Online courses are a popular first step toward a new career. But if you think that getting a certificate and completing all the tasks will immediately start bringing you income — we’re here to offer a reality check. To make sure your first step into a new field isn’t your last, Stanislav Romanov, a marketer at Otzyvmarketing.ru, shares some practical tips.
Tip 1. Prepare a financial cushion
A financial cushion is a sum of money reserved for emergencies or unexpected changes. Ideally, everyone should have one — it allows you to recover from setbacks without lowering your standard of living or going into debt.
If you’re planning to change careers, a financial backup is a must. You have two options here:
In the first case, you start building the cushion from the moment you decide to change careers. In the second, you already have a set amount saved.
How much to save
There’s no universal answer — it depends on your lifestyle, income, and expenses. Experts suggest that your cushion should support your current living standards for at least six months (ideally up to two years).
To estimate the amount, calculate your monthly expenses (housing, food, personal needs, transportation, leisure, etc.) and multiply by six. Make sure to consider your family’s needs too. Don’t forget that your new profession might require buying equipment or software — include that in your budget.
How to save and where to keep it
Psychologists advise setting money aside immediately after receiving income — that way, you’re less tempted to spend it. You can save a fixed amount or a percentage of your earnings. If your income is stable, try saving 10–20%. This may vary depending on your expenses.
Your savings should be kept in a bank account. Choose a trustworthy bank and don’t chase high interest rates — the main goal is protecting your funds from inflation and impulsive spending. Any interest you earn is a nice bonus.
Tip 2. Build meaningful connections
Having the right connections is always useful — especially when switching careers. The more relevant contacts you have, the more potential employers, mentors, and collaborators you’ll be able to reach out to.
To expand your professional circle, attend industry events — conferences, expos, workshops, meetups. Don’t overlook online communities either — forums, social media groups, and niche platforms can also help.
Practice self-presentation. Be able to talk about who you are, what you do, what you’re interested in, and what you can offer. Don’t forget — you might be speaking to a future employer. And always exchange contact info during professional conversations.
Tip 3. Say yes to every bit of experience
Online courses give you knowledge, but not experience. Sometimes schools offer internships — that’s great, even if limited. But don’t stop there. One-off internships aren’t enough if you’re aiming for long-term employment.
Try gaining experience during or after your studies. The ideal option is doing both at once — though that isn’t always realistic. A lot depends on the industry.
You can find experience in two main ways:
Either reach out directly to companies or use contacts from your online course. Many schools work with companies and recommend their best students.
If you get an internship, be ready for low or no pay. Don’t be discouraged — the goal is to gain experience. That includes both real and formal experience. Even if you don’t land a job with the internship company, you can still ask them for a recommendation.
Tip 4. Resume, cover letter, and portfolio are a must
You can’t get a job without a resume. It summarizes your experience, skills, education, and more. HR specialists carefully review resumes before scheduling interviews — so make yours concise, informative, and tailored to the job you want.
What to include in your resume
You can add a cover letter and references. The purpose of a cover letter is to boost your chances of being invited to an interview.
What to write in the cover letter
Share a bit about yourself — why you’re changing careers, why you chose this company (e.g., because you share their values — and name those values). Mention your openness to internships or trial projects. Keep your message clear and direct. If sending by email, be sure to include a subject and greeting.
Letters of recommendation
This one’s tricky. Employers know that these are often written by the employees themselves, and just signed by a supervisor — so they don’t always take them seriously.
That said, you can strengthen a recommendation by including a contact person. That way, HR can verify your reference. What’s the best approach? If they ask — provide it. If they don’t — you don’t need to.
Portfolio
Most resumes are stronger with a portfolio. Include projects from work, training, internships, or personal practice. Online courses often include intermediate and final projects — websites, apps, services, etc.
The more projects you include, the better — it proves your skillset. Just make sure you can explain each one clearly.
Tip 5. Improve your resume after every interview
There are plenty of general interview tips. But here’s something often overlooked — each interview teaches you what recruiters are really interested in. They may ask about a tool or software you’re unfamiliar with.
If that happens — take note. You might need to learn Excel, or Photoshop. Even if that skill wasn’t on your resume yet — better late than never. Just make sure next time, you’re ready.