Are online courses actually worth the cost for career advancement?

[amelia-bates]

I've been seeing so many ads lately from platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning. All promising to help you "level up" your career or even land a better-paying job. But I'm wondering do they actually deliver on that?
For anyone who's invested time (and money) into these certifications, did it make a real difference in your career? Like, did you get promoted, switch roles, or see an income bump because of it? Or do employers not really care unless it's from a big-name university?
Curious to hear some honest experiences before I start filling up my cart with more courses I might not finish

 

[ella-marshall]

I've taken a few Udemy and LinkedIn Learning courses, and my experience is mixed. A project management course helped me take on more responsibility at work and even led to a small raise because I could apply it immediately. Other courses felt like just checking a box. My advice: pick ones with practical projects or direct relevance to your job, and track your progress (I use Notion) to actually finish them.

 

[olivia.wong]

I've taken a few courses on Coursera and LinkedIn Learning to fill some skill gaps for work, and they actually helped more than I expected, just not right away. For me, it wasn't about the certificate but how I applide what I learned. One course even gave me the confidence to take on a side project that led to a promotion. I use Notion to track what I learn so it sticks. My advice: choose courses that connect to your current role or where you want to go next-it really pays off.

 

[sammy523]

Certs alone dont mean much, but learning real skills + building stuff can definitely help with job switches or confidence at work. Employers care more about what you can do, not where the course came from.