Due in part to the downturn in the economy, students are increasingly choosing to pursue their degree online to expand their employment opportunities. This is because online universities give students the flexibility to continue working full-time and to save gas money while furthering their education, according to a report on the state of online learning in U.S. higher education. And as the offerings of online degree programs continue to expand and improve, employers are beginning to look more favorably on online degrees.
CNBC reported recently that degrees from online universities are gaining acceptance with employers and with society in general. There is no doubt that employers are simply familiarizing themselves with the validity of online degrees as they increasingly show up on job applications. This is why the accreditation of online universities is so important. Without accreditation, your employer can never be sure if your online degree is not just the product of a diploma mill that cranks out worthless diplomas to people willing to pay for them.
Online degree-holders should know how to market their degree, using their particular mode of education to their advantage in interviews. Employers’ ears perk up when they hear that a job candidate was able to go to college and work at the same time, balancing both successfully. That translates to them that the candidate has the ability to be dedicated to a task and accomplish a challenging goal.
However, since online universities are a fairly new phenomenon in higher education and are still building their reputations, be prepared to explain how online universities work to those who will be interviewing you for positions. You can speak with employers about your university’s accreditation and how the course work you completed was neither lighter nor less rigorous because it was completed online. Be sure to let employers know that online universities are accredited in the same way that traditional universities are, ensuring that quality education practices are in place.
The knowledge you will gain by completing a degree program at an online university will give you the confidence you need to be a strong candidate for the career positions you will be seeking.