Whether it’s knowing the most in-demand jobs for the year, finding online courses to beef up your resume, and more, we list everything there is to know about making that career switch.

Did you know that based on Monster.com’s survey last 2018, around 88% of Filipinos consider leaving their careers for better jobs in another industry? In fact, 54% of Filipinos would like to switch careers to get better salaries and achieve financial stability, while 23% said that they lacked growth opportunities in their current field.

“The prospect of a career change is worrying for a majority of the workforce in the Philippines, but it’s also the most desirable option to earn more money and explore opportunities beyond what they have studied,” says Abhijeet Mukherjee, the CEO of Monster.com for the Asia Pacific and Gulf regions. 

If anything, this phenomenon of changing jobs or careers is nothing new, especially for the younger generation, as financial stability is the main reason, along with career growth, fulfillment, or the need to do something more purposeful and challenging.

This is why for those who want to make the switch, we list in-demand roles that you can get into this 2023, along with sites that offer online courses that will help you improve your skillset and what you need to consider before even changing jobs or careers.

Top 10 Hottest Jobs and Top 10 In-Demand Roles

For those who are considering a change in career, JobStreet has unveiled its top 10 list of hottest jobs for the year 2023. These include: 

1. Customer Service
2. Finance: General or Cost Accounting
3. IT or Computer: Software
4. Clerical or Administrative Support
5. Human Resources
6. Marketing or Business Development
7. Education
8. Sales: Retail or General
9. Banking or Financial Services
10. Sales: Corporate

In connection with this, the following are the top 10 in-demand roles that have had the highest number of job posts recently:

1. Customer Service Representative
2. Teacher
3. Administrative Officer
4. Call Center Operator
5. Nurse
6. Software Engineer
7. Team Leader
8. Business Analyst
9. Sales Associate
10. Engineer

What this shows is that the expertise and roles are projected to be in demand for the year, which is a positive sign for the job market. In fact, it may be tempting for some to start careers in this expertise or even switch careers. 

Changing careers, however, is easier said than done, especially if you do not have the appropriate degree or experience in the new career you want to get into. Fortunately, this can be remedied without having to go back to the classroom, thanks to online courses. 

Websites Offering Online Courses 

Many websites offer online courses that are conducted by experts from very reputable colleges and universities around the world. While many of the courses have fees, there are those that you can take for free. 

What’s more, some courses allow you to finish them at your own pace. However, other courses adhere to a schedule, but usually, it’s specified from the get-go. And after taking said courses, a lot of them even issue certificates that you can use as proof that you have taken and completed them. You may even opt to include these courses as part of the credentials on your CV or resume, as it can be advantageous on your part. 

Here are examples of websites that offer online courses that you can take. Do take note, however, that these course offerings change from time to time, so it’s important to regularly check back and take note of the schedules of classes you’re interested in. 

Coursera

Founded in 2012, Coursera partners with more than 275 universities around the world to offer a wide range of learning opportunities, including both degree and certificate programs. Per its official website, 113 million users have enrolled in a Coursera course. 

Subjects available on Coursera are Computer Science, Information Technology, Business, and Arts and Humanities. On the other hand, some examples of degree programs offered on Coursera as of writing are Bachelor of Science in Marketing (offered by the University of London) and Online Master of Computer Science (offered by Arizona State University). 

edX

Similar to Coursera, edX is a platform where you can find online courses, certificate programs, and degrees that are offered by different international colleges and universities. These include Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Courses are classified by subject on edX. These include Business & Management, Communication, Data Analysis & Statistics, Engineering, and Humanities are some examples of subjects that you can find. 

Examples of degree programs offered on edX, as of writing, are Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance (offered by the University of London) and Master of Data Science (offered by the University of Sydney). Meanwhile, examples of certificate programs being offered include Computer Science for Web Programing (offered by Harvard University) and Essentials of Cybersecurity (offered by the University of Washington). 

Udemy

As of September 2022, Udemy has had more than 57 million learners, 213,000 courses, and a staggering 773 million course enrollments. These courses are taught by instructors who are experts in their chosen fields. 

Courses are classified into different categories, including Business, Finance & Accounting, Marketing, Lifestyle, and Teaching & Academics. Subcategories for each category are available to make browsing for your desired courses more convenient. 

Examples of courses available on Udemy include Sales Training: Practical Sales Techniques and Linux Administration Bootcamp: Go from Beginner to Advanced.

What to Consider Before Starting or Switching Careers

While online courses and other educational platforms make learning more accessible these days, starting a career as a fresh graduate or even switching careers takes a lot of consideration. First and foremost, you have to evaluate your motivations and goals for wanting a career in a certain field. Go for those that can sustain you—even through the difficulties you will encounter in your career. 

Next, make sure you are qualified for the job you’re gunning for. This is where your educational background, as well as previous work experience, will come in handy. If you think your experience or credentials do not suffice, there are many options you can take to equip yourself with the right knowledge—like online courses, seminars, and even internships. 

Lastly, once you are 100% sure of the career path you want to take, practice due diligence when applying for a job by preparing a proper resume or CV and following company instructions and protocols both as an applicant, and eventually, as a new employee.