Watch Out World, Millennials are Coming for Your Job.

by Kathy Seaton

The millennial generation is booming. And if you were born between 1980 and 2000, you represent over 28% of the U.S. population, clearly the largest share. You’re known for being the most educated generation with 34% attaining a college degree according to NPR.

In 2015, nearly 50% of the entire workforce in America will be comprised of millennials and will reach 75% by 2025. But looking at the numbers, you may find yourself underemployed and only making minimum wage even as a college graduate.

But the opportunity and potential is there for you to really take over your destiny at work. And there are resources that can help.

UC Irvine created a program to prepare millennials for their first and next jobs. As part of the widely publicized open and free education movement (often referred to as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), the Career Success program is offered online, at no charge through Coursera. The courses are designed to help you build project management tools and techniques to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, control and close projects, how to increase personal and professional productivity through time management, the importance of finance and interpretation of financial information, and use successful management techniques and the five functions of management.

The University just conducted an in-course survey and found the following from 4,266 responders between the ages of 25-34:

A majority of students are taking the specialization to not only learn new skills, but also advance in their careers
73% have enrolled in a MOOC prior to this one
60% hold full-time jobs, working 40+ hours a week
40% of responders said they plan on earning a verified certificate from Coursera
Responders are highly educated. In regards to highest level of education completed, 35% have earned a Bachelor’s, 34% have earned a Master’s and 6% have earned a Ph.D., Law or Medical degree

It seems that online education (often free) was built for you. It uses the best mix of technology, it provides access from anywhere, it offers tons of knowledge fast and in small bits, it builds interactive online communities, and it allows you learn at your own pace and on your terms.

So here’s a list of the top 5 ways you can use education to give you the edge in the workplace.

It’s free. The opportunity cost of enrolling in a free course is very low. So why would you do this? Because knowledge is power. And power in the workplace will help your mobility and your chance for job satisfaction and perhaps a better salary.

You need a really good resume. By adding educational experiences to your resume, you appear to be “in the know,” a trendsetter, and willing to go above and beyond what’s expected at your job. And by finishing a MOOC created by UC Irvine and offered by Coursera, you’ve got the big reputations of a research-one university and the best names in open education to add some clout to your accomplishments.

You need a competitive edge. So if you were interviewing candidates for a new position wouldn’t you consider their level and depth of their education in your decision? Of course you would. This is what can set you apart from everyone else interviewing for your dream job.

Online courses give you the opportunity to collaborate and socialize with others that can help you. Networking is critical. And you never know who you will meet that will help you land your next job. Thankfully, online courses (again often free) offer you the opportunity to join online communities of people that share the same desires that you do.

You want to move from the cubicle to the corner office. You’ll be pleasantly surprised that free online courses have the quality and content similar to what you would find in an MBA course. That’s why universities like MIT, Yale, and Harvard are in the open, online education game. Movers and winners invest in their education.

So check out the Career Success program on Coursera , it will be worth your time and investment.