Month 1: research the target role with official data
Start with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. BLS explains that each profile has a Quick Facts table (median pay, typical entry-level education, work experience in a related occupation, on-the-job training, number of jobs, job outlook and employment change), plus sections on what the work involves, how to become one, pay, job outlook, state and area data and similar occupations.
Read the entry requirements before the pay. Two computer occupations show why. On October 30, 2026 the information security analyst profile listed a 2025 median of $129,180, a bachelor's degree as typical entry education, less than 5 years of experience in a related occupation, and 21% projected growth for 2025-35. The computer support specialist profile listed a 2025 median of $62,890, moderate-term on-the-job training, no related experience, a projected 3% decline, yet about 48,700 openings a year, and said candidates may qualify with a high school diploma plus relevant IT certifications.
- Pick one target role and one fallback role from its Similar Occupations section.
- Write down the entry education and related-experience fields for each.
- Note the projected annual openings, not only the growth rate.
| Quick Facts field (BLS, 2025 data) | Information security analysts | Computer support specialists |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $129,180 a year | $62,890 a year |
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree | Varies; see How to Become One |
| Related work experience | Less than 5 years | None |
| On-the-job training | None | Moderate-term |
| Job outlook 2025-35 | 21% (much faster than average) | -3% (decline) |
| Projected openings a year | About 14,100 | About 48,700 |
Month 2: turn the profile into a skills list
The How to Become One section covers education, training, licensing, important qualities and advancement. Combine it with ten real job ads in your area for the target role and tally which tools and skills appear most often. The top five become your learning list; the rest wait.
Be honest about gaps courses cannot close. If the typical entry path is a bachelor's degree plus related experience, as for information security analysts, a six-month plan is more realistic as a step into an adjacent role than as a direct jump.
- Five skills from job ads, ranked by frequency
- Which of them you can already show evidence of
- One adjacent role you could reach first, if the target needs experience you lack
Months 2-5: sequence courses and projects
Choose one structured program per role rather than collecting unrelated courses. Use the listed time to check fit with your schedule: the Google Data Analytics page lists 9 courses and about 6 months at 10 hours a week and marks the program as included with Coursera Plus. The Google IT Support page showed different figures on different loads on October 30, 2026 (6 courses and about 3 months at 10 hours a week in one version; 5 courses, 6 months at 10 hours a week and over 100 hours of instruction in another), so screenshot the version you cite.
To sample a field cheaply before committing, Alison's help center says its courses are free to study and complete, with certificate courses averaging 2-3 hours and diplomas 8-10 hours; only the certificate document costs money. Follow every course module with a small project that uses it, so month 6 starts with work to show.
| Month | Learning | Project output |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Short sampler course; start main program | One-page note on what surprised you about the field |
| 3 | Main program, first third | Small project using the first core tool |
| 4 | Main program, middle third | Second project with a realistic dataset or scenario |
| 5 | Main program, final third or capstone | Write-ups for both projects |
| 6 | Gap-filling only | Portfolio page and applications |
Month 6: portfolio and conversations
A portfolio for a career changer needs two or three projects with a short write-up each: the problem, what you did, the tools, and what you would do differently. Certificates go in a short list underneath; the projects are what an interviewer can ask about.
Use the OOH profile's More Information section, which BLS says links to governmental sources with more detail on the occupation, and its Similar Occupations section to widen your search, then ask three people in the role for 20-minute conversations about what their first year looked like. Ask about work, not about job openings.
- Two or three projects with write-ups
- Updated resume headline aimed at the target or adjacent role
- Three informational conversations completed
- Ten targeted applications, tracked in a sheet
Budget the six months up front
Price the plan before month 1 ends, using the official pages. On October 30, 2026 Coursera Plus listed $59 a month or $399 a year with a 14-day money-back guarantee, and Google listed its certificates at $49 a month in the U.S. and Canada after a 7-day free trial. Coursera's terms say cancelling a subscription stops future billing but does not automatically issue a refund.
If your employer might pay, ask before you buy; our employer proposal checklist shows how. Leave room in the budget for any exam or certification fees the BLS profile or job ads mention, since vendor certifications are usually separate from course subscriptions.
| Option for 6 months | Cost at listed prices | Fits when |
|---|---|---|
| Google certificate, monthly | 6 x $49 = $294 | One Google program is the whole plan |
| Coursera Plus, monthly | 6 x $59 = $354 | You need more than one program in six months |
| Coursera Plus, annual | $399 | You may continue past six months |
| Alison | Free to study; certificate documents extra | Sampling a field before paying |
Questions before you decide
Where can I find official data on a career I am considering?
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Each profile has a Quick Facts table with median pay, typical entry-level education, related work experience, on-the-job training, number of jobs and job outlook, plus sections on how to become one and similar occupations.
Does a fast-growing occupation mean it is easy to enter?
No. The BLS profile for information security analysts listed 21% projected growth for 2025-35 but a bachelor's degree as typical entry education and less than 5 years of related experience. Check entry requirements as well as growth.
How much will six months of online courses cost?
At prices listed on October 30, 2026: about $294 for six months of a Google certificate at $49 a month, $354 for six months of Coursera Plus monthly, or $399 for a year of Coursera Plus. Alison courses are free to study, with certificates extra.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational information included in the OOH Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Information Security Analysts Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Computer Support Specialists Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Coursera: Google IT Support Professional Certificate Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Coursera: Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: How do Alison courses work? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Coursera Plus pricing page Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Grow with Google: Google Career Certificates Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Coursera Terms of Use Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.