college

Will It Affect My Career If I Get My Degree Online?

iStockphoto.com | Tzido

“Knowledge is capable of being its own end. Such is the constitution of the human mind, that any kind of knowledge, if it be really such, is its own reward.”                                                                       

                                                                        The Idea of University, John Henry Newman, 1859                                      

“Fall 2020 marks a clear inflection point as students, educators, and government leaders alike scrutinize the price and value proposition of higher education through the new lens of traditional classroom versus multiple modes of digital delivery. What’s more, machine learning, SMS messaging, and AI are having a growing impact in optimizing student services and support.”

The Pandemic Pushed Colleges Online. The Change Was Long Overdue

Harvard Business Review, September 2020

 

What is higher education? Is it knowledge for knowledge’s sake or a business cranking out students like widgets on an assembly line?

What’s the goal? To be a critical thinker curious about what it means to be human and the world in which we live, or to have a degree on the wall with a prestigious name on it that makes hiring managers’ eyes light up during a job interview?

Higher education has not changed much since the first modern university, the University of Al Quaraouiyine, opened its doors in Fez, Morocco in 859 CE. America’s first university, Harvard, was chartered in 1636. Every year, students flock to campuses to take courses in a seemingly endless number of disciplines, and when completed, earn a degree to commemorate their educational achievement.

Before the pandemic, however, higher education was an economic bubble, suffering from high costs and a growing perception that the degree wasn’t worth the money. Students who paid enormous sums of money for a college degree because of the economic opportunities they would allegedly bring instead found themselves buried under student loan debt and stagnant wages. In the end, it was a losing proposition.

To circumvent the high cost and end up with a prestigious degree, students voted with their feet. Enrollment increased at community colleges and two-year programs, after which students transferred to marquee colleges or universities and walked away with the same degree for half the cost.

In 1989, the University of Phoenix became the first fully online college to offer bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. As the internet’s technology improved, online learning grew in size and popularity. However, perceptions remained that the remote programs and degrees weren’t of the same value as a brick-and-mortar diploma.

And, of course, online and remote programs continued to grow over the years – in terms of numbers of institutions (including long-established and prestigious universities), ancillary programs to complement the in-person offerings, and number of students pursuing virtual degrees.

Then COVID-19 came along and disrupted the economic model of higher education, its traditional ways of learning, and online education’s reputation as organizations of a lesser god. Suddenly every college was the University of Phoenix. Starting with the University of Washington, 98% of America’s academic institutions moved their classes online. Most were unprepared and lacked the infrastructure. Colleges and universities were caught off guard and did what we all did; they used Zoom, which is hardly the cutting edge of Artificial Intelligence e-learners say is the next big thing. Enrollment dropped. Parents sued schools to get tuition back. However, many people remained, and people who had never thought about an online diploma were now earning one, like it or not. 

Now the pendulum is swinging the other way. Colleges searching for creative ways to retain students and staff with insurmountable budget shortfalls one year ago, now have over-enrollment. The 2020 procrastinators writing higher education’s epitaph were, perhaps, too focused on the economic impact and the allure of new technology. An algorithm here, a dose of AI there, some slick VR, and everybody is just a few clicks away from being Aristotle. Right?

There is no doubt that online learning is a rapidly growing industry that will change the future of higher education. Just like digital and social media marketing, technological advances act as accelerators for this paradigm shift. However, there is one thing that hasn’t changed since 859 CE – the way humans learn. There is a qualitative difference between in-person and online learning. The degree may be the same, but what’s rattling around between your ears is not.

The good news is that there are many options out there. Whether you’re right out of high school, or a working professional with three kids, there are now many ways to earn degrees or professional certifications. The options are dizzying. There are fully online schools (e.g., University of Phoenix, Purdue University Global), traditional brick-and-mortar schools moving courses and entire degree programs online (e.g., University of Maryland, Syracuse Law School), and MOOCs, “massive open online courses” (e.g., Coursera, edX, Future Learn).

What’s better for your personal and career goals: in-person, online, or hybrid? Here are some things to consider when you’re navigating the increasingly complex world of higher education.

  • The material is the same. If a school offers a class online and on campus, the coursework is the same. There are no multiple versions. Only the delivery method differs. However, the delivery method is vital. In the words of a literature professor from a well-known college, “A good college doesn’t give you material. It gives you teaching.” Do students want to learn humanities from a chatbot? Can they?

