Five course deals to help tech pros earn more more money

No matter how well-paying your day job is, we can all always use a little extra in our bank accounts. For tech professionals, here are five deals to build up your savings, from building their skills to building their resumes.

1. Freelancing

A tried and true method, there are a number of different ways to freelance. Hunting bug bounties, working on web development projects on the side, and part-time consulting are three popular ways, and as the need for tech professionals expands into other industries, more opportunities to pick up projects are appearing.

Before you hang out your shingle, though, do a little research first. Check any contracts you currently have to see if there are any clauses about what you can and can’t do in your spare time for other clients. Review the listings on tech help boards to see what’s most in-demand and what prices are being offered. 

And remember above all when you’re freelancing, you’re running a business. That means you’re going to be spending a little time on the business end of things, like marketing, doing the books, and meeting with your clients. Make sure you’ve got time in your day to take care of the grunt work before you start reaching out.

2. Upskilling and Certification

One of the best ways to earn more money is to make yourself more valuable by adding more skills to your portfolio and getting certifications your current workplace, or future one, is looking for. Since you’ll need to take time to train on new technologies and refine your current skills regardless, training up kills two birds with one stone.

There are a range of approaches to building new skills, from the classic college course to the bootcamp. However, one of the most effective is self-paced online training, particularly themed bundles that can transition you from course to course.

For example, the A to Z Cyber Security & IT Certification Training Bundle (currently $39.97 through the end of June 17th) offers a dozen courses from cybersecurity expert Mohamed Atef. The bundle has both skills training and a set of exam preparation courses for a range of popular cybersecurity credentials including the GSEC Security Essentials, Certified Cloud Security Professional (CSSP), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and others. 

3. Teaching

Alternatively, you can become a trainer yourself. Again, there are a number of avenues to do this: You can be an adjunct at a local university, teach students online via videoconferencing platforms, privately tutor at local colleges, work for training programs in your area, or even create your own online training courses. 

Teaching is also an emotionally rewarding way to build your soft skills, like public speaking and project management. However, you’ll need to do a little prep before you get up front.

To start with, find a few places offering technology training and contact them. Ask about how they pay, what curriculum they expect, what they’re looking for in a teacher or trainer, and the time commitment. You may need to hold certain certifications depending on the school and who you’ll be teaching.

Also, be sure to ask about your expected class. A group of adults who are looking to learn is going to be a very different audience than a bunch of kids in a summer web development camp, and they require different skills. 

Finally, be ready to keep a little time aside to work with students and manage the paperwork that comes with teaching people. Even the most eager-to-learn student will hit the occasional roadblock.

4. Technical Writing

Another way to leverage your skills for money is to write about them. Grab a technical manual off your shelf or fire up your e-reader, and go to the author page. You’ll likely find a working IT professional contributed to the book.

Technical writing doesn’t mean you have to write books, though. There’s a wide range of outlets looking for technical expertise, from your local newspaper to websites that pair subject experts with business and others looking for content. Technical writing, in particular, is about taking complex topics and writing them out in a way laypeople can understand.

Don’t limit yourself to the tech press, either. Remember that there’s a lot of need to understand technology in a wide range of industries, and publications in those industries are looking for experts. You may never see the New York Times bestseller list, but you can learn more about who needs your skills and demonstrate them at the same time.

5. Switching Jobs

Finally, ask yourself: Is it just about money, or are you looking for more out of what you do all week? It’s no secret that as we grow in skill, sometimes we outgrow our roles in our organizations, and moving up internally isn’t always in the cards.

Sit down with a career coach and talk through your goals and how you feel about your current job and your pay. If you don’t want to switch, though, consider putting in for a raise; sometimes the best way to make more money is to ask for it.

Prices subject to change.

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