What Online Courses Really Are
Online courses are videos you watch on a computer or phone.
You watch lectures. You take quizzes. You get a certificate when you finish.
The certificate is a PDF. You print it or attach it to applications.
No instructor meets you in person. No one verifies you actually learned anything.
Why People Choose Online Courses
They cost nothing or very little. Coursera. Udemy. YouTube. LinkedIn Learning.
You do them from anywhere. Shelter. Library. Phone. No travel required.
They feel productive. You are doing something. You are learning. It feels like progress.
They let you avoid the fear of rejection. Watching videos is easier than job hunting.
How Employers Actually View Online Courses
Most employers ignore online courses on resumes. They look for work history and references.
Employers assume online courses mean no real experience. Anyone can watch videos. Not everyone can do the job.
HR systems filter by keywords. Online course titles do not match job requirements in the system.
Certificates from websites do not prove skill. They prove you finished videos.
Related: State-Funded Training After Prison
Online Courses That Usually Do Nothing
IT courses. CompTIA. Cisco. AWS. Employers want experience and hands-on lab work, not video certificates.
Coding bootcamps online. Employers want portfolios and references. They do not hire based on completion certificates.
Business and management courses. Employers want work history managing people. Online courses do not replace that.
Sales and marketing courses. Employers want proof you closed deals or ran campaigns. Certificates mean nothing.
What Online Courses Do NOT Replace
They do not replace work history. Employers ask where you worked. Not what videos you watched.
They do not replace references. No one will vouch for you because you finished an online course.
They do not replace certifications that grant site access. OSHA cards. Forklift licenses. CPR. These require in-person testing.
They do not replace hands-on training. Welding videos do not teach you to weld. Driving videos do not teach you to drive.
Read: Vocational Certifications After Prison
When Online Courses Can Make Sense
You already have a job and want to learn something specific for that job. You use it immediately at work.
You are preparing for an in-person certification test. You study online then take the real test in person.
You need basic computer skills to fill out job applications. Typing. Email. Navigating websites. Free tutorials help.
You are learning English or math while also applying for jobs. Online courses support other goals. They are not the main goal.
See: Trade Schools After Prison
Why Online Courses Delay Income
You spend two hours per day on courses. That is two hours you could spend applying for jobs.
You finish one course and start another. You keep learning instead of earning.
You tell yourself you are not ready to apply yet. You wait until you finish more courses. Months pass.
You avoid the hard part. Job hunting means rejection. Learning feels safe. Safe does not pay rent.
Parole and Online Courses
Parole officers do not count online courses as employment progress. They want job applications and interviews.
Saying you are taking online courses does not satisfy parole requirements. They want work or active job search.
Parole does not care about certificates from websites. They care about pay stubs and employer contact information.
If you spend all your time on online courses, parole will push you to apply for jobs instead.
Common Online Course Traps
You collect certificates instead of work. You have ten completion certificates. You have zero job offers.
You believe more learning equals better jobs. It does not. Employers want proof you can do the work.
You use courses to delay facing your record. You think employers will overlook your past if you show enough certificates. They will not.
You finish a course and realize it taught nothing useful. The information was general. The job requires specific skills. You wasted time.
If You Learn Instead of Work
You will spend six months completing online courses. You will have nothing to show employers except PDFs.
You will apply for jobs. Employers will ask about work history. You will say you took online courses. They will move to the next applicant.
You will have no income. Your parole officer will ask what you have been doing. You will show certificates. They will ask why you are not working.
Your housing will fall apart. Landlords do not accept course completion as rent payment.
Online courses feel productive because they have structure and goals. Jobs have paychecks. Take one course if needed. Then apply for jobs immediately.