12 affordable online courses that could help advance your career, according to a professional career coach

Sometimes, the best way to improve your chances of landing the job you want is to develop relevant skills. If you're new to the workforce with little to no professional work experience under your belt, you may need to seek alternative methods to bolster your resume.Once you have a clear job goal in mind, reach out to people in your network who work in your desired field to find out what skills are in high demand. Then, research sites like Udemy, Envato Tuts+, General Assembly, Coursera, edX, GoSkills, Lynda.com, and SkillShare, to name a few, to find out if there's a way for you to develop those skills while you're searching for work.This method is also useful for those who want to change careers or move up the ladder and aren't able to build the skills they need within their current position.You may not be vying for a sales position, but don't be fooled. Every professional can benefit from becoming a better negotiator. This valuable skill will serve you well during your job search when negotiating your job offer, as well as when you're on the job.From negotiating contracts with vendors or clients to working out the details of a prospective employee's compensation package, or vying for a raise or promotion with your boss, strong negotiation skills will help advance your career. If you're uncomfortable leaving emotion at the door while you hash out a contract, give one of these online courses a try. Course options:Coursera: Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills (University of Michigan)Alison: Introducing the Art of Negotiation (Stanford University)Coursera: Intro to Negotiation: Becoming a Principled and Persuasive Negotiator (Yale University)In today's job market, it's not enough to have a great resume. You also need to clearly communicate your personal brand — the unique qualities and abilities that make you, well, you — to employers and networking connections online, on paper, and in-person. In other words, you have to consciously manage your personal marketing campaign during the job search.It should come as no surprise then that marketing professionals have an advantage when it comes to searching for work. Give yourself an edge up on the competition during your job search by getting a crash course in the principles of marketing. Course options:Coursera: Introduction to Marketing (The Wharton School)Love it or loathe it, you can't avoid the art of networking in today's job market. Whether you're looking for a job or wanting to advance your career, a strong professional network is a key ingredient to success. However, not everyone is a social butterfly with a large Rolodex of connections at their fingertips. If you're not a natural power-connector, as described in Malcolm Gladwell's book, The Tipping Point, then it may be time to find an online course that will teach you the basics.Remember, sending LinkedIn requests to random people does not count as networking. Look for courses that will help you go beyond social media to seek out relevant contacts and plant the seeds for a meaningful professional relationship with these connections.Course options:Lynda.com: Professional NetworkingLynda.com: Build Your Professional NetworkUniversal Class: Successfully Networking Your CareerYou may not want a job that requires you to present in front of large crowds, however, sound presentation skills are useful in many instances beyond a podium. Employers value professionals who can clearly and succinctly articulate their thoughts one-on-one and during a group meeting.Whether you find yourself explaining your ideas in an interview room or during a department meeting, strong communication skills will certainly come in handy. These online courses will help improve your overall communication skills, overcome public speaking fears, and fine-tune your powers of persuasion.Course options:Coursera: Introduction to Public Speaking (University of Washington)Udemy: Presentation Skills: Communications Skills & Public SpeakingWhether you're writing your cover letter, following up after an interview, or sending an email to everyone in your department, superb written communication skills are a must. Impress the hiring manager or your boss by optimizing your writing skills. If you struggle to write, conquer that stumbling block with an online course in effective business writing.Course options:GoSkills: Writing Effective Business CommunicationsAlison: The Fundamentals of Business WritingCoursera: High-Impact Business Writing (University of California, Irvine)

12 affordable online courses that could help advance your career, according to a professional career coach

Fill in a skill gap.

Think of negotiations as a conversation, not a battle.

You are your own product and need to sell yourself to potential employers.

Don't write off the importance of networking — there are ways to do it effectively while staying genuine.

It's helpful to be comfortable with public speaking and presentations.

Strong written communication skills can get you far.