AARP Hearing Center
![Online job searching and skill building overhead view of a man working on a laptop outdoors at a small table](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/aarpe/en/home/work/job-search/build-job-skills-online/_jcr_content/root/container_main/container_body_main/container_body1/container_body_cf/container_image/articlecontentfragment/cfimage.coreimg.50.932.jpeg/content/dam/aarp/work/job-search/2024/1140-man-working-laptop.jpg)
No matter how much work experience you’ve had during your career, it’s always a good idea to strengthen your job opportunities and career potential by learning another skill or two. Many websites offer free or affordably priced courses that can teach you everything from how to speak Spanish (or any other language) to how to master spreadsheets.
Here are five ways you can build your job skills and websites that will help you do it.
![member card Image Alt Attribute](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/experience-fragments/uxdia-folder-structure/en/features/membership/inline-membership-promo/default/master5/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/container_copy/container/articleimage.coreimg.75.1140.png/content/dam/uxdia/membership-card-d-and-t.png)
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Labor Day Sale!
Join AARP for just $9 per year with a 5-year membership and get a FREE Gift!
1. Learn a new language
Being fluent in a second language, especially Spanish, is one of the more attractive skills that you can have on your résumé, regardless of your profession. Learning any language takes time and practice, but it’s never too late to get started.
There are several smartphone apps and websites that can help you master your language of choice. Babbel ($8.95–$13.45 per month or $349 for a lifetime subscription) lets you choose from 13 languages (Danish, Dutch, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish). Most lessons are 10 to 15 minutes long and use snippets of interactive dialogue and speech-recognition technology to help you learn the language as you would use it in everyday conversations.
Other options for learning a language include Duolingo (free with ads or $7.99 per month) and Rosetta Stone ($47.97 for three months, $126 for a year or $199 for a lifetime, unlimited membership).
2. Take college-level courses for free
Ever wondered what it feels like to take a course from Stanford or Yale? Coursera (prices vary by course, but many are free) lets you choose from nearly 3,900 online courses from more than 190 influential universities and businesses (including Google) around the world.
Whether you can get college credit or a certificate depends on the course, but the knowledge you gain can enhance your résumé. The range of classes available seems almost endless. For example, you can take a quick free course on Microsoft’s popular Excel spreadsheet program from Australia’s Macquarie University. Or if you have more time and have taken some college courses but never earned a degree, you might consider the bachelor’s degree from University of North Texas that is designed with working adults in mind.
Other options for free or affordable college-level courses include edX and FutureLearn. AARP’s Skills Builder for Work also offers online courses designed to help people 50 and older boost their careers.
3. Give computer programming a try
Jobs working with the technology that makes websites function are some of the most in demand. They can also offer the opportunity to work from home, flexible hours and great pay — the exact benefits that many older adults want.
More From AARP
10 Hybrid Remote Jobs That Are in Demand Now
Openings for fully work-from-home jobs are decreasing15 Flexible Jobs for Older Workers
Many age-friendly employers offer positions that let you choose when and where you work
Why You Should Give Your Résumé an Update
A few small changes in design could help you get noticed by job recruiters
Recommended for You