  • Accessibility. Online education creates opportunities for people who, for whatever reason, are not able to attend in-person classes. Older students, or parents juggling work and kids, aren’t moving into a dorm for four years and are less likely to meet the demands of a physical campus schedule.

  • Cost. Want to go to Harvard? Get out your checkbook. In 2021, undergraduate tuition is almost $48,000 and doesn’t include Boston's cost of living (room and board will take significant bite). That’s tuition for one year, by the way - and Harvard isn’t even on the list of top 10 most expensive schools. Number one is Columbia University in New York City. In 2021, a year at Columbia is $61,600. Higher education remains an economic bubble. Many schools are simply too expensive. Online learning is often less expensive. Full stop.

  • The Prestige Factor. Students must decide if they believe a degree from a prestigious school is worth the cost and work. If attending a school with name recognition (and a dedicated alumni network) is cost-prohibitive, is it worth the debt that comes along with student loans? The prestige factor drives behavior. As noted earlier, many students start at less expensive local schools intending to transfer to marquis schools to complete their degrees. As the line between in-person and online learning continues to blur, students can attend fully online premier academic institutions and earn the same prestigious degree.

  • The College Experience. For young undergraduates, college is more than checking a box that says “bachelor’s degree.” Being in a classroom face-to-face with professors and other students is the very best way to learn. For many, college is the first time many students are out of their parent’s house and is the place young adults transition from dependent to independent. College is going to the big game or being on the team. On-campus, you can be a member of different social organizations, like a fraternity or sorority. Students are likely to be exposed to more and different perspectives, or end up in a class a new friend recommends that turns out to change their lives. Many people take advantage of study abroad programs. Online study abroad doesn’t sound as good. And don’t forget those valuable business and professional connections you get from interacting with your cohort. The college experience is multi-faceted, which is why being on campus is still a student’s number one choice.

  • Career Services. School career services are typically a fixed office on the university’s campus. If you are a full-time, on-campus, or in-person student, you have greater and better access to your school's career services. It is easier to take advantage of those college extras, like tapping into the alumni network, if you’re face to face with the people who have dedicated their professional lives to helping students enter the working world. Online students may have less support in this area. Out of sight can be out of mind.


Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching is a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.

How Can I Get An Entry-Level Job When All The Postings Ask For Experience?

iStockphoto.com | BrianAJackson

iStockphoto.com | BrianAJackson

You've graduated from college or graduate school, and you're looking for your first "real" job. Yet, in reading the online job postings, it seems like every entry-level position requires several years of experience. Employers want it both ways.

Brain surgeons don't work for $15 an hour, but you wouldn't know it from some job postings. Employers want somebody who can increase sales by 95% during their first week, but they want to pay you like you're a teenager mowing lawns for extra cash over the summer. They can't have it both ways. Unfortunately, you have to play that game.

Here are some tips that may help secure that entry-level position:

  • Get an internship. If you haven’t already had one, know that internships are a fantastic way to get actual work experience. An internship at a local radio station is better than running your student one. An internship helps recent graduates with all the previously mentioned tips. The work you do during an internship gives you professional-level experience that's great on a resume. Internships are your first opportunity to build a professional network, and one or two of those people may end up giving you a life-altering reference.

  • Read the job description carefully.  Know that companies create payroll budgets based on job classifications, categories, or levels, and, commonly, the job level does not match the expected qualifications. There is no telling who wrote the job description or how much thought and effort went into it. Job descriptions are sometimes recycled or are cut and paste from the internet. Yet, the desired core skills are buried somewhere in the language. Try and decode what the employer truly needs. Is it Java programming? Is it sales experience? Is it the ability to design in CAD? The answer is there. Do your best to determine the core skill that an employer is really looking for.

  • Read between the lines. Be realistic in your approach; if a job positing lists a requirement of ten years of experience, don’t bother applying as a recent graduate – you won’t get the job. On the other hand, if the role requires 1-2 years of experience, you can thread that needle. For example, maybe the job asks for a programmer with C++ and 1-2 years of experience, employers may take a chance on a candidate they feel is the right candidate, with the right attitude and the right mix of skills. By all means apply for this one – you can get it.

  • Use your resume as a strategic communication tool. Revising your resume for each job is always recommended. Your resume allows you to control the narrative. Continuing the programming example, use your resume to spoon-feed your C++ experience to the recruiter and hiring manager, detailing any C++ courses, projects, or work you've done.

  • Talk up your transferrable skills. Some jobs require knowledge and experience with a specific tool. For example, many businesses rely on Customer Relationship Management tools (CRMs) such as Salesforce. Recent graduates may have some experience with CRMs from an internship, but perhaps not the specific CRM platform a company uses. However, interacting with customers management software has become a sought-after skill; when you're in the interview, explain how your experience relates to the company's goals. You may not know all the ins and outs of a specific application, but you have the necessary transferrable skills to use that application and tie it to the needs of the business.

  • Line up your references. References can help when you're first starting out. A solid professional reference vouching for your work ethic may be the difference between your first job and continuing to look for one. In 2021, the general view of young employees is that work is something they do when you force them to put down their phones.  Professional references may dispel that notion. Consider managers from internships, or professors from related coursework.

  • Nobody wants to train you. Right or wrong, employers don't necessarily give you the tools to succeed. Once again, they want it both ways. They want someone who can take the reins and make an impact on day one like you've been doing the job for a decade, but they want to compensate you like you are the first person who history who doesn't have to pay rent and eat. Make it clear to the manager that you require little training, and you will be able to ramp up and add value on day one.

  • Build that LinkedIn profile. Create a robust presence on LinkedIn that details your college projects and internships. Recruiters use LinkedIn to search for candidates to fill their open jobs. By having a great profile, they might find you!

  • Don’t forget about the campus career center. Employers often contact the career center to fill entry-level positions that aren’t necessarily posted publicly. If you’ve graduated recently, make sure to register with them - it’s their job to try to get students placed into full-time roles. Gainfully employed graduates help their numbers, and tend to translate into donors down the road.


Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.

Getting The Most Out Of Your Campus Career Center

iStockphoto.com | BRO Vector

iStockphoto.com | BRO Vector

It's time for our annual tips for college and graduate students who will enter the workforce for the first time in 2022. That's right – this is for the Class of 2022.

Finding a job is a job. It is not prudent to wait until after your fun graduation trip across Europe to report for your first day. If you want to ease your transition from scholarship to work, you may consider thinking of the first-day-of-your-last-year of school as Day One of your job search, and your first stop should be your school's career center. 

To get the most out of your college or university's career center, you should treat it like any other relationship. The more you put in, the more you get out. A long-term relationship (i.e., Day One) is more advantageous than a short-term one (i.e., one week before graduation).

Here are seven great ways to leverage your university's career center's services:

1.    Start early. As mentioned, try and develop a long-term relationship with your career center. Over time, you will develop a more personal, in-depth relationship with career center staff than a student who pops in – maybe once – during their senior year. It's human nature to want to help those with whom you are the most familiar. If staff know more than your name and face, like your major, post-graduation goals, professional preferences, and personality, the aid you receive may be better and more forthright.

2.    Learn which career center serves you. Schools structure academics and student services in different ways, including the career center. For example, your small college may have the same career center for undergraduate and graduate students. Still, a large university may have a career center for each school in its umbrella - law, medical, engineering, computer science, business, etc. Save yourself some time and effort, and make sure you know where to go.

3.    Understand that career centers are not job placement agencies. They’ll help you along the job hunt journey, but the actual work is up to you. Do your homework by learning what resources your career center has, how it helps its students, and what resources you can effectively leverage. If offered, take advantage of resume services, introductions to recruiters and alumni, and events.

4.    Check out their calendar. Your career center should have a monthly calendar announcing events like workshops, resume writing classes, and career assessments. January through March is the height of campus recruitment "season," so space for some events may be limited, and registrations may have hard deadlines. Respect the career center's timelines, deadlines, registration dates, and policies. Make life easy for the career center staff, and they will reciprocate.

5.    Put your resume on file. If your career center offers a portal on which to your resume or will keep in "on file," do it. Private businesses contact colleges and universities and request resumes of upcoming graduates. Yours should be among them. Follow your career center's rules for resume format. A uniform, standardized resume format allows the career center to put every student on equal footing and post digital copies online.

6.    Play ball! Be nice. Career center staff are professionals. Treat them with respect, and you will earn it back. Students with a sense of entitlement or approach the center with a poor attitude may not end up with the full benefits they could otherwise.

7.    Don't rely on the career center. The career center is just one resource. Hunt for jobs on your own, scan the job boards, network directly and through LinkedIn, and send your resume to anyone who could potentially be a good contact.


Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.