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5 Marketable Skills to Boost Your Resume with SMU CAPE

As the year winds down, it’s natural to start asking questions about your career:

  • Am I bringing as much value to my job as I could be?
  • Do I have the skills employers are actually looking for right now?
  • What can I do in the next few months to boost my earning potential and open new doors?

If you’re thinking along these lines, you’re exactly where you should be. The fastest way to change your career trajectory is to deliberately build a set of in‑demand, clearly marketable skills and then showcase them on your resume, LinkedIn, or yearly reviews. SMU CAPE has assembled a set of short, targeted courses designed to do exactly that: help you add real, verifiable skills that hiring managers or your current manager recognize and value.

1. Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics: Become “AI‑Fluent”

AI isn’t replacing professionals; it’s replacing professionals who don’t know how to use AI. Employers are looking for people who can pair AI tools with critical thinking to solve problems, move faster, and work smarter.

Applied AI In Analytics (Live Online)

This course is built for professionals who work with data or decisions—but don’t necessarily want to become full‑time data scientists.

You’ll learn how artificial intelligence is transforming analytics by enabling:

  • Faster insights
  • More accurate predictions
  • Smart automation across workflows

You’ll get hands-on practice with:

  • ChatGPT Pro
  • Google Gemini Pro
  • Microsoft Copilot
  • Google Sheets for AI-assisted data exploration and visualization

Working directly with real datasets, you’ll use AI to:

  • Clean data
  • Visualize trends
  • Forecast outcomes
  • Summarize and interpret results

Along the way, you’ll learn how to:

  • Integrate AI into analytics processes
  • Generate actionable insights
  • Apply ethical and quality safeguards so the AI‑generated output is reliable enough for real‑world decisions

Format & Details
Thursdays, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
March 5, 2026 to April 2, 2026
Live Online
Cost: $419

Artificial Intelligence for HR Professionals (Self‑Paced Online)

If you work in HR or people operations, AI is reshaping your field. From how you attract, develop, and retain talent to how you manage performance and support inclusion.

In this self‑paced course, you’ll:

  • Learn core AI concepts: machine learning, deep learning, generative AI-

Explore how AI impacts:

  • Talent acquisition
  • Talent development
  • Compensation and benefits
  • Employee relations and engagement
  • Performance management
  • Understand which HR responsibilities are best assisted by AI tools and which still require strong human judgment

Examine ethics and legal compliance:

  • AI bias and fairness
  • Inclusivity initiatives
  • The critical role of human oversight

Format & Details
Self‑paced online
Cost: $115

Generative AI for Business Professionals (Live Online)

Generative AI is becoming a core business skill. Similar to Excel or PowerPoint, but more powerful. This course is designed for both individual contributors and decision‑makers who want to use AI to do better work, faster.

You’ll practice with tools such as:

  • ChatGPT
  • Google Gemini
  • DALL‑E
  • Midjourney
  • Adobe Firefly

And you’ll learn to tailor prompts for:

  • High‑quality text generation
  • Music creation
  • Image synthesis
  • Other creative and business applications

Expect:

  • Skill‑building exercises
  • Live sessions
  • Exploration of use cases across industries
  • Guidance on how to implement AI confidently and responsibly in your role

By the end, you’ll be positioned as a forward‑thinking, tech‑savvy professional who knows how to leverage AI to drive positive change in your organization.

Format & Details
Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
March 3, 2026 to March 31, 2026
Live Online
Cost: $695

2. Project Management: Turn Ideas into Executable Plans

Across industries, project management skills are some of the most transferable and valued. Strong PM capabilities help teams:

  • Increase efficiency
  • Meet deadlines
  • Reduce costs
  • Deliver outcomes that actually match expectations

Even if you’re not a formal “Project Manager,” these skills make you someone leaders can trust with important initiatives.

Project Management for Small Businesses (Self‑Paced Online)

Ideal if you wear many hats, especially in small businesses or startups.

You’ll learn:

  • Fundamental project management concepts
  • Common project pitfalls and how to avoid them
  • The five stages of the project life cycle:
    • Initiating
    • Planning
    • Executing
    • Monitoring/Controlling
    • Closing

Format & Details
Self‑paced online
Cost: $115

Managing Real World Projects (Self‑Paced Online)

This course goes beyond theory and focuses on the practical, real‑world application of project management best practices.

You’ll learn a streamlined, realistic approach to:

Leading a project through:

  • Initiating
  • Planning
  • Controlling
  • Executing
  • Closing

Using core tools and templates, including:

  • Comprehensive project plan
  • Work breakdown structures
  • Task lists
  • Issue lists
  • Risk registers
  • Close‑out documents

Format & Details
Self‑paced online
Cost: $315

Advanced Project Management (Live Online)

If you already have some PM experience and want to operate more strategically, this course is about leading projects *before* they officially begin.

