Hey Invaders! 👽

Harvard's Hidden Treasure: Free Courses on PLL You Need to Know About

This week I'm putting you on to a seriously underrated resource that could level up your skills (and your resume) without costing you a dime: Harvard's Professional and Lifelong Learning platform (PLL).

While everyone knows about edX and Coursera, Harvard's PLL catalog flies under the radar—yet offers completely FREE access to courses from one of the world's most prestigious universities. Let's dive into what makes this resource so valuable!

What Exactly is Harvard PLL?

Harvard PLL (https://pll.harvard.edu/catalog) is Harvard University's platform for professional development and continuing education. Here's what makes it special:

• Authentic Harvard curriculum and materials

• Completely free to audit most courses

• Self-paced learning options

• Covers diverse subjects from computer science to leadership

• Taught by actual Harvard professors

Tech Courses That Will Boost Your Resume

As a bootcamp grad, these tech-focused courses can help fill knowledge gaps and make your resume stand out:

• CS50: Introduction to Computer Science - The legendary course that covers algorithms, data structures, and computer science fundamentals

• CS50's Web Programming with Python and JavaScript - Build full-stack applications with Flask and React

• Data Science: Machine Learning - Learn the fundamentals of ML without needing an advanced math degree

• CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python - Perfect for adding AI skills to your toolkit

Adding "Harvard University - CS50" to your education section catches recruiters' attention immediately!

Business & Soft Skills That Complement Your Tech Knowledge

Technical skills get you in the door, but these courses help you advance:

• Negotiation Mastery - Essential for salary discussions and workplace interactions

• Leadership Principles - Learn management skills that help you move up quickly

• Business Analytics - Bridge the gap between coding and business impact

• Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies - Great for those interested in startups

How to Make These Courses Count

Simply listing a course on your resume isn't enough. Here's how to maximize their impact:

1. Complete the projects - Don't just watch videos; build something you can show

2. Add your work to GitHub - Create a repository for each course project

3. Mention specific skills - Instead of just listing "CS50," specify "Implemented data structures and algorithms in C programming"

4. Connect with fellow students - The CS50 community is legendary and can lead to job opportunities

Success Story

Sarah, a bootcamp grad with no CS background, completed CS50 while job hunting. During an interview, the hiring manager (a Harvard alum) recognized the course and they spent 10 minutes discussing her final project. She got the job offer the next day!

The interviewer later told her that seeing CS50 on her resume demonstrated her willingness to tackle challenging material and fill knowledge gaps—exactly what they wanted in a junior developer.

How to Get Started Today

1. Visit https://pll.harvard.edu/catalog

2. Filter for "Free" courses

3. Create a free account

4. Start with one course that addresses your biggest knowledge gap

5. Commit to 3-5 hours weekly

My Personal Recommendation

If you can only take one course, choose CS50. It's challenging but transformative, and having it on your resume signals to employers that you understand computer science fundamentals, not just coding syntax.

The best part? You can start right now, with zero financial investment. Your future self (and your resume) will thank you!

Happy learning, Invaders! Let me know which Harvard course you decide to tackle first! 🚀

P.S. If you're serious about making the most of these courses, join the CS50 subreddit and Discord communities—they're incredibly supportive and often share job opportunities!

P.S.S. UPDATE: Three newsletters ago I started at 1,636 points on AWS Educate, I’ve been logging in everyday and completing tasks and so far have 3,440 points, I’m shy of 1,750 points for the Associate voucher (100% discount).