Keeping Track Of Your Certificates and Degrees
Do you have a list of all of your certificates and degrees? Can you name them at the drop of a hat?
If you’re on a job interview, or even in a position but perhaps vying for a different role or a promotion, keeping yourself up to date on your certificates and degrees will help you stay ahead of the curve.
Employers are looking for skilled and educated employees who can rise to any challenge. Now, you don’t need a degree or certificate to prove your intelligence or diligence, but they certainly speak volumes about your commitment to learning and improving. And studies show having credentials adds an average of 25% to your earnings.
Career Companion will not only help you track your existing certificates, but is also a great resource for project managing the process of getting a new one. Check out the FREE certificates and degrees module to see how you can advance your career.
Here are some of the various certificates and degrees you can acquire:
· Undergraduate certificate. Academic programs that are often completed in less than a year by full-time students.
· Associate degree. Requires between 2–4 years of full-time college academic work.
· Bachelor’s degree. Requires about four