You’ll focus on the pre‑project phase:

  • Strategy and business alignment
  • Ideation and opportunity evaluation
  • Building early‑stage buy‑in

Key skills you’ll develop:

  • Guiding new initiatives through early development
  • Building stakeholder alignment
  • Crafting compelling business cases
  • Presenting projects persuasively to executive sponsors

Aligned with the PMI Talent Triangle’s Business Acumen domain, this program helps you:

  • Think strategically
  • Act decisively
  • Influence effectively
  • Position yourself as a high‑value contributor in your organization or the broader talent market

Format & Details
Live Online
Thursdays, 6 p.m. to 9  p.m.
April 9, 2026 to May 7, 2026
Cost: $995

3. Basic Graphic Design: Communicate Visually, Not Just Verbally

You don’t have to be a full‑time designer to benefit from design skills. If you create slide decks, internal communications, social content, or client presentations, understanding basic design principles makes your work more compelling and professional.

Introduction to Graphic Design (Live Online)

Graphic design is the visual expression of ideas – the process of translating, communicating, and sometimes even *advocating* by giving form to concepts.

In this course, you’ll learn key fundamentals:

  • Layout
  • Color theory
  • Typography
  • Imagery
  • Core visual composition principles

You’ll also explore opportunities across:

  • Print design: flyers, brochures, etc.
  • Digital design: web templates, digital billboards, banner ads, and more

These skills can help you:

  • Collaborate more effectively with creative teams
  • Take on new cross‑functional projects
  • Build a freelance or side‑hustle offering
  • Level up the impact of your everyday presentations

Format & Details
Live Online
Thursday, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
March 26, 2026 to April 16, 2026
Cost: $565

4. Digital Marketing: Stand Out in an Online‑First World

Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, or professional in another field, understanding how digital marketing works makes you more collaborative, resourceful, and valuable. We live online, so your skill set should too.

Video Marketing Strategy (Live Online)

Video is now a core part of every serious marketing toolkit.

This course focuses on using video to:

  • Connect with potential customers
  • Help your brand or organization stand out
  • Acquire more customers
  • Retain existing audiences
  • Grow your social media followers across platforms

You’ll learn best practices for effective video marketing that fits modern content consumption habits.

Format & Details
Live Online
Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
January 7, 2026 to January 28, 2026
Cost: $479

Search Engine Optimization & Marketing Strategies (Live Sessions)

SEO and SEM remain foundational to digital visibility, but the landscape is shifting quickly thanks to AI and new search experiences.

This course covers:

  • Core SEO and SEM strategies for modern digital marketing
  • How AI and Search Generative Experience are changing search behavior
  • How to navigate AI‑driven search platforms, including:
    • Perplexity
    • Google’s latest technologies
    • Other emerging services

You’ll develop skills to:

  • Stay current in a rapidly evolving field
  • Leverage new tools and features for business advantage
  • Build smarter, more resilient search strategies

Format & Details
Live Sessions
Mondays, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
March 30, 2026 to May 4, 2026
Cost: $719

Mobile Marketing and Analytics (In Person)

With nearly three‑quarters of marketing budgets going toward apps and ads for mobile platforms, no digital plan is complete without a mobile strategy.

In this intensive, fast‑paced course, you’ll explore:

  • Key considerations for mobile marketing
  • Tools and trends that drive mobile success
  • How to design campaigns and experiences specifically for mobile users

Format & Details
In Person
Wednesdays, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
May 20, 2026 to June 10, 2026

5. Leadership & People Skills: Close the “Mentoring Gap”

Many organizations are still feeling the effects of the mentoring and leadership gaps that emerged during the COVID years. Businesses now urgently need people who can lead, coach, and manage others effectively.

These short, self‑paced courses are ideal if you want to solidify your leadership foundation.

How to Coach (Self‑Paced Online)

Managers who lead through coaching by offering encouragement, feedback, and support tend to deliver better outcomes through others.

This course focuses on core coaching skills:

  • Active listening
  • Providing constructive, observation‑based feedback
  • Reinforcing positive performance through recognition and praise
  • Teaching new skills in a supportive way

Format & Details
Self‑paced online
Cost: $115

Leading Teams (Self‑Paced Online)

Leading a team requires more than technical skill; it demands an understanding of team dynamics, accountability, communication, and politics.

This introductory‑level course explores:

  • Why leadership is so critical to team success
  • What’s required from a team leader to be effective
  • The unique aspects of leading in a context where responsibility and leadership are shared

Format & Details
Self‑paced online
Cost: $145

Managing People (Self‑Paced Online)

To advance in your career, you need to know how to manage people—not just tasks.

In this course, you’ll learn:

  • How goals, empowerment, and measurement systems work together in management
  • Different organizational structures and what they mean for managers
  • How to handle discipline while still maintaining productivity and momentum

Format & Details
Self‑paced online
Cost: $115

How to Choose the Right Skill Path for Your Goals

If you’re unsure where to start, here’s a quick way to align these offerings with your career goals:

A final tip: don’t just take these courses, leverage them.

After completing a course:

1. Update your resume and LinkedIn: Add a “Skills” or “Professional Development” section listing the course name and key competencies gained.

2. Showcase real outputs: Include a portfolio piece (a dashboard, a design, a campaign concept, a project plan) wherever possible.

3. Translate learning into impact

In interviews or performance reviews, highlight specific stories:

  • How you used AI to improve a workflow
  • How you applied project management to deliver a key initiative
  • How a leadership technique improved team performance

By being intentional now, before the year fully wraps, you can step into the next one with sharper skills, clearer direction, and a stronger, more marketable professional profile.