Struggling to find a job? Enroll in free courses by Microsoft, EY & Coursera to hone your skills

Companies have launched free courses to help job seekers in the post-Covid economy.

By ET Bureau | Updated: Jul 06, 2020, 10.47 AM IST

Many schools and companies have made online classes free to help the unemployed find new work opportunities.

As the coronavirus pandemic puts millions of jobs at risk, many schools and companies have made online classes free to help the unemployed find new work opportunities. Here are a few.

EY
Consultancy and accounting firm EY announced yesterday that it will let all its 284,000 global employees get an online master’s degree for free. The UK-based company will partner with the Hult International Business School to provide employees with a chance to earn a fully remote corporate master of business education degree.

The degree will offer specialized courses in artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, sustainable business practices and more.

“As the world continues to manage through and adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic, we believe the skills of EY people and their ability to serve clients will be a differentiating factor,” said Carmine Di Sibio, EY global chairman and CEO in a statement.

“Through this new fully accredited qualification, EY people will be able to develop the business leadership behaviours and technology skills that will build a better working world.”

Coursera
Last month, online learning platform Coursera announced that it was offering 90 per cent of its online classes to college students for free until September 30th. Current undergraduate, graduate and recent graduates will gain access to 3,800 classes, 150 Guided Projects, 400 Specializations and 11 Professional Certificates.

Students can enrol in programs until July 31st and must complete them before September 30th. As a bonus, there is no limit to how many classes students can enroll in.

Microsoft
On Tuesday, Microsoft announced a new worldwide initiative to provide free training for candidates looking to acquire digital skills to land in-demand jobs in a post Covid-19 economy.

The program, which includes access to low-cost certifications, will combine data and learning content from Microsoft and its subsidiaries, LinkedIn and GitHub and will feature video courses covering everything from basic digital literacy to more advanced technical skills.

Depending on proficiency, job seekers can also sign up for specific training geared towards roles like software developer or financial analyst.

From Infosys To TCS, Companies Rebooting Ops In The New Normal, WFH Mode

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Remote working was once considered a perk for senior leaders but the Covid-19 pandemic changed that. As countries went into lockdown mode to stop the spread of the virus, work-from-home became a reality for millions of office workers. While organizations may have struggled to adapt initially, many employers found that the benefits of remote working outweighed the drawbacks and are now looking to extend the work-from-home experiment.

Here are a few companies that are exploring long-term or permanent work-from-home options.