The job market is constantly changing and you need to keep up in order to stay relevant. One of the best ways to do this is by learning new skills. You’re probably thinking, where on Earth am I going to find time to learn a new skill with the other million things I have to do? The great news is, there are so many resources available to you online, and many of them have courses that you can watch in an hour.

So whether you’re looking at changing careers entirely or just expanding your knowledge, you can actually do it. After all, you have to take lunch, right? Why not plug in your headphones, dig into your lunch and learn at the same time?

University of Toronto  

University Toronto is one of the biggest research and teaching universities in North America, and it provides online learning tools and free on a variety of topics like; computer science, engineering, science, health, and many more. By signing up, you’ll have access to the videos, reading material, and even quizzes to see how well you’re retaining the information.

Udemy

Udemy is probably the most well-known website for online courses. You’ll find courses for everything under the sun here. While there are many courses you’ll have to pay for, they have one of the largest databases of free courses. Courses range from five minutes to an hour or two, perfect for watching over your lunch break. The selection may seem a bit overwhelming at first but try narrowing it down by looking at reviews. Because Udemy is an open platform, where anyone and everyone can create their own course, make sure to read reviews for legitimacy and relevancy of the course material.

Rosetta Stone

Being able to put another language on your resume looks great for an employer. While it’s not a free resource, Rosetta Stone is known as being one of the best resources when it comes to learning a new language. Spending your lunch break learning a new language can come in handy, especially in a bilingual country like Canada.

ITunes U

If you aren’t yet using ITunes U, you’re missing out. Apple works with some of the biggest universities and colleges in the United States to provide free access to course material. This is another space you could learn just about anything. The material is made for all types of learning abilities as it’s a mix of video, audio, and reading material. Download the app to your IPhone and subscribe to any course or institution you want. Heck, you could even listen in on your commute to and from work.

Khan Academy

Khan is a completely free platform for all users. The website is intended for learning basic skills but it can be a great place to brush up on things you already learned. Let’s be honest, who actually remembers what they learned in grade 11 physics? Khan Academy is also a great format for those looking at going back to school. If you’re hoping to complete an MBA program, Khan Academy offers amazing resources to learn about higher education admissions, as well as ways to prep for your GMAT.

Yale University

One of America’s most prestigious universities is now accessible to everyone. You can make your way through an entire course at Yale lecture by lecture on your lunch breaks. Each lecture is roughly an hour long and comes with associated reading material. The university has some of the most diverse subjects available for the general public.

Lunch and learns

A lot of companies are now encouraging lunch and learns for their employees. The concept is pretty simple; employees get together over lunch to learn about each other’s roles or to learn new skills. The best way to go about this is to have a dedicated speaker per session. Typically, they will put together a PowerPoint and teach their co-workers new skills to help them do their job. Not only is this a great way to learn, it’s also a great team-building exercise. Just remember to make sure there is time for questions at the end as well!

Let us know what skills you’re planning on learning over your lunch break!

 

See also:

Top 10 motivational TED talks for your career

How to convince your boss to pay for your education

Do you still need an education?

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