In this article:
- Flexibility is the Watchword for Independent Workers
- More Skills Mean More Opportunities for Work
- Staying Relevant in a Changing World
- The Power of Expertise and Credibility
- Final Thoughts
Freelancers and other busy professionals can benefit greatly from undertaking online education programs and picking up new skills and credentials. By using online programs to level up skills and credentials, new types of work and clients can be made available to freelancers, and many people in more traditional jobs can find new pathways of promotion and career advancement.
For working professionals like freelancers, staying adaptable and continuing to work is vital. Most freelancers don’t have the luxury of being able to take several months or years away from work to get accredited or undertake lengthy traditional education. The same can be said of many other working professionals; people simply do not have the financial freedom to step away from work and engage in education. But they do when it’s online education.
Online education offers people the opportunity to engage with much more flexible programs that can be completed at the leisure of the student and, often, with much greater speed than traditional tertiary education programs. This means that regardless of whether you are a social worker who wants to complete an advanced standing MSW program online, or a freelancer who needs to pick up a couple of extra accreditations in order to stay ahead of the curve in their industry, online education can be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Let’s take a closer look at the big advantages that online education can offer to freelancers and other workers.
Flexibility is the Watchword for Independent Workers
For freelancers and other independent workers, the work can’t stop for too long. No work means no income coming in, which means that taking time off to grow your skillset might simply not be viable. Especially when considering more traditional university education options, long hours, fixed schedules and likely the need to travel or relocate for study, all make it a bridge too far. Online education might just be the silver bullet that is needed.
With online education programs, students are given one of the most important things for freelancers and other independent workers. Flexibility. By being able to engage with coursework, undertake study, and even complete assignments at their own pace, online education allows freelance workers to put work first, but still get skilled up. Studying in online programs can take place whenever the student wants, so doing some study while waiting for instructions from clients or between jobs can be the perfect way for a freelancer to continue to earn their livelihood, while also increasing their earning power in the future at the same time.
More Skills Mean More Opportunities for Work
In many cases, having an expanded skillset will set up a freelancer for more work opportunities. Freelancers might want to focus on one area or industry, but to provide a broad range of services within that niche, allowing clients to treat them as a one-stop shop for any solutions they need in that area. Having a large portfolio that not only shows work examples but also relevant accreditations is a great way for a freelancer to stand out from the crowd.
There are many different ways that freelancers might diversify their portfolios. A marketing expert might also invest in UX or SEO skills. Photographers could pick up skills related to branding or visual storytelling. Cybersecurity experts might look into web development and UI design. It doesn’t matter what the focus or niche is, freelancers who diversify and upgrade their skillsets are likely to bring in more clients, get more work and remain able to compete with other freelancers who are doing the same thing.
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Staying Relevant in a Changing World
One huge advantage that online education can offer to professionals is to help them stay relevant in an increasingly fast-paced world. New tools, techniques, and technologies can dramatically alter the way that work is done in an industry almost overnight, and people who don’t keep up will fall behind.
Keeping a finger on the pulse of what is relevant in an industry can often mean undertaking relevant online education courses and picking up new accreditations. Freelancers and other working professionals who position themselves as aware of and proficient with new techniques in their fields are much more likely to be seen as experts and to find success.
Independent workers must stay relevant, or fall behind and find their client list shrinking. Many industries that make use of freelancers are ones that are strongly touched by new and emerging technologies, meaning that staying relevant might be a constant struggle, but one that must be grappled with.
The Power of Expertise and Credibility
One thing that many freelancers find out is that having skills is one thing, but being able to credibly position yourself as an expert can make all the difference. Clients want to know that not only are they hiring someone who can do the job, but also will be able to handle any issues that arise during the work and will do everything to a high level of quality. Showcasing accreditations and relevant degrees is a great way to display this credibility and expertise.
This same idea is present in many other fields, from healthcare workers to social workers, displaying credibility and proving your expertise allows clients to feel comfortable and secure in the knowledge that you will handle everything in a professional and efficient manner.
An investment in online education to build skills and acquire new accreditations is an investment in your future credibility.
Final Thoughts
For freelancers and other independent working professionals who want to upgrade their careers, online education is likely one of the best options. By providing a flexible pathway towards tangible results, online education allows people to continue earning a living while positioning themselves for better things in the future.
Many industries are at the mercy of new technologies and tools; by keeping on top of relevant learning options, freelancers can maintain some level of security and control over their workflow.
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