Step 02 of 06

Skills & Training

Skills are what employers hire for. Learn how to spot the skills a role needs, find affordable ways to build them, and show proof of what you can do.

Guides for this step

Step 02

Skills & TrainingBuilding

Certificates vs. Degrees: How to Decide

A side-by-side look at short certificates, certifications, associate degrees, and bachelor's degrees, plus five questions to help you choose the right credential for your goal.

7 min read →

Step 02

Skills & TrainingStarter

Free and Low-Cost Ways to Build Job Skills

Libraries, community colleges, workforce programs, online courses, and volunteer projects: where to learn new skills without spending much, and how to prove what you learned.

7 min read →

Printable checklist

Skill-Building Checklist

Tick items off as you go. Your checks stay on this page only and aren't saved or sent anywhere.

01Collect 5–10 postings for your target role
02Tally the skills that appear most often
03Pick one skill to start this month
04Find a free source: library platform, job center, or community college
05Schedule 3–5 learning hours on your calendar each week
06Apply the skill to a small real project
07Add proof (certificate, project, reference) to your resume

Helpful tools

Hourly ↔ Salary Converter

Turn an hourly rate into weekly, monthly, and yearly pay, or work backward from a salary.

Resume Readiness Checklist

Check your resume against 15 points hiring managers notice, with a live progress score.

Weekly Job Search Planner

Set your weekly hours and get a balanced plan for applications, networking, and skill-building.