A CEO at Microsoft, Satya Nadella, has famously said that every company is now a software company. He added that demarcations between tech and ‘other’ industries will likely cease to exist in the next decade as computing becomes more widespread.
This, coupled with other reports including LinkedIn’s 2020 Emerging Jobs list and this Forbes article, hinted that the tech industry is only going to get bigger and better, and as such, would be in need of more technical talent to fill in the gap.
The growth of the industry also disrupted the education sector, nudging schools toward embracing tech education and incorporating it as a part of their offerings. Thanks to this, technical education is now more accessible than ever.
But, with so many career tracks to choose from, how do you decide on a path that suits you best? Well, you can enlist General Assembly’s assistance.
The school—one of the oldest and largest coding bootcamps in the world—understands that launching a new career is a big step to take. General Assembly made it its mission to provide a top-tier curriculum and ensure that students learn from some of the best that the industry has to offer.
Ten years since its inception, the school has helped over 12,000 graduates find their footing in the tech industry. A number of them have gone on to work with multi-industry companies including Amazon, Charles Schwab, Dell, Google, Home Depot, IBM, and more.
You, too, can explore exciting career opportunities with the help of General Assembly, and the best part is you get to test the waters before enrolling at virtually zero cost!
To help prospective students get a clearer picture of what awaits, the school offers a slew of free resources online. Aside from offering a glimpse into different tech expertise, these lessons may also benefit those looking to upskill and learn new tech abilities. In this article, we’ll look at seven free lessons that you can take anytime, anywhere.
Free Intro to Data Science Class Online
Date: January 11, 2021 (Monday)
Time: 7pm to 9pm +08
This two-hour introductory class will be conducted by a Product Analytics Manager at Grab, Raghav Garg. With over six years of experience in the field, he will use real-life case studies to provide an overview of data science, its methods of application, and relevant key tools and processes used by actual data science professionals.
At the end of the class, participants can expect to be able to analyze, visualize, and model data—skills that are foundational to the field. Participants will also be able to observe how data can influence big business predictions and gain a better understanding of tech trends.
Those who are interested to further explore the field can opt for General Assembly’s Data Science courses; available both full-time and part-time.
Free Intro to Coding Class Online
Date: January 12, 2021 (Tuesday)
Time: 7am to 9am +08
According to the school, this is a great session for participants who are new to coding. Georgia-based full stack developer Mike Sanders will walk students through the main components of the web which are HTML and CSS. Participants can then apply these programming languages to create their own simple yet functional sites.
A student who was previously taught by Mr. Sanders in 2018 said: “Mike was my favorite part of the course. This might be due to my passion for coding, but I do believe it was amplified by the wealth of knowledge displayed by the instructor. I was truly inspired by the depth of experience he has.”
If you’re intrigued to learn more, there are various options for participants to pick up where this class leaves off including the Online Front End Web Development Course, the part-time Online JavaScript Course, and the full-time Software Engineering Immersive.
Free Intro to UX Design Class Online
Date: January 12, 2021 (Tuesday)
Time: 3.30pm to 5.30pm +08
UX/UI Lead at Telstra, Glenn Carmichael, believes that “There’s no problem that thoughtful, well-considered design and bleeding-edge technology can’t improve”. As such, in this class, he will be walking participants through the world of user experience design. At the end of the two-hour workshop, participants can gain better insights into the decisions that influence how users interact with digital products.
Aside from understanding the importance of UX design, Mr. Carmichael will also touch on the fundamental tools and techniques used by real-life industry professionals. All you’d need is a computer and a strong internet connection for this workshop.
Participants who wish to further hone their UX design skills can get started with General Assembly’s six-week UX Design Online Circuit, or dive ahead into the full-fledged UX Design courses available part-time and full-time.
Free Intro to Data Analytics Class Online
Date: January 10, 2021 (Sunday)
Time: 2am to 4am +08
Today, data makes the world go round and General Assembly invites you to be a part of the global discourse, too. This class will be led by Alissa Livingston, a Director of Governance within the Project Management Office at Hudson’s Bay Company.
With her vast experience in tech consulting and investment banking, she will be guiding participants on the basic analytic functionality in Google Sheets. Participants can find that these newly-learned analytic skills can be applied to real-world datasets, from which they can continue to make recommendations.
If you wish to build a stronger foundation in the field, you can sign up for General Assembly’s Online Data Analysis Course, which focuses on the fundamentals or, enroll in the Data Analytics Courses. Immersive or Flex options available.
Free Intro to Digital Marketing Class Online
Date: January 16, 2021 (Saturday)
Time: 2am to 4am +08
A great marketing strategy could boost revenues significantly, further cementing a company’s reputation and brand. As trends change, so do marketing tactics. Learn more about modern marketing, tips on crafting successful campaigns, and other marketing components in this two-hour class with Sharon Lee Thorny, a brand marketing executive who’s behind General Assembly’s own curriculum.
Using real-world case studies, participants can expect to learn about popular marketing channels today and the process that goes behind a campaign execution. According to the school, participants will also get to familiarize themselves with key performance indicators (KPIs) and practice identifying them.
General Assembly recommends the self-paced Learn Digital Marketing Online for participants interested in pursuing digital marketing skills. Those who wish to dive deeper into the subject may also check out the Immersive and Flex Digital Marketing courses.
Free Intro to Python Class Online
Date: January 14, 2021 (Thursday)
Time: 3pm to 5pm +08
Python is one of the most popular programming languages today, with a variety of use cases ranging from software development to data science. Tech aspirants can take advantage of this free two-hour introductory class to discover the fundamentals of Python and the relevant tools available to build applications in this language.
This session will be conducted by Alistair Walsh, a Ph.D. candidate at the Melbourne Brain Centre, who has also developed the Physiological Measures of Cognitive Load for the Australian Defence Force’s Science and Technology Organisation. He will be taking participants on a journey toward understanding Python programming and how it fits into data and web workflow.
If the course sparks a new love for Python within you, there are a few options you can take at General Assembly to pursue this path on a professional level. You can opt for the part-time Python Programming course first before deciding on an area of concentration like data science or software engineering.
Dash
According to General Assembly, this is another alternative for beginners who are interested in learning to code and prospective students who are looking to apply for its Software Engineering Immersive program. Dash is a self-serve coding course that teaches the basics of HTML, CSS, and some JavaScript.
With a step-by-step guide, participants will learn how the three languages blend together to create a functional website. The interactive program is designed to make learning to code fun. Participants also get to unlock new skills upon completing several checkpoints.
Scholarship
In order to make tech education more accessible and help students afford the General Assembly cost, the school is also offering a unique scholarship that aims to empower women in tech. Dubbed See Her Excel, the recipients will receive a $1,500 tuition discount. Individuals who are 18 and above with an annual income that’s less than $40,000 are welcomed to apply.
As a part of its mission to promote gender diversity and inclusion at all levels, this scholarship is open to those who self-identify as a woman, transgender person, genderqueer, or non-binary person. Find out more about eligible courses and the application process on General Assembly’s website.
Learn and Grow with General Assembly Today
The tech sphere offers all kinds of opportunities for individuals from all walks of life. If you don’t know where to start or are uncertain about making the jump to tech, these free classes are perfect for you.
All you have to is invest a couple of hours and you’ll be able to learn the fundamentals of technologies that make the world tick. Who knows, you might even discover a new career path that aligns both your interest and existing skillsets.
Head on over to General Assembly’s website or click here to speak to the Admissions team.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
