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Soft skills training

Updated Tuesday, 1 January 2019
Learn to recognise the importance of soft skills and how you can improve skills in yourself and your organisation, with free courses from OpenLearn, endorsed by Google.

This content is associated with The Open University Open Degree qualification.


The phrase ‘soft skills’ incorporates a wide variety of personality traits, communication and people skills, social attitudes and emotional intelligence. These qualities (also known as ‘core skills’) are increasingly important for success in the workplace – and not just for those in leadership positions. Everyone can benefit from some focused training and development to help them realise their full potential. OpenLearn has a number of courses you can study to enhance your soft skills right now, which you can find on this page.

 

(Video copyright: Google)

Logo for 'Grow with google', a learning initiative for people and businesses.

 
In 2015, Google launched Grow with Google to provide free training, products and tools designed to help people find a job, advance their career or grow their business. You can find out more at the Grow with Google site. Through partnerships with leading providers of online education like The Open University, Grow with Google is expanding its curriculum with new training like the Badged courses in Employability skills, which you can check out here:
 

Free soft skills courses

  • Effective communication in the workplace

    Effective communication in the workplace

    This free course, Effective communication in the workplace, explores the importance of communication as a skill in the workplace. It aims to increase your understanding of communication skills and to help you to consider how your communication could be perceived by others. You'll cover areas such as verbal and non-verbal communication, written ...

    Learn more to access more details of Effective communication in the workplace
  • Personal branding for career success

    Personal branding for career success

    This free course, Personal branding for career success, considers what a personal brand is and whether you currently have one. You’ll look in detail at theories and examples of personal branding, and relevant marketing processes and practices. You’ll identify the values, skills, knowledge and expertise that you want to promote to employers, and ...

    Learn more to access more details of Personal branding for career success
  • Working in diverse teams

    Working in diverse teams

    This free badged course, Working in diverse teams, will help you consider your experience of working in teams and the different roles you play in them. It will increase your confidence in marketing this key skill to employers as well improve your ability to perform well in teams you are currently part of.

    Learn more to access more details of Working in diverse teams
  • Exploring career mentoring and coaching

    Exploring career mentoring and coaching

    This free course, Exploring career mentoring and coaching, will explain what mentors and career coaches do and how a colleague or expert who can ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and help an individual to find the best solutions for themselves, can make a significant difference in a wide range of situations and contexts.

    Learn more to access more details of Exploring career mentoring and coaching
  • Understanding your sector

    Understanding your sector

    This free course, Understanding your sector, will help you to understand the difference between sectors, industries and professions. It will also help you to gain the inside knowledge to impress in applications and at interviews and to put together an action plan that is tailored to you.

    Learn more to access more details of Understanding your sector
  • Leadership and followership

    Leadership and followership

    This free course, Leadership and followership, will help you to explore what makes a good leader, recognise common leadership challenges, and identify the skills you need to develop if you want to enhance your own leadership experience.

    Learn more to access more details of Leadership and followership
  • Succeed in the workplace

    Succeed in the workplace

    Do you want to change jobs, are you just starting in the job market or may be returning after a break? If so, then this free course, Succeed in the workplace, is for you. It will help you explore career opportunities. You will also gain the skills to write strong CVs and application forms, and to handle different types of interviews. By the end ...

    Learn more to access more details of Succeed in the workplace
 

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