The Lazy Way to Become More Marketable -

Think the only way to get ahead at work is to take out a student loan and go back to school? Think again! Here’s some ways to increase your earnings potential, and become more marketable, without getting further in debt.

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Recently, I interviewed several candidates for a position that required some knowledge of excel – pivot tables, vlookups and the like.

When asked about these specific tasks, one of the candidates replied “I haven’t had any work experience doing any of that, but I’ve watched several YouTube videos on it and have been practicing at home”.

Boom. Hired on the spot!

Why? Her response showed me and the other two people interviewing her that she’s resourceful, eager to learn, and can think outside the box.

So this got me thinking:

“How many times do we limit our possibilities by thinking that the only way to increase our marketability and earnings potential is going back to school?”

Aside from watching YouTube tutorials (which, if you must know, is how I learned how to create this website), you can also try a variety of avenues.

Audio Books

I looove audio books. I can “read” them while driving, cooking, or doing the laundry.

It’s an easy way to learn something new without having to pause your life to do it. In other words, you can learn something that will make you more marketable to potential employers without any extra effort.

If you don’t want to commit to a paid service, ask your local library if they have an audio book service.

My local library for example, offers a free subscription to Overdrive, which is a comparable service that I can access on my mobile device for learning on the go.

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eBooks

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Nowadays, there’s plenty of books you can access for free in electronic format.

They can help you get new skills or knowledge, and become more marketable!

With a Kindle device for example, you can access over 1 million books.

Not only that, but you can also get magazines and newspapers.

This will help you keep up to date with current events, which is not to be discounted on an interview!

Additionally, there’s many eBook resources available at various blogs that you can download for free when you subscribe to the blog’s newsletter.

Want to get a free eBook today? Subscribe to my newsletter and get my FREE Quick Start Guide to Successful Budgeting (see what I did there?)

Podcasts

When I was starting this blog, I had no idea about marketing, or blogging, for that matter.

I was short on time also, so what did I do?

I started listening to podcasts about online marketing and blogging on my way to and from work, at lunch time, and during any spare time I could find.

If you’d like to learn about online marketing, a great podcast to get you started is Smart Passive Income by Pat Flynn, available at www.smartpassiveincome.com/podcasts

Woman wearing headphones. Become more marketable by learning new skills via podcasts.

Continuing Education Courses

Many professions require a certain amount of continuing education hours to be completed in order for the professionals to maintain and renew their license.

Want to learn more about accounting or finance? Search for Continuing Professional Education providers in those subjects.

Lorman, a trusted affiliate of Debt Free Lab, for example, offers thousands of courses in a host of different categories at a low price, as well as an all-access pass.

You can then use the knowledge you obtain through continuing education as leverage in future job interviews.

Become More Marketable with Community Courses

Most counties offer community education courses in the evening.

From dancing to computer programs, to foreign languages, you can learn a new skill without adding to your debt.

Most courses last just a few weeks and cost less than $100!

To become more marketable in a certain field, try taking a community course directly related to it. If this is not available, look for a course that would help you in any field, such as a second language.

Internships

If you do have some extra time, make use of it wisely – It’s your most valuable resource!

Apply for an internship with a local business in the field you’d like to learn more about.

Chances are you’ll get some extra income while you expand your skill set at the same time!

Try searching for one that fits your skills and schedule on Monster.com or Indeed.

Last, but not least, if you have friends or relatives that know something you’d like to learn more about, ask them for a tutorial.

At times, I’ve exchanged my knowledge of accounting with my friends and they’ve taught me something in their area of expertise.

Not only did we spend quality time together, but everyone walked away with extra knowledge. It’s a win-win!

As you make use of these resources, think of what would be “resume-able” for you – in other words, what would add true value to your resume.

Spending a few hours learning a new skill now could translate to actual financial gains in the future, and to achieving your goals faster!

Which idea do you find most useful? Are there any other ways to become more marketable that we overlooked? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!