Five best ways to invest in yourself

A four-year bachelor’s degree and months of internship may equip most of us as we face the challenges in the real world after college graduation. However, growth and development must not stop when we leave the confines of our classrooms. Therefore, identifying the methods in investing in ourselves should be one of our top priorities if we really want to be more successful in your respective field and life, in general.

Self-investment does not necessarily require us to burn a hole in our pockets. You can let your creativity run free as you consider options on how to invest in yourself without breaking the bank.

We rounded up five best ways that you can consider as you go on a quest of self-investment. The things you need to prepare? Just your willingness to do little sacrifices here and there, commitment to finish your chosen self-investment method, and the ability to enjoy the little things that come with this life-long journey of self-improvement.

1. Enroll in free certification courses online‍

If you haven’t had the chance to browse through online resources that give you an edge in your self-investment voyage, we strongly encourage you to comb through the internet and find courses that interest you. We listed them down for your convenience ‘cause we care about your precious time. 😉

• Coursera – Founded in 2012 by Stanford University computer science professors, Coursera ensures that it works hand-in-hand with the best universities and other relevant organizations “to offer online courses, certifications, and degrees in a variety of subjects.”
• edX – Just like Coursera, edX is a massive open online course (MOOC) provider partnered with the leading universities such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California Berkeley, and Boston University among others.

• Class Central – With 2.5-million course sign ups and 50-million site visitors, Class Central takes pride in the amount of free courses it houses in their website.

• Udemy – Established in 2010, Udemy offers 185,000 courses with more than 49 million students enrolled. Since this is a courses-on-demand platform, you can go at your own pace.

• Grow with Google – As one of the tech giants in the world, Grow with Google ensures that upskilling for tech courses are available for everyone to learn. In the name of advancing one’s career or growing one’s business, anyone can rely on Grow with Google in their self-investment journey.

Once you’ve browsed and familiarized yourself with the abovementioned educational sites, make sure to quickly bookmark the online courses that interest you. Once you’ve received your certificate/s, quickly update your LinkedIn profile and go flex that badge you’ve earned. It will come in handy, not just during interviews, but in applying what you’ve learned at work 💪

2. Enhance your technical skills

‍Have you been in your job for more than a decade already? Are you itching to switch to a different type of job to shake things up and of course, learn a new profitable skill? Well then, we suggest you consider taking technical-vocational (tech voc) courses offered for free by TESDA or the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority.In 2013, TESDA reported that six out of ten tech voc graduates immediately find jobs after enrolling in their programs. In addition, this self-investment tool also produces thousands of entrepreneurs who then employ a number of skilled workers in their newly-opened businesses. This skillspreneurship model paved the way for many Filipinos to discover a different career path, one that truly demonstrates how their self-investment truly paid off.

There are hundreds of courses to choose from in TESDA. These are: 21st Century Skills, Agriculture, Automotive And Land Transport, Construction, Electrical and Electronics, Entrepreneurship, FREE Courses Relevant to COVID-19 Management, Gender and Development (GAD), Heating, Ventilating, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Technology, Human Health/ Health Care, Information and Communication Technology, Lifelong Learning Skills, Maritime, Process Food and Beverages, Social, Community Development and Others, Tourism, TVET, TESDA Capability Building Programs for TESDA Employees, TOP Courses with Accessibility Features (Alpha Test), and International Labour Organization (ILO) Online Courses.

3. Go get that master’s degree

While we’re on the same topic of continuous learning and investing in yourself, why not consider taking a master’s degree? For employees who are still on a work-from-home basis and are not yet expected to return to office soon, now seems to be the best time to pursue your post-graduate classes. There’s less physical stress since commuting or driving to work is out of the picture which then gives you more energy to study your courses and comply with school requirements.

Once you finally get that post-graduate degree, we’re sure that this self-investment will really pay off because more doors of opportunities will be opened to you. Who knows, you might get an increase sooner than later? 🤔

4. Find a mentor that you can trust

It’s difficult to be on a life-long journey of self-improvement if you cannot keep yourself accountable. Having a mentor means receiving encouragement and support for growth and improvement, getting proper guidance towards your life goals, and most importantly, receiving useful feedback on your behavior and habits.

If you have no idea where to find a mentor, look within your circle and think, who among your former immediate superiors or colleagues are willing to share their time and resources for your improvement. You may also key in “life coach/es” in your Facebook search bar to see the pages of life coaches that are accessible to you.

5. Attend financial literacy webinars & find a financial coach

It baffles many young adults how there are limited discussions on adulting matters–specifically personal finances–during their high school / college lives as soon as they start joining the workforce. While one can tread this path on their own, it would be best to join finance-related communities where there are financial webinars being offered for free.

In addition, having a financial coach who can guide you in handling, growing, and investing your hard earned money is one of the best self-investment tools that you can do for yourself.

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As your financial buddy, we always make sure that you’re in the know about the best advice so you can be on your way to financial freedom. We are here to help you make informed financial decisions and are here to help you whenever you need a hand during financial emergencies.

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