Alright, so you wanna pick an online course but man, there are soooo many options out there, right? It can get confusing real quick. Some look great, others not so much. So how do you actually figure out which one is worth your time and effort?
Well, here’s a few tips based on what I’ve seen (and messed up myself) over the years. Hopefully, this helps you avoid wasting hours on courses that don’t really fit what you want.
1. Figure Out What You Really Want First
Sounds obvious but honestly, people jump into courses without a clear goal and end up quitting halfway. Ask yourself: why am I even doing this? Is it for a new job? To get better at something? Or just for fun?
For example, don’t just say, “I wanna learn marketing.” Instead, try something like “I wanna learn social media marketing to help my friend’s business.” It makes a difference.
2. Don’t Pick Some Super Advanced Course If You’re Just Starting
This happens way too often — someone picks a course that’s way over their head and then they get frustrated and give up. Look for courses that match your current skill level.
If you’re a total beginner, look for “beginner-friendly” or “intro” in the description. Otherwise, you might be drowning in jargon and techy stuff you don’t get.
3. Check What The Course Actually Teaches
Look at the course outline or syllabus if they have one. Sometimes the course promises a lot but actually teaches very little useful stuff. And check if they have projects or quizzes — that stuff actually helps you learn better.
Also, see how long the course is. If it’s like 50 hours and you barely have time, maybe pick a shorter one.
4. Read The Reviews (But Don’t Trust Them All)
Reviews can be super helpful, but be careful. Sometimes people hate a course because they didn’t put in the effort, or sometimes instructors get unfair bad reviews. Try to find reviews that say specific stuff, not just “bad course.”
5. Is The Certificate Worth It?
If you want the course for your career, then the certificate can matter. But some certificates are kinda useless, so check if employers even care about that course’s certificate.
Also, some courses charge for certificates even if the course itself is free, so keep that in mind.
6. Who’s Teaching The Course?
Try to see if the instructor actually knows their stuff. Look them up on LinkedIn or Google. Sometimes courses are taught by people who just talk well but don’t really have experience.
Good instructors make learning way easier.
7. Don’t Just Go For Free Because It’s Free
Free courses are great but sometimes, you get what you pay for. If you want serious skills, it might be worth spending some money on a quality course. But if you’re just testing the waters, free is totally fine.
8. Be Realistic About Your Time And Motivation
Online learning is easy to start but hard to finish. You gotta be honest with yourself — do you really have time to commit? Can you motivate yourself to finish it?
Maybe start with a short course to see if you can stick with it before jumping into something huge.
Final Words
At the end of the day, there’s no perfect formula. Just pick something that feels right, start learning, and don’t stress if you don’t get it all at once.
If it doesn’t work out, you can always switch to another course. Just keep going — that’s what matters.
