Tried Online Career Development Courses. What Next?

You've taken those online career development courses to work on a career upskill.

But then you find yourself thinking: hold up, what's the plan now?

Do I start looking for jobs? But how do I apply what I’ve learned in a practical scenario? Have I even learned everything I need to? I still have so many doubts…

Sure, online courses have their perks. They're flexible, convenient, and budget-friendly. 

But let's face it, they have limitations too. 

You might have noticed it's not all rainbows and unicorns. 

There are gaps in hands-on experience and one-size-fits-all learning. 🤷‍♀️

What can help fill those gaps and take your career to the next level?

Personalised career guidance. From someone who gets you, your strengths, and your unique goals. 🎯

In this blog, we'll explore why relying only on online courses might not be enough and how personalised help can boost your career growth. We'll dig into the world of 1:1 mentoring. 

So, if you’ve tried online courses and are still stuck, don't worry. Let's navigate this together!

Limitations of Online Courses

Online courses are a popular choice for honing skills and gaining new knowledge. 

For tech professionals, these courses offer convenience and flexibility to learn at their pace.

However, solely depending on online certification courses might not always lead to results. 

Here are some limitations of online courses that hinder your growth and success.

📕Limited topic coverage

Online courses are fantastic for introducing new topics and providing a general understanding. 

However, they often lack the depth and breadth professionals need to excel in their fields. 

And even if they’re detail-oriented, you might not find something tailored to your needs.

Online courses follow a fixed syllabus which may or may not suit your exact learning needs.

To give you an example, as a data scientist, you need to grasp the intricacies of advanced statistical methods. But an online course alone might not be enough to master these complex techniques.

📢Less to no interaction and feedback

In online courses, there’s limited interaction with instructors. 

If it’s a pre-recorded course, there might be no interaction whatsoever!

You cannot ask questions, engage in discussions, and receive immediate feedback. 

There’s minimum to no real-time interaction. Which makes it challenging to clear doubts or get personalised feedback right away.

Without this support, you easily feel stuck or uncertain about your progress. 

Imagine trying to learn a new programming language without someone to explain why your code isn't working as expected!

💪Low on motivation and discipline

Staying motivated and disciplined is a common struggle with self-learning courses. 

With no fixed schedule or external pressure, you tend to procrastinate or lose interest in the course. 

Distractions at home or work may further hinder your progress.

Completing the course and applying the newfound knowledge practically requires determination. It’s harder to do this by yourself!

It's like training for a marathon—without a coach, sticking to the routine becomes difficult.

🎓Limited formal recognition

Online courses have limited recognition compared to accredited education. 

Also, completing a course might not guarantee you’ve learned the skills. 

You might need extra training or feedback on your weak points and how to correct them. 

This is not possible only with the help of online courses! It won’t be enough for you to qualify for a job.

♻️Lack of end-to-end guidance

Online courses often focus only on teaching skills or concepts.

There’s a vast gap in providing overall guidance for your professional growth. 

For example, as a data analyst seeking a new job, it's not just about learning data analysis tools. You also need help structuring your resume, preparing for interviews, and knowing industry trends. 

Online courses do not offer this end-to-end guidance. 

Which makes it challenging to navigate the job market!

‍

Online certification courses are valuable tools for learning new skills.

But they can be sorely lacking in providing complete guidance.

To truly thrive in your career, it's important to complement online courses with other learning opportunities. 

You can join workshops and tech meetups or take part in hackathons. 

But here’s our favourite solution: personalised guidance. 

What better way to upskill than walking a tailored path to success?

How Personalised Career Guidance Can Help

Online Courses vs. 1:1 Mentoring.

Here are seven ways personalised guidance makes all the difference in your career growth.

🎯Identifying strengths and weaknesses

Picture this: You're a software developer passionate about coding. But you're unsure about your database skills. 

With online courses, you might improve your overall knowledge.

But they won't pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses. 

In contrast, a mentor can assess your abilities, focus on your strengths, and help you address the areas where you need a little boost!

📈Tailored career path

Each person has unique career aspirations. 

An online course offers a standardised curriculum but won't cater to your goals. 

A mentor guides you toward a personalised career path based on your passions and long-term goals. 

Whether you want to become a data scientist or a backend developer, they'll steer you onto the right track!

