The global growth of the Internet influence has significantly increased the value of online education. People like the affordability, flexibility, and simplicity of online courses in comparison with traditional education. It’s a great way to add to your skillset as you grow your business.
Online education offers value at any stage of your career. Whether you are just starting out your first job, seeking a promotion or looking for a career change, studying for an online degree is a great way to improve your career.
Today, people can access education in many different ways and online learning is one of the best options for those looking to advance their career. Besides allowing you to study while maintaining your current job position, online courses also open up a plethora of career options.
Read on to find out more about how online education can improve your career.
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Benefits of Learning Online
Before we dive into how online education can improve your career, let’s take a look at some of the most important benefits of taking courses online:
- Many universities and online education programs offer online degree programs as an alternative to traditional learning. Students in online programs work closely with college and university professors using state-of-the-art learning technology.
- With online learning, you have access to all kinds of skills and knowledge – you can take HR or project management courses, learn to be a better marketer, take courses to boost your communication skill, learn to improve your writing skills, etc.
- There’s no need to pay rent or incur other costs associated with studying in the classroom, including day-to-date commuting or print materials.
- You’re not connected to the venue of the courses, which means that you can choose an educational institution that’s located outside of your city or country.
- You can organize your time for studying to suit your lifestyle, which contributes to better time management and higher motivation.
How to Choose the Best Course?
In general, the kind of course you decide to take will depend on your personal needs and interests. However, if you’re looking to advance your career, it’s best to take courses directly related to your role, as this will help build up the skills required in your area of work. Reading reviews about online learning platforms and specific courses or asking for recommendations from friends or colleagues can help you make the right decision.
5 Ways Online Learning Can Help You Boost Your Career
1. Get the Required Qualifications
Many people reach a point in their career where they’re unable to advance because of a lack of qualifications. Even though it’s possible to get an entry-level role without a college degree, research has shown that nine out of ten jobs go to applicants with degrees.
Taking an online course allows you to build up your CV with the qualifications required to get a job interview while continuing to work in your current role. It can also increase your soft skills, such as dedication and independent research, and make you look more appealing to recruitment teams.
2. Reach for a Leadership Position
If you already have a successful career and are looking to take on more responsibilities or get promoted, getting the experience necessary for leadership positions can be hard. Even though shadow leaders in your organization allows you to learn a thing or two from them, it’s not enough to build on practical skills for a longer period of time.
By taking an online course or master’s degree, you’ll gain the skills needed to make decisions, manage employees, and lead the company that you work for.
3. Connect with a Professional Network
When studying online, you get an opportunity to connect with people from all over the world. With live Q&A sessions, video webinars, discussion forums, group chat rooms, email, and more, you will have access to communication with your tutors, fellow students, and professionals who work in your industry. The relationships you develop could turn out to be invaluable when it comes to advancing your career or changing jobs.
Online educational institutions also have job teams and boards that can help you find the practical experience you need to improve your chances of finding the perfect job position.
4. Maintain Productivity While Studying
Just because you’ve decided to learn something new doesn’t mean your career should take a break, or your productivity at the workplace should suffer. Online degrees allow you to study while successfully maintaining other responsibilities like work, social life, and family commitments. That means that you won’t have to take paid leave or, even worse, quit your job in order to grow academically.
5. Increase Your Value to Your Employer
As you progress through your online course, you’ll realize that some of the new things you’re learning could be applied in your current job right away, which can help increase your value to your employer.
Employers value professional development and continuing education. By enrolling in a relevant course, you are demonstrating that you take initiative to improve professionally, that you’re resourceful and ready to take action to gain a competitive edge.
In fact, many companies offer tuition assistance programs to their employees in order to reduce recruiting costs and turnover. Studies have found that taking advantage of your company’s tuition program increases your chances to get promoted by about 10%.
Final Thoughts
Wherever you are on your career path, online education can help you take a step forward in the right direction.
Online learning can help you stay focused and provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle and understand workplace issues. In addition, online courses can provide you with the flexibility you need to advance your career without sacrificing your current job, social life, and family. Online education is indeed the best way to push your career forward and set yourself up for long-term success.
