--- title: 3 Benefits of Online Learning for Your Career description: Now is the time to learn online. Build up your portfolio, network with others and experience the benefits of online learning. image: https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/3%20reasons%20to%20take%20an%20online%20course%20in%202020%20blog%20featured%20image.png --- [![OpenLearning Logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5f6fb7cbdbe1b69641ddf9fe/5f71c1cd44fb7b7354aed8e9_Open%20Learning%20Logo.webp)](https://blog.openlearning.com) - Educators - Get Inspired Curated content to help you create, market and deliver world-class education. - [Beginner Course Creators](https://blog.openlearning.com/openlearning-blog-beginner-course-creators?hsLang=en) - [Employee Onboarding and Training](https://blog.openlearning.com/onboarding-training?hsLang=en) - [Marketing Your Course](https://blog.openlearning.com/marketing?hsLang=en) ![icon-1](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/Images/icon-1.png) - [Downloadable Resources](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bufc4bjkqmflegwai5t3s/ADOkkCFNU1LsxShHdPOz7ss?rlkey=e0ne00og4hp6ux1ut6wvomh9l&st=zfyrc58o&dl=0) Templates to help you plan and manage your online course project. ![Nav_Icon_2](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/Images/Nav_Icon_2.svg) ![external-link-alt-regular](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/Images/external-link-alt-regular.svg) - [Workshops and Webinars](https://solutions.openlearning.com/events?hsLang=en) Browse upcoming events and access on-demand webinars. ![Nav_Icon_3](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/Images/Nav_Icon_3.svg) ![external-link-alt-regular](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/Images/external-link-alt-regular.svg) - [Lifelong Learners](https://blog.openlearning.com/learners?hsLang=en) - [Product Updates](https://blog.openlearning.com/tag/updates) - [Subscribe](https://blog.openlearning.com/#hs_cos_wrapper_module_1623683371629468) [Try it for free](https://solutions.openlearning.com/contact/sales?hsLang=en) ![search icon](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/Images/search-regular-icon.svg) [Try it for free](https://solutions.openlearning.com/contact/sales?hsLang=en) # 3 Benefits of Online Learning for Your Career By [Nicola Choon](https://blog.openlearning.com/author/nicola-choon) min read Share ### Contents - 1. Online learning makes it easier for you to grow your career while you're still building up your professional skills. - 2. Many online courses now offer social features so that you can network with your learning community while you learn. - 3. This year, flexibility is key: online courses let you study online on your own terms. 638 The past few years have turned out to be a series of big changes. But despite what’s going on in the world, it looks as though our desire to learn hasn’t stopped growing. [Online learning platforms are reporting a spike in the number of new learners](https://stockhead.com.au/stockhead-tv/stocktalk-ed-tech-experts-discuss-the-sectors-covid-19-induced-boom/) as more and more people are going online to pursue new skills. Luckily, there are many free online courses available to make self-improvement and professional growth a reality this year. If you haven't joined in yet, here are just a few benefits of online learning to inspire you to start learning online to build up your career.   ## 1. Online learning makes it easier for you to grow your career while you're still building up your professional skills.   Have you been completing your assignments and projects online? Congratulations! That means you already have your very own online portfolio, ready to share with clients and recruiters for the next step of your career. In the past, you had to manually collect all of your certificates and assignments into a scrapbook or a digital portfolio. But now, online learning platforms actually do most of the work for you.  Online learning allows you to master new skills and prove that you’ve learned them at the same time. The OpenLearning platform automatically adds your achievements to your profile page—everything from completed activities, to certificates and badges: ![Portfolio](https://blog.openlearning.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Portfolio.gif?width=600&name=Portfolio.gif) ## 2. Many online courses now offer social features so that you can network with your learning community while you learn. In 2012, it was the ‘year of the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)’. For the first time, prestigious universities began to share their educational content entirely for free. But many first-generation MOOCs focused mainly on uploading content and offered very few opportunities for learners to interact. Now, OpenLearning has evolved to support the rich social interactions that we have come to expect in our online lives: almost like a social media platform for education. In many of today’s online courses, you’ll find dedicated facilitators, familiar sharing tools, and a safe and welcoming online space. You’ll be encouraged to meet, support and interact with a diverse community of learners who are tuning in at the same time as you are.![(Sydney-edited-version)_short-clip_3-2](https://blog.openlearning.com/hs-fs/hubfs/(Sydney-edited-version)_short-clip_3-2.gif?width=600&name=(Sydney-edited-version)_short-clip_3-2.gif) Above all, joining an online course means that you are becoming a part of the global online learning community. We have over 2.8 million users from 35 different countries on OpenLearning alone! You never know who you'll meet next, whether it's an old classmate, a fellow enthusiast, or even your next business partner.   ## 3. This year, flexibility is key: online courses let you study online on your own terms. Online courses can be as flexible as you want them to be: Join a single course or join a whole online degree programme. Log in once a week, or set a daily reminder to complete your online learning tasks. It is your decision to enjoy studying on your own terms. The beauty of online learning is that you can dive in whenever you’re ready, but remember: > You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water. > > — Rabindranath Tagore In an online course, you are the master of your own learning journey. Be open to the experience of actively involving yourself in the online community: discuss your ideas, work in groups, ask questions, do experiments, get creative, and try new things. You have the power to create your online learning environment and experience a great one!   ---   These are just three reasons to embark on your own online learning journey. Thanks to social distancing, many of us also have some extra time on our hands. Therefore, why not take this advantage of online learning for your career advancement? **Create your free learner account and enrol today.** [![Find a Course](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/696603/a3be9f51-a054-4d84-a7f1-0c0f99b43134.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/696603/a3be9f51-a054-4d84-a7f1-0c0f99b43134) Topics: [Learners](https://blog.openlearning.com/tag/learners) Liked this post? Don’t forget to share it! ### Recommended Resources March 13, 2026 ### [5 Ways to Increase Learner Participation in Online Courses](https://blog.openlearning.com/5-ways-to-increase-learner-participation-in-online-courses?hsLang=en) [Continue Reading ![right arrow](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/Images/arrow-right-icon.png)](https://blog.openlearning.com/5-ways-to-increase-learner-participation-in-online-courses?hsLang=en) August 27, 2025 ### [Create Impact with AFI's Inclusive Finance Training](https://blog.openlearning.com/create-impact-with-afi-inclusive-finance-training?hsLang=en) [Continue Reading ![right arrow](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/Images/arrow-right-icon.png)](https://blog.openlearning.com/create-impact-with-afi-inclusive-finance-training?hsLang=en) March 5, 2024 ### [8 self-motivation techniques for reaching your goals](https://blog.openlearning.com/self-motivation-techniques?hsLang=en) [Continue Reading ![right arrow](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/Images/arrow-right-icon.png)](https://blog.openlearning.com/self-motivation-techniques?hsLang=en) ## Get more resources in your inbox ![back to top button](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/Images/back-to-top.png) Company - [About us](https://solutions.openlearning.com/about) - [Team](https://solutions.openlearning.com/team) - [Careers](https://solutions.openlearning.com/careers) - [Press](https://solutions.openlearning.com/press) - [Blog](https://blog.openlearning.com) - [Investors](https://solutions.openlearning.com/investor-center) - [Contact](https://solutions.openlearning.com/contact) Use cases - [Case studies](https://solutions.openlearning.com/case-studies) - [Professional development](https://solutions.openlearning.com/internal-learning-development) - [MOOCs](https://solutions.openlearning.com/moocs) Platform - [Features](https://solutions.openlearning.com/platform-features) - [Philosophy](https://solutions.openlearning.com/learning-philosophy) - [Pricing](https://solutions.openlearning.com/pricing) - [Course marketplace](https://www.openlearning.com/courses/) - [Partners](https://www.openlearning.com/partners/) Support - [Learning Design](https://solutions.openlearning.com/learning-design-services) - [Marketing](https://solutions.openlearning.com/marketing-services) - [Help & support](https://help.openlearning.com/) - [Research](https://solutions.openlearning.com/research) - [Events](https://solutions.openlearning.com/events) - [Learning Designers' Toolkit](https://medium.com/learning-designers-toolkit) - [COVID-19](https://solutions.openlearning.com/covid-19) Resources - [OpenCreds](https://solutions.openlearning.com/opencreds) - [BEST Network](https://www.best.edu.au/) - [UNSW Transition Programme Online](https://www.unswcollege.edu.au/study/foundation-studies-overview) - [CS101](https://www.cs101.com/) Follow us on social media ![Follow OpenLearning on LinkedIn](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/5f71dd6a12c4ea5089f6ffe6_linkedin.svg) [![Follow OpenLearning on Instagram](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/5f71dd6ba85b924388d32db2_instagramm.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/openlearningcom/) [![Follow OpenLearning on Facebook](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/5f71dd6aa7133903129695ee_facebook.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/openlearning_global) [![Follow OpenLearning on Twitter](https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/5f71dd6a96a9290ccd6928af_twitter.svg)](https://facebook.com/OpenLearning) © 2026 OpenLearning Limited (ASX: OLL) - [Terms of service](https://solutions.openlearning.com/terms-of-service) - [Privacy policy](https://solutions.openlearning.com/privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Nicola Choon", "url" : "https://blog.openlearning.com/author/nicola-choon" }, "dateModified" : "2024-02-07T07:23:33.645Z", "datePublished" : "2021-08-08T22:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "3 Benefits of Online Learning for Your Career", "image" : [ "https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/3%20reasons%20to%20take%20an%20online%20course%20in%202020%20blog%20featured%20image.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.openlearning.com/why-you-should-join-an-online-course", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.openlearning.com/hubfs/OpenLearning-Logo.png" }, "name" : "OpenLearning" } } ```