How Employers View Online Degrees

 

Given the busy nature of life, it is becoming increasingly difficult for students to make time to attend classes. Moreover, with the pandemic, an increasing number of students are now pursuing online degree programs. However, students are still reluctant to opt for colleges that only offer online courses despite its increasing popularity. Part of the reason is related to how do employers view online degrees. After all, how your employer views your degree will substantially impact where you end up in the corporate world.

In this post, we take a closer look at how employers view virtual degree programs. So let’s get started.

Types Of Virtual Degree Programs

When it comes to online programs, you can find millions of options. There are online degree programs that are 100% online with no interaction with the course instructor or other students enrolled in the program. Such degree programs do not have a fixed class schedule. Instead, it’s a learning program where students have the flexibility to learn at their own pace and complete assignments and other course requirements based on their schedules.

On the other hand, there are hybrid online degree programs, which means they blend virtual classes and on-campus interaction. Moreover, it is also possible to have an online section for a degree program taking place on-campus so students with special needs can access course content online.

The Changing Dynamics Of Online Learning

Virtual learning is becoming increasingly popular for its obvious advantages. Moreover, with no end in sight for the pandemic, an increasing number of college students are enrolling in online learning programs. And, because of the increasing popularity of online learning, there’s a shift in how people perceive education through your computer. Moreover, with the growing popularity of online learning, employers are modifying their selection criteria and hiring practices to make room for all types of learners within their organization.

However, regardless of the changing perspective, students today are still concerned about how employers view online degrees. Here are some statistics to show how hiring managers perceive online degrees. According to statistics published in 2018,

• 61% of HR professionals believe that online learning is the same or of greater quality than traditional methods.
• 71% of the employers showed that they had hired applicants with an online degree last year.
• 52% of employers are of the view that most degrees in the future will be online.
• 33% of employers believe that online education will prove to produce better quality employees than conventional instruction.

And while all these statistics are coming from a pre-COVID era, the future for online degrees is even brighter in today’s world that has challenged all norms, including education.

How Do Employers View Online Degrees?

According to statistics, more than 80% of employers view an online degree from a reputable institution to have the same value as an on-campus degree. In case the degree-awarding institution is not reputable and is not known for producing top-quality from their degree program, then they may not view your degree as having the same value as an on-campus degree. Hence, your online institution’s brand and reputation are the most critical factors affecting your employers’ view of your online degree.

Moreover, employers are more likely to accept and acknowledge online degrees from a school with an on-campus presence. So graduates of a hybrid degree program are preferred over graduates who complete their coursework in an online setting. Furthermore, employers also view that traditional educational institutions dedicate more time and attention to grooming their students than online programs, which essentially require completing the coursework.

How To Present Your Online Degree To Your Potential Employers?

How you completed your coursework plays an important role in how your employer views you as a potential employee favorably. But irrespective of where you get your degree from. How you present yourself and your degree is also a key determinant that affects your likelihood of getting a job with a prospective employer. It is a fact that individuals who position themselves better in the workforce get a better job.

If you have completed your degree through an online program or you will do so shortly. Here are a few tips that will help you present your online degree to your potential employer. Who may not be aware of the true value of your online degree.

• Make sure you mention all the key tangible skills that you have acquired through the online program,
• Share industry-accepted trade qualifications as well as accreditation for your online degree program.
• Elaborate on how your online degree program allowed you to experience real-world, hands-on projects that added to your skills and experience.
• Don’t forget to share details of mentoring partnerships or workshops you participated in while enrolled in the online degree program.

And while you talk about all the exceptional skills you developed during the online degree program. You don’t have to over-explain everything. Keep it short and to the point. In all, your details should be all about how you can add value to your employer with your degree. Lastly, don’t forget to mention how an online degree helped you build a different perspective that you could have missed out on in a traditional course setting.

Final Words

In all, your employer may be concerned about where you got your degree from and how you got one; it all comes down to how you present yourself to your potential employers. With ever-changing dynamics, an increasing number of employers are accepting online degree graduates. So as long as you are the right person for your prospective employee, there is nothing that can stop you from accomplishing your career goals.