Throughout the election season candidates on all sides have made statements about what we need to do to fix the economy and have fair wages. The problem with all of them is that they are trying to push the economy back instead of working with what the economy is becoming. Individuals are going to have to take responsibility for things their employers used to such as health benefits, retirement benefits, etc. We are moving towards a “gig economy” where you find your jobs and move from company to company. Everyone will be an entrepreneur. You have to be ready to take advantage of these changes. To start you on your way, here are five free resources to help you.
- Your Public Library
While we all think of the stacks of books that are available at the library, many libraries offer a wider range of services than you might think. Audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs are available. Aside from entertainment, these include educational programs to help you learn and improve. Most libraries provide free internet access for you to read news sites, search for jobs, email etc. Libraries also offer free access to online databases that can help you research companies, search for news, and more. Also, check your library for free workshops and classes. - Khan Academy
Originally, Khan Academy provided free online courses teaching Math. The site has expanded to include a wide range of subjects from Biology and Physics to Computer Programming and Finance. Learn to program, do your taxes, invest, and more. The site includes basics like Grammar and Math to advanced topics like Macroeconomics. They also include test prep for many standardized tests. All of their courses are free. Log on at https://www.khanacademy.org. - Codecademy
Most jobs are going to require the use of a computer. The more profitable jobs will require you to know how to code. Whether you are in an office or on the manufacturing floor, coding has become a crucial skill. Codecademy provides you with more than just an introduction to programming. With their free courses you can learn to build website and mobile apps. Learn this important skill for free at https://www.codecademy.com. - TED
TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. TED Talks are speeches from industry leaders and visionaries. These talks can educate, inspire and inform. You can watch these free at http://ted.com - Legal Clinics
Sometimes you need more than educational opportunities to get out of your current situation. Perhaps you are held back by divorce issues, overwhelming debt, or other legal issues. Bar associations and state judicial branches offer free legal clinics to help you deal with these issues. These clinics are staffed with professional lawyers who give their time and expertise to their community. You can find these clinics by searching “Free Legal Clinic” on the search engine of your choice.
If you are stuck in a job that doesn’t pay enough for you to live on, are unemployed, or just need to start looking to see how much better you can be doing, these free resources are a great place to start.
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