Best Courses to Land a Remote Job in 2024
Remote work is no longer a trend—it’s the new normal. Companies across the globe are hiring talent without borders, and workers are embracing the flexibility to work from anywhere. But to land a solid remote job in 2024, you’ll need the right skills—and that’s where online learning comes in.
We’ve rounded up the best online courses to help you level up and stand out in the remote job market. Whether you’re starting from scratch or upskilling for a career pivot, these courses will boost your remote-ready toolkit.
1. Google IT Support Professional Certificate (Coursera)
Best for: Beginners entering the tech field
Skills gained: Troubleshooting, networking, operating systems, IT security
This beginner-friendly course from Google prepares you for entry-level IT support roles. No prior experience required. IT support is in high demand, especially in remote-first companies that need reliable tech help.
🎓 Certificate included
🕒 6 months (at 10 hours/week)
👉 Start here
2. Digital Marketing Specialization (University of Illinois, Coursera)
Best for: Aspiring marketers and freelancers
Skills gained: SEO, analytics, social media, email marketing
Digital marketing is one of the top remote careers. This comprehensive program covers everything from SEO to campaign measurement. Ideal for freelancers, content creators, and remote marketing roles.
🎓 Certificate included
🕒 Self-paced
👉 Check it out
3. UX Design Certificate (Google via Coursera)
Best for: Career changers entering design
Skills gained: User research, wireframing, Figma, usability testing
UX design roles are in high demand, and many are fully remote. Google’s certificate is hands-on and portfolio-driven—perfect if you’re looking to land a junior UX or UI role in 2024.
🎓 Certificate + portfolio projects
🕒 6 months (at 10 hours/week)
👉 Explore the course
4. Remote Work Revolution (Harvard via edX)
Best for: Professionals adjusting to remote teams
Skills gained: Communication, collaboration, productivity in remote settings
This course from Harvard Business School teaches the soft skills needed to thrive in remote roles: managing virtual teams, building trust online, and staying productive without burnout.
🎓 Free to audit, certificate optional
🕒 2–3 weeks
👉 Learn more
5. Excel Skills for Business (Macquarie University, Coursera)
Best for: Admin, data, and operations roles
Skills gained: Excel functions, pivot tables, dashboards
Remote jobs in customer service, virtual assistance, and project management often require solid Excel skills. This course is beginner-friendly and takes you all the way to advanced techniques.
🎓 Certificate included
🕒 Self-paced
👉 Start learning Excel
6. Virtual Assistant Training (Alison or Udemy)
Best for: Freelancers and job seekers in admin support
Skills gained: Task management, scheduling, communication, CRM tools
Virtual assistant roles are booming in the remote world. You’ll learn how to manage clients, organize tasks, use scheduling tools, and build a career supporting business owners or executives remotely.
🎓 Certificate included
🕒 1–4 weeks
👉 Find on Alison or Udemy
7. Freelancing Essentials (Skillshare or Coursera)
Best for: Side hustlers and independent contractors
Skills gained: Finding clients, pricing services, using freelance platforms
Remote work doesn’t always mean full-time employment. If you’re looking to freelance, this course teaches you how to market yourself, build a portfolio, and thrive as a remote independent worker.
🎓 Certificate (on Coursera)
🕒 Short courses
👉 Browse on Skillshare or Freelancing 101 on Coursera
Bonus: Tools You Should Know for Remote Work
📌 Consider learning tools like:
- Slack – for team communication
- Trello / Asana / ClickUp – for project management
- Zoom – for virtual meetings
- Google Workspace – for collaboration
- Notion – for knowledge management and team documentation
Many of these platforms offer their own quick, free training courses as well.
Final Thoughts
Remote work in 2024 is full of opportunity—if you have the right skills. The good news? You can build those skills from anywhere, often for free or at a low cost. Whether you want to freelance, join a distributed team, or start a side hustle, the time to start learning is now.
Pro tip: Pair your course learning with a side project or online portfolio—it’ll help you stand out when applying to remote roles.
Which course are you starting first? Let me know in the comments 👇