🔨Targeted skill development

Sometimes, all we need is a little nudge in the right direction.

You can learn many skills with online courses.

But they may not align with your career needs.

A mentor has already experienced the struggles you’re facing. They might have unique insights to help you target problem areas. 

With this, you only focus on developing the skills you need. And don’t waste your time and energy on other stuff!

🧑Working on individual challenges

In the tech world, we all face unique challenges in our work. 

It could be debugging complex code or understanding intricate data patterns. 

Online courses can't address these specific challenges. 

But a mentor, armed with years of experience, can help easily tackle your obstacles!

🌱Adapting as per the situation

Life is full of surprises, and so is your professional journey.

You might face industry problems or want to change career paths.

Online courses don’t offer the flexibility to adapt.

But a mentor can adjust their guidance based on the changing circumstances.

So that you keep going on the track to success!

🙅‍♀️Avoiding costly mistakes

Remember when you thought you had everything figured out, only to realise you made a big mistake? 

It happens to the best of us! 

Online courses won't have your back when you need advice to avoid such pitfalls. 

But a mentor, with their own share of experiences, offers insights to help you navigate tricky situations and steer clear of those mistakes.

The Impact of Mentorship on Your Career Growth

6 ways 1:1 mentoring takes your career to the next level.

📗Knowledge transfer

Imagine having access to a wealth of wisdom and experience at your fingertips!

A mentor is like a treasure trove of knowledge.

They’re ready to share their industry insights, best practices, and valuable lessons. 

No matter your job profile, having a mentor lets you tap into a vast reservoir of expertise.

For example, let’s say you’re a budding software developer. Your mentor might introduce you to cutting-edge programming languages and frameworks that set you apart.

🎯Planned goals

We all have career aspirations, but how do we get there? 

A mentor helps you chart a clear path by setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals. 

They'll work with you to create a roadmap that aligns your ambitions with practical steps.

For instance, maybe you’re considering transitioning from a non-data background into data science. Your mentor will help you create a step-by-step plan to realise that dream.

Want to try a free 1:1 career planning session with a MAANG mentor? Go here.

✅Establishing accountability

Let's face it, staying on track with our goals is challenging!

A mentor becomes your accountability buddy, cheering you on and gently nudging you forward. 

They'll keep you motivated and focused even when you hit a rough patch!

For example, if you're working on a complex project, your mentor might regularly check in to offer insights and support when needed. 

🤝Consistent feedback

Receiving feedback is essential for professional growth.

And a mentor is your personal feedback guru! 

They provide constructive criticism and praise your successes.

They help you grow your strengths and work on your weaknesses.

For example, you're a backend developer working on optimising code. Your mentor might review your work and suggest efficient algorithms to enhance it.

💼Navigating workplace challenges

Every career journey has its share of hurdles. 

When you encounter challenges at work, a mentor can be your trusted advisor. 

They will offer solutions and guide you through tough times.

For instance, maybe you’re facing conflicts within your team at work. A mentor might share communication strategies to resolve issues and foster relations.

⭐Personal growth

Mentorship isn't just about professional development but also personal growth. 

A mentor encourages you to step out of your comfort zone, embrace new experiences, and become more well-rounded.

Let’s say you're a product developer presenting your latest idea to stakeholders. Your mentor might give you public speaking tips to boost your confidence!

⌛Long-term guidance

In the dynamic world of tech, long-term guidance is invaluable. 

A mentor isn't just a short-term companion.

They can guide you throughout your career journey and provide support at every stage.

For example, you're a data scientist aiming for a leadership role or a backend developer planning to specialise in a niche area. Your mentor will be there for every step, offering advice and encouragement!

On a Closing Note

Online courses are an excellent addition to boosting your skills.

But they are not the be-all, end-all to achieving success.

If you want to achieve holistic career growth and explore the job world with a fail-safe plan, try 1:1 mentoring.

Mentorship can be a game-changer in your career journey. 

It goes beyond just learning skills. It's about gaining wisdom, setting goals, and getting personalised support. 

A mentor is your confidant, cheerleader, and career strategist rolled into one.✨

So, if you're tired of taking online courses and getting nowhere, find yourself a mentor. 

There are some great mentors out there, eager to guide the next generation of tech wizards like you!

All you have to do is take the first step.