Top Online Courses for Career Growth: Picking the Best Subject to Study Online

Can you imagine learning about artificial intelligence while lounging at a café in Auckland or picking up coding skills during your bus ride home? That’s the charm of online courses—education squeezed into the palm of your hand, literally. But with hundreds of thousands of options popping up every day, picking the best online course can feel like hunting for a needle in a haystack. And, let’s face it, nobody wants to spend weeks ploughing through a course that’s as dry as burnt toast. Instead, you want something with real career bite, something that actually pays off, right?

What Makes an Online Course ‘The Best’?

Everybody wants a magic answer, but there isn’t one. The best course for you depends on what you want to do, where you see your life in five years, and what actually gets you out of bed in the morning. It’s tempting to just follow what everyone else is doing, but that’s like buying running shoes because your neighbour ran a marathon; it might not get you to the finish line.

First, let’s talk numbers. According to Class Central’s Global Online Course Report, there were more than 220 million learners enrolled in at least one online course in 2024. Out of these, courses on technology, business, personal development, and health sciences dominated enrolments.

But it’s not just about the subject. The best online courses share some common features:

• Practical Skills: You want lessons that actually lead to new skills, not just more theory.
• Credible Certificates: If you’re adding something to your CV, make sure it comes from a respected platform or university.
• Up-to-Date Content: The digital world moves fast. Old courses fast turn into digital fossils.
• Engagement: Good courses feel like a conversation with an expert, not a stale online textbook.
• Flexibility: You should be able to learn at your own speed, especially if you’re juggling work, family, and maybe a hobby or two.

A few platforms really stand out for delivering courses with these traits, like Coursera, edX, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and FutureLearn. And if you’re aiming for that gold-standard certificate with real career impact, look for courses partnered with top universities or industry leaders (like Google, IBM, Harvard, or The University of Auckland).

Here’s a tip: many employers now value “skills-based hiring” over degrees. According to a 2025 Deloitte survey, 63% of hiring managers in Australia and New Zealand said verified online certifications influenced their decisions as much as traditional degrees. Fun fact—Google’s Career Certificates programme even landed 75% of their graduates a new job or promotion in under six months.

Most Popular and Useful Online Courses in 2025

It’s one thing to say “studying tech is hot” and another to know what specific courses are actually trending. In 2025, the high-flyers for online learning look a bit like a tech startup’s wishlist. But don’t write off other fields—useful courses aren’t just for coders.

Technology (Coding, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence)

• Python for Everybody (offered by University of Michigan via Coursera) – This has been topping the charts since 2022, because it teaches coding basics even to people who haven’t touched code before. Plus, firms from Xero to Fonterra are on the lookout for problem-solvers who can wrangle data.
• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate (Coursera) – Job listings asking for data skills are up 41% since 2023. This course is crushing it worldwide.
• AI for Everyone (Deeplearning.ai on Coursera) – Whether you’re a business owner or a curious tech geek, this one gives a non-scary intro to artificial intelligence, which is everywhere now, from Netflix recommendations to NZ police.

Business and Management

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification (LinkedIn Learning) – In New Zealand, project managers now pull in high five-figure salaries. This certificate is a ticket to the show.
• Financial Markets (Yale on Coursera) – With more young Kiwis getting into investing, smart finance education is booming.
• Digital Marketing Specializations (offered by Google, Facebook, and HubSpot) – If you can spot trends and analyse customer data, businesses will want you. These courses are heavy on hands-on, not just theory.

Personal and Professional Development

• Learning How to Learn (McMaster University & University of California, San Diego at Coursera) – It sounds meta, but this course is a masterclass in studying smarter, not just harder. A Kiwi software developer I know swears it shaved hours off his study routine.
• Time Management for Personal & Professional Productivity (Coursera) – Not glamorous, but extremely helpful if you’re juggling work-from-home with actual home life.
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (edX, various universities) – Still the bread and butter for anyone in leadership.

Health and Science

• Introduction to Psychology (Yale/Coursera) – The 2024 Mental Health Foundation survey found more employers value emotional intelligence skills.
• Fundamentals of Digital Health (offered by universities in Australia and NZ through FutureLearn) – With telemedicine use up 70% since 2022 in NZ, digital health courses have real, immediate value.

But let’s get practical: don’t just pick what’s popular. Look at where your skills can plug real gaps in the job market. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) keeps a Skills Shortage List—IT, health, engineering, and construction are still at the top. If you can match a course to these gaps, you’re setting yourself up for less competition and higher pay.

Tips to Pick the Right Online Course for You

Spotting the best course to study online isn’t about luck—it’s about a bit of strategy and some self-awareness. Here’s how you can drill down to the one that fits like a glove:

1. Be Honest About Your Goals: Are you upskilling for work, changing careers, or just picking up a new hobby? Getting clear about this helps you skip time-wasters.
2. Peek at Job Ads: Scroll through Seek or LinkedIn jobs in your field and see what skills, tools, or credentials they want. There’s no shame in learning to match the market.
3. Check Course Reviews: Not all courses deliver. Platforms like Coursera and Udemy let students leave ratings and feedback. Find one where people come back raving about the impact on their real job or productivity. Bonus if they can share salary bumps or promotions.
4. Look for Recognised Credentials: Not every certificate is equal. Tech companies and NZ employers still value real badges from Microsoft, Google, or accredited universities.
5. Try Before You Buy: Loads of courses let you dip in for free. Spend an hour listening to the teaching style and checking material quality before ponying up cash.
6. Assess the Support System: Some courses offer mentors, peer discussion forums, or regular quizzes that keep you on track. These aren’t just add-ons—they help when you want to quit or get stuck.
7. Stay Realistic About Time: If you only have an hour a day, don’t pick a 6-month behemoth. Micro-credentials or short sprints are sometimes the smarter option, especially if you’re working or parenting full-time.
8. Calculate the ROI: New Zealand’s average online course ranges from free to about $900 for a certificate program, according to NZQA data. If this gets you in a new field or boosts annual salary, it’s money well spent.
9. Match Learning Format to Your Style: Do you like video? Written guides? Interactive assignments? Make sure the course feels natural, not like slogging through a textbook. Life’s short.
10. Plan How to Show Off Your Skills: Make a portfolio, complete hands-on assignments, or add badges to LinkedIn. Employers notice proof over empty certificates.

I’ll leave you with a little-known hack: sometimes “hidden gem” courses in niche fields—like ethical hacking, sustainability management, or game development—pay off better than mainstream picks because there’s less competition. A mate of mine tackled SAP ERP Basics (yeah, super nerdy) and got headhunted for a role at a big bank that paid more than his last two jobs combined after just three months.

So next time you’re stuck between options or find yourself paralyzed by choice, remember: your perfect online course isn’t just the one with the flashiest title, but the one that lines up with your plans, fills a real skill gap, and keeps you coming back for more. There’s no right or wrong choice—just one that gets you a step closer to where you want to be.