Four Reasons to Earn an Online Certificate
The marketplace is competitive and many job seekers are endeavoring to gain an inside edge. One potential path? Enrolling in a certificate program. In fact, certificate programs are the fastest-growing credential, according to Inside Higher Education.
Wondering how a certificate can help you get ahead? Read on for a roundup of four reasons to invest in an online certificate, along with why studying it online – and with UCI, in particular – is especially advantageous.
1. You'll be more competitive in the global marketplace.
Today's job market is fierce, and landing a job can be a difficult prospect. A certificate can help you position yourself above the pack. A peek into the hiring process in a recent report shows that “hiring managers default to saying ‘no,’ and that's reinforced over and over again by terrible job applications.” The numbers and percentages of qualified applicants for jobs is telling – a certificate further enhances your qualifications and will likely make your application look more appealing to hiring managers.
Online certificate programs are transforming the learning experience: “They aren't designed to be a replacement for a degree, but they allow professionals to learn new skills to move them ahead in their careers, get them up to speed in a new field, or meet state licensing requirements,” writes Ginger Dean for Forbes. There is no doubt a certificate won't hurt you – in fact it might give you the edge you need, especially in such a competitive job market.
2. Lifelong learning is a must in today's world.
Learning is the key to ongoing relevancy in the fast-moving marketplace. Employers recognize that investing in your education and skill set is necessary at every stage (and at every age) of a person's career. Everyone else thinks so too, as, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center, “87% of workers believe it will be essential for them to get training and develop new skills throughout their work life in order to keep up with changes in the workplace.”
Depending on your industry, or field of work, a certificate can keep you up-to-speed on the latest innovations and changes, while simultaneously making you more employable, and also a valued asset and expert for your company or organization. Adelia Cellini Linecker for Investors.com offers excellent advice. “Perhaps,” she writes, “the best way to approach any career change is to acknowledge that demand shifts rapidly and to plan accordingly.”
An online certificate can give you the skills and certification you need to stay relevant, especially if you find yourself post-graduation or as a non-traditional student, going back to school, and continuing education after a leave of absence, maternity leave, or even with just a desire to change your career path.
3. You'll have full control over your schedule.
What's so special about studying online? The flexibility can't be beaten: log on and learn anytime, anywhere. Fitting in both advancing your studies and gaining more relevant experience, along with other commitments in life, can be tough in this fast-paced modern society. The best thing about earning your certificate online is that you can learn at your own pace, and on your own time.
“Online education has opened up training opportunities to many who were traditionally underserved by higher education institutions. By shortening the commute to simply a walk to the computer, providing the opportunity to study when you're feeling your best, letting students learn when their children are occupied or napping, and allowing frequent travelers to study no matter where they are, convenient online training has made it possible for nearly anyone to go back to school,” writes one blogger for Careerstep.com.
4. UCI Division of Continuing Education is setting the standard.
When it comes to online certificate programs, UCI DCE leads the way in helping people leverage the many benefits of online credentialing. As the continuing education arm of the University of California, Irvine – an institution ranked in the top ten public schools in the United States by the U.S. News and World Report – UCI DCE is committed to advancing continuing education through innovative, world-class education that blends theory and practice.
There are a wide range of certificate programs, specialized studies, and special courses available in such subject areas as business, technology, education, law, finance, engineering, healthcare, and more. The online learning format provides flexibility and convenience to learners no matter where they live or work.
Enrolling is easy and is done on a course-by-course basis. Students can pick and choose the courses they want, and enroll. It's that simple! Enrolling in the entire certificate program is not required. Courses are facilitated by expert instructors who help guide you through the curriculum, and towards certificate completion.
There are also ample networking opportunities available with other learners who share the same academic interests. Advancing your career, learning specialized skills, investing in your future, has never been so readily accessible. And, the best thing is that it's all possible without ever leaving the comfort of your own home!
Certificates can offer you an amazing lifelong career advantage, and UCI DCE is positioned to help you get the most out of the increasingly popular choice of online certificates.
Learn more about all of the certificates available.