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CAREER ADVICE

Learn New Soft Skills

Soft skills are skills that help you work well with others, they're vital in today's workplace. Whether you want to improve your communication skills, think more creatively or learn how to lead, find a soft skills course to help you get ahead at work.

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Discover how soft skills could help you

  • Communication skills

    Nearly every job involves other people. By developing your communication skills, you'll be better at collaborating on projects, sharing information effectively, and negotiating with colleagues, clients or employers.

  • Leadership skills

    To lead people, you have to understand them. Want to apply for a promotion or take charge of a new project? Developing skills like empathy, cultural intelligence and decision-making could help you get there.

  • Collaboration and teamwork

    Collaboration can produce great ideas and help make companies more efficient. Develop your ability to work in a team and you could boost your career by helping your company and colleagues be more productive.

  • Creative thinking

    Creative problem-solving can help answer the toughest business questions, even in jobs that don’t seem creative. Grow your creative skills to see new ways to improve your career or to make changes in your workplace.

Pick up new soft skills. Join a soft skills course

Part of a degree

Deakin University

What is Leadership?

What is Leadership? And what makes a good leader? Find out with this short free online leadership course.
2 weeks
3 hrs per week
An illustration showing managers and leaders towering above a city skyline.
The Open University

Management and Leadership: Leading a Team

Develop a business plan and build a team with with this online course from The Open University and CMI.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Management and Leadership: Well-being and Welfare at Work

Learn to support the development and well-being of the people you manage with this online course from The Open University and CMI.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
University of Leeds

Learning Online: Learning and Collaborating

Become an effective online learner and develop your online communication skills when working with others.
2 weeks
2 hrs per week
A group of business professionals discussing customer engagement
The Open University

Business Fundamentals: Customer Engagement

Learn how to design business and marketing activities to engage customers through relationships instead of one-off sales.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
A group of business professionals communicating effectively
The Open University

Business Fundamentals: Effective Communication

Gain a practical grounding in communication to boost your personal effectiveness, save you time and reduce your stress levels.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
a team collaborating around a laptop
Deakin University

Career Credentials: Evidence Your Expertise in Teamwork

Evidence your teamwork skills for the workplace and progress in your career.
2 weeks
3 hrs per week
People Management Skills
CIPD - Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

People Management Skills

Get an introduction to people management and develop your own management style.
5 weeks
3 hrs per week
Deakin University

Team Coaching

Learn how to use a range of coaching principles and strategies to create a positive and supportive team culture.
2 weeks
3 hrs per week
A group of young people in India wearing face masks with social media logos on.
UCL (University College London)

Why We Post: the Anthropology of Social Media

Discover the varying uses of social media around the world and its consequences for politics, relationships and everyday life.
5 weeks
3 hrs per week
An illustration showing managers and leaders towering above a city skyline.
The Open University

Management and Leadership: Growing as a Manager

Explore the foundations of successful management with this online course from The Open University and CMI.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Open University

Management and Leadership: Planning Your Personal Development

Focus on and plan your personal development as a manager with this online course from The Open University and CMI.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
A person's arm pointing to a diagram
Darden School of Business, University of Virginia

Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management

Learn the basics of project planning and management so you can run effective projects at work or in daily life.
4 weeks
2 hrs per week
Venture Design Process
Darden School of Business, University of Virginia

Getting Started with Agile and Design Thinking

Get an introduction to agile product development and design thinking so you can build better digital products.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
Coloured triangles escaping from a white box
Durham University

Open Innovation

Find ideas from your suppliers, competitors or customers and develop them for competitive advantage with this free online course.
3 weeks
4 hrs per week
Complex and Uncertain
University of Groningen

Decision Making in a Complex and Uncertain World

This course will teach you the first principles of complexity, uncertainty and how to make decisions in a complex world.
7 weeks
5 hrs per week
A group of business professionals networking effectively
The Open University

Business Fundamentals: Effective Networking

Learn how to build and sustain your network to enhance your professional relationships and open up career opportunities.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
A group of business professionals managing a project
The Open University

Business Fundamentals: Project Management

Gain the basic skills to manage all phases of project lifecycles effectively, using the most appropriate methods and tools.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week

Part of a degree

Coventry University

Business Model Thinking

Get an introduction to business model thinking and turn your ideas into real business opportunities.
2 weeks
3 hrs per week
Intercultural communication, symbolised by a plate with a knife and fork on one side, and chop sticks on the other
Shanghai International Studies University (SISU)

Intercultural Communication

Learn to appreciate, adjust to, and work or study in different cultures, with this free online intercultural communication course.
5 weeks
4 hrs per week

Browse more courses in Business & Management and Languages & Cultures

The benefits of taking soft skills courses online with FutureLearn

Learn flexibly online, for free

Develop valuable skills with a short, online soft skills course, wherever you are. Start learning for free, on desktop, tablet or mobile.

Upgrade for tests and Certificates

Upgrade your chosen course to get unlimited access, take tests and prove what you’ve learnt with a Certificate of Achievement.

Meet other professionals

Learn with experts from top international universities and business schools. Network with professionals from all over the world.

Campaign for Learning Learning at work week square logo

Learning at Work Week 2018

14th - 20th May

Organised by the UK's Campaign for Learning, Learning at Work Week is an annual event highlighting the benefits of learning in the workplace. This year's theme is 'Networked for Learning' and focuses on social and networked learning.

  • Encourages people to embrace learning at work
  • Promotes positive attitudes to learning
  • A good excuse to start learning today

Campaign for Learning

Contact FutureLearn for Support