If you have a gift for video, becoming a YouTube blogger is a great way to earn extra cash. You get paid based on the advertisements displayed on your videos – so the more people that watch your videos, the more you get paid.It's estimated that video bloggers on YouTube get roughly $7.60 per each 1,000 views of their videos.

Become an influencer 

You already know that influencers can earn money from their social media channels, but how exactly do they do this? Do note that a certain degree of fame is essential to earn anything near substantial (they aren’t called “influencers” for nothing).Monetization varies greatly among influencers, and you’ll find that a lot make money through various income streams. One of the most common ways influencers do this is through affiliate marketing.A brand approaches influencers to promote its products on their page:

1. When a customer purchases through the influencer’s affiliate link, the influencer gets paid accordingly. 
2. Influencers can sign up for various affiliate platforms like FlexOffers or Maxbounty, who can connect them to a myriad of sponsors they can collaborate with.
3. Influencers can also sign up for display advertising or get paid for sponsored posts. Students can try Woopro it's a new app developed in Ghana.

Saving money will start your nest egg but investing will enable it to grow.Building wealth requires learning how to invest and you can do so with very little these days.While in college, if you have income, take advantage of Roth IRAs. They are tax-free retirement accounts that take post-tax money. Learn the ins and outs of investing using a Roth IRA but leave everything else for after graduation.

You are a student first but your education must include a little bit of how investing works. You'll be tempted by all the robo-advisors and alternative investments but avoid that temptation because it's adding complexity before you're ready.Just learn about the markets, how fees impact your investments, and stick primarily with funds inside a Roth.

The Smartest Money Move Is Being Proactive, Not Reactive

College students already deal with a lot, and quarantine has made life that much more complicated. I know that managing your finances seems like just another burden that you have to juggle, but it’s one of the most important things you can do for yourself right now. If you follow these recommendations, you’ll be better prepared for the present and poised to hit the ground running when things start normalizing.

 Today, we’re excited to release our 2021 Internship Rankings. This year, our Internship Rankings highlight the top programs in 29 categories, including the Most Prestigious Internships, Best Overall Internships, Best Internships by Industry, Best Internships for Diversity, Best Internships by Employment Factor, and, new this year, Best Internships by Role, including computer science, data analytics, engineering, IT, sales and marketing, software development, and software engineering.

This past summer, Vault surveyed more than 11,000 current and former interns from more than 100 internship programs. In addition to asking interns to rate and review their own internship experiences, we asked interns to rate the prestige of other employers to determine which internships are the most desirable. Interns were presented with a list of top companies and asked to rate each company on how prestigious its internship is on a scale of 1 to 10—with 10 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. Vault averaged the ratings for each employer, then ranked the companies in order, starting with the highest score as No.1.

AUTOMATED RESUME FILTERS

Most larger companies are using automated resume filter software, and many smaller companies now hire recruitment agencies to use filter software to make the number of applications they review manageable. These filters take a scanned image of your resume, and then score it according to key words and phrases the company sets that describe the qualifications and skills needed for the job.

THE IMPORTANCE OF USING A TEMPLATE

Resume templates are very important when applying for a job today. Make sure everything on your resume is presented in a logical order so that reviewers are able to skim it. Using a resume template keeps your information in order, and easy to read. A great tip if you want your template to stand out from other applicants is to have a look at ResumeShoppe. This site has a selection of cv templates for Word that will surely get you noticed and help you structure your information.

KEYWORDS AND KEY PHRASES

To beat the filter you have to know the key words and phrases used in your industry to describe the job that is listed. You may excel in being level headed and organized, but if the standard way of describing that in the position is “flow based management” and “conflict resolution,” you need to use their words and not your own. Make sure you do your homework so you know the right words to help you get through the filter to land the interview.

MAKING SURE YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR INDUSTRY

Before you race off and grab a resume template that you like the looks of, take the time to do a little investigation into what your industry is looking for in a candidate. There is a pattern to how they want to see information. Some industries want to see your skills first, while others will be more interested in your related experience. Just about all of the companies are going to want to know more about you – but whether it is through an objective/goal statement or an executive summary is going to depend on the position as well.