Thinking about going back to school? You may want to reconsider that brick and mortar school and take the online learning route instead. Self-directed, Internet-based learning programs are growing in popularity and availability. They’re also gaining more respect from employers, who are realizing how beneficial they are to today’s global workforce.
Distance learning is affordable, accessible, and easy to stick with even if you have to keep working while you learn. That’s how online schooling benefits you, but it turns out there are many employers showing preference for online graduates over students coming from traditional universities. This is great news for those considering online education. This change in perception has a lot to do with online schools developing valuable real world skills including; self motivation, competency, decision making, worth ethic, skill diversity and more. Read the full article to get all the details.
Here’s what Employers are Looking For:
Self-Motivation
Taking courses and programs online shows you’re self-motivated, and that means you’re more likely to succeed at work, too. Not only did you strive to learn, but you completed the entire process yourself and managed to graduate. Employers see online graduates as employees who are able to do what’s necessary to excel on behalf of the business, and that’s a compelling skill to have.
Competency
To gain respect, online schools often use competency-based education to prove graduates have mastered the right skills. Competency-based education never pushes students through with “barely-passing” marks. It demands that students completely master each skill or lesson before moving forward. This ensures the student is wholly prepared to advance as a guru in their field.
Students who graduate from competency-based online programs may spend more time perfecting their skills, which allows them to retain more information. This shows better competency and ability across the board, and employers may see these students as better equipped than other potential employees.
Decision-Making Skills
Going to school online is a big decision; it takes courage to decide if it’s the right path for you and follow through. Most students put a considerable amount of effort into the decision. They have to factor in budget, self-direction abilities, motivation, work ethic, and even personal educational ability before officially enrolling.
Decision-making skills are incredibly important in the workplace, especially in positions where you need to think quickly or work on your feet. Showing you know what you want and are willing to work for it can make a good impression on employers. It also reveals your ability to think critically and take responsible risks.
Work Ethic
As an online student, no one is responsible for your success except for you. If you don’t get out of bed and put effort into learning, you won’t pass, and the money you invest into your learning will be for nothing. Being able to dedicate yourself to learning when no one else is there to push you shows great work ethic.
Work ethic and dedication are important to employers. In fact, they’re critical to results and performance. Boston University explains that a good “work ethic” makes employees more dependable, more professional, and more positive — what’s not to love?
Skill Diversity
Online graduates have access to a wealth of information and nearly endless opportunities for self-development and collaboration. As a result, they often develop stronger skill sets by the time they graduate into the workforce. This includes computer skills, administration skills, self-research skills, and all of the aforementioned soft skills, but that’s really just the beginning.
In brick and mortar schooling, you’re tied up going to classes and completing projects in a specific way, which doesn’t leave much time (if any) for other learning opportunities and building different skills.
In contrast, studying online lets you pace yourself, often leaving you with more time to branch out. Sites like Udemy and Coursera make it easy to develop critical soft skills, like project management, leadership, or communication, without needing to wait until next semester – or next year – when classes resume.
Just 10 years ago, many employers saw online schooling as unreliable and questionable, mostly thanks to diploma mills and fraudulent schools. Today’s accredited online schools alleviate those concerns and create learning environments that rival brick and mortar schools in many different ways. Studying online empowers your future self to be more competitive when it comes time to step into the workforce — and that’s your key to success.
