A simple internet search would show you how many people are looking up, “what to do with a degree in…” where you can fill in the blank. This means that there are many individuals out there with college degree in hand and are still unsure what it has gained them. Sadly, thousands of dollars and many hours of time could be spent just to find this out. You may also be talking to some of your friends in the workforce who don’t have degrees and wonder what you may have spent your time for.
Relevancy
This is why many people often weigh the benefits of a certification over a full fledged degree. When it comes to the workforce, this may be an even weightier decision. Many employers still would like to see credentials attached to your name. However, it may be quite unsure what particular ones they may want to see. For example, a potential candidate might have a Bachelor’s degree in European Studies while applying for an IT job. However, another candidate might have no degree with a Small Business Management, Information Technology Analysis, and a Office Software Applications Certificate. Even though the first candidate might have more “college” experience. The second candidate can use his certificates to specialize in a particular career industry.
Most likely, employers won’t know the intricate details of your degree and probably won’t waste time finding out. A degree in European Studies to an IT Hiring Manager might mean just a degree that will not be relevant to his industry. While, it may be impressive that the candidate has a degree it might obviously matter more that he has relevant experience.
Time Factor
Let’s face it. Earning a degree at any level takes time. Lots more than a certification course would. As a result, it leaves you very little time to explore various areas of study that might be marketable in the job place. When I was a college student, I was so focused on finishing my degree that I really didn’t have time to think about the job outlook or whether I could study something else if I had wanted to. With a degree, you may not be able to just opt out half way and say, “this might not be for me, let’s try something else”.
However, specialized certification allows for this. Often with only a few courses in each program, you can gain knowledge within a field of study to apply it to a work skill and use it to your advantage when job seeking or move on and obtain another certification that you may think might be more relevant to your desired industry. You won’t have to spend years finding out whether the field of study is suitable.
Another factor of time that having a certification gives you is job experience time. Most students find it very difficult to work while completing their degree full-time. This turns out to be detrimental for them when they enter the job market only to find that employers require this work experience. It becomes a sad paradox. However, with most certification programs only lasting a semester, many students can earn it in a shorter time and continue on to the workforce sooner than those seeking a degree.
What to consider
If you have decided to take the certification route, there are many options. Many local colleges offer online certifications that you can complete on your own time. This works great for working individuals.
Many do not require previous college coursework. However, if you have already completed course work it may be best to complete your Associate’s degree then go for the certificates. This looks better to employers and shows that you have completed the foundations of college study and have added certificates to your existing credential.
Before signing up for certification courses, it’s best to research your industry. Contact employers and speak to college advisers to find out how you would best use this certification in employment. If you are still unsure which programs to take, you can take multiple certification programs.
Adding certifications to your resume is a great way to add experience and expertise to your credentials. You don’t have to spend years in a degree program to gain relevant training in an area. These programs also allow you to spend more time gaining profitable work experience rather than spending the majority of your time in a classroom.
