Fast Track Your Career: Google Career Certificates for In-Demand Skills

Fast Track Your Career: Google Career Certificates for In-Demand Skills

Learning August 24, 2024

Fast Track Your Career: Google Career Certificates for In-Demand Skills

Fast Track Your Career: Google Career Certificates for In-Demand Skills

​Continuing education is important to keep your skills sharp. One affordable way to improve your knowledge is by pursuing a Google Career Certificate.
 
Facing a shortage of qualified job candidates, Google created and implemented a training program to provide a pathway to jobs in technical support at Google for people with no college degree or experience. In 2018, Google launched the IT Support Certificate to make the training available to everyone. It later expanded the training program to other high-demand topics. Thousands of people have completed the coursework. Google reports that 75% of certificate graduates in the US report a positive outcome — a new job, promotion, or raise — within six months of completion.
 
None of the certificate programs require prior work experience.

What Google Career Certificates Are Currently Available?

Google Career Certificates offer flexible online training in the following subject areas:

• Google AI Essentials (Google AI Essentials Certificate)
• Cybersecurity (Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate)
• Data Analytics (Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate)
• Digital Marketing & E-Commerce (Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate)
• IT Support (Google IT Support Professional Certificate)
• Project Management (Google Project Management Professional Certificate)
• UX Design (Google UX Design Professional Certificate)

 
Google claims there is a $93,000 median entry level salary across certificate fields and more than 1.8 million job postings available in these subject areas. Google has also partnered with employers seeking job candidates in these fields and offers connections to more than 150 companies through the Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium.

How Does it Work?

Choose a certificate to pursue and sign up for an account on Coursera:
https://www.coursera.org
 
The platform offers a 7-day free trial and then a fee of $59/month or $399/year for Coursera Plus. (The Coursera Plus subscription also includes unlimited access to more than 7,000 courses, hands-on projects, specializations, and job-ready certificate programs.)
 
Each program offers learning at your own pace. The program of study averages 12-24 weeks with up to 10 hours of study per week. Courses range from 11 hours to 47 hours to complete. The fully-remote courses include hands-on activities, quizzes and assignments, and progress assessments.
 
After completing the certificate, you can share it on your LinkedIn profile and add it to your resume. Some certifications are also eligible for college credit with select colleges and universities.
 
Several of the Google Certificates can be used to pursue Advanced Google Career Certificates (for example: Advanced Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, or IT Automation with Python) or industry specializations (including Data Analytics: Finance, Data Analytics: Public Sector, IT Support: Healthcare, Project Management: Construction, and Project Management: Sustainability).

Pros and Cons of Google Career Certificates

Pros:

• An affordable, self-study option for continuing education and professional development.
• Also an option for those seeking to boost their qualifications for an entry-level position in the field.
• Provides a credential to add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.
• Completing the certification can prepare you for other certification programs and/or provide college credit at certain institutions.
• Financial aid may be available (a discount on the cost of the course). You can complete an application that includes information about your educational background, career goals, and financial circumstances. (Note: Do not sign up for a free trial for Coursera Plus if you are planning on applying for financial aid. Your financial aid application will be canceled if you start a free trial for a subscription).
• Your current employer may reimburse you for completing the certification.
• Completing the certification provides access to the Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium, a pool of employers who hire certified candidates.

 
Cons:

• The certificate itself may not be enough to secure an interview or a job.
• Certification is not a substitute for a relevant degree or direct work experience.
• Some people who have completed the course say that the coursework was too broad or generalized to be useful.
• Because the courses that make up the certifications are self-paced, you must be self-motivated to watch the videos, take the quizzes, and complete the exercises.
• The cost may vary significantly because Coursera is a subscription service, not a flat tuition amount. If you complete the certification but forget to cancel your Coursera Plus subscription, you will pay significantly more for the certification.

 
You can find more information about Google Career Certificates at https://grow.google/enroll-certificates/

Google Career Certificates

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM THROUGH COURSERA: Google AI Essentials
OVERVIEW:

• Learn the fundamentals of artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning, neural networks, and TensorFlow. Gain practical experience building and training AI models to solve real-world problems.
• Gain hands-on experience to write clear and specific prompts to get the output you want – you’ll apply prompting techniques to help summarize, create tag lines, and more.

NUMBER OF COURSES TO RECEIVE CREDENTIAL: 5
TIME TO COMPLETE/ESTIMATED COST: 6 months (7 hours/week)/~ $354.00

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM THROUGH COURSERA: Cybersecurity
OVERVIEW:

• Learn the foundations of cybersecurity, including how to monitor and protect networks, devices, people, and data.
• Gain hands-on experience with Python, Linux, and SQL.
• The Certificate also helps prepare candidates for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam.

NUMBER OF COURSES TO RECEIVE CREDENTIAL: 8
TIME TO COMPLETE/ESTIMATED COST: 6 months (7 hours/week)/~ $354.00

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM THROUGH COURSERA: Data Analytics
OVERVIEW:

• Learn the foundations of data analytics, including learning about R programming, SQL, Python, Tableau, and more.
• The Certificate may be eligible for up to 12 college credits using ACE® (American Council on Education) recommendations (US) or 7 ECTS credits (Europe).

NUMBER OF COURSES TO RECEIVE CREDENTIAL: 8
TIME TO COMPLETE/ESTIMATED COST: 6 months (10 hours/week)/~ $354.00

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM THROUGH COURSERA: Digital Marketing & E-Commerce
OVERVIEW:

• Learn the fundamentals of digital marketing, including managing campaigns, attracting, and engaging customers, and selling products online.
• The Certificate may be eligible for up to 9 college credits using ACE® (American Council on Education) recommendations (US) or 7 ECTS credits (Europe).

NUMBER OF COURSES TO RECEIVE CREDENTIAL: 7
TIME TO COMPLETE/ESTIMATED COST: 6 months (10 hours/week)/~ $354.00

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM THROUGH COURSERA: IT Support
OVERVIEW:

• Learn to troubleshoot problems so computers and networks run properly. Perform day-to-day support tasks — including computer assembly, wireless networking, program installation, and customer service.
• The Certificate may be eligible for up to 15 college credits using ACE® (American Council on Education) recommendations (US) or 5 ECTS credits (Europe).
• Certificate graduates who also pass the CompTIA A+ certification exams will earn a dual credential from CompTIA and Google.

NUMBER OF COURSES TO RECEIVE CREDENTIAL: 5
TIME TO COMPLETE/ESTIMATED COST: 6 months (10 hours/week)/~ $354.00

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM THROUGH COURSERA: Project Management
OVERVIEW:

• Learn the foundations of project management, including planning, organizing, and executing projects so they can be delivered on time and budget.
• Completion of the Google Project Management Certificate will qualify for over 100 hours of project management education that applies directly to requirements for globally-recognized PMI credentials — such as the Certified Associate in Project Management (CPAM) certification – at a discounted price.
• The Certificate may be eligible for up to 9 college credits using ACE® (American Council on Education) recommendations (US) or 6 ECTS credits (Europe).

NUMBER OF COURSES TO RECEIVE CREDENTIAL: 6
TIME TO COMPLETE/ESTIMATED COST: 6 months (10 hours/week)/~ $354.00

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM THROUGH COURSERA: UX Design
OVERVIEW:

• Learn how to design user interfaces that make digital and physical products easier to use, more enjoyable, and more accessible to users. Complete a professional UX portfolio that includes three end-to-end projects: a mobile app, a responsive website, and a cross-platform experience.
• The Certificate may be eligible for up to 10 college credits using ACE® (American Council on Education) recommendations (US) or 9 ECTS credits (Europe).

NUMBER OF COURSES TO RECEIVE CREDENTIAL: 7
TIME TO COMPLETE/ESTIMATED COST: 6 months (10 hours/week)/~ $354.00

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SOURCE: https://www.market-connections.net/blog/fast-track-your-career-google-career-certificates-for-in-demand-skills​

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About the Author

Mandy Fard is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, CMRW) and Recruiter with decades of experience in assisting job seekers, working directly with employers in multiple industries, and writing effective resumes.
 
Feel free to connect with Mandy Fard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandyfard/
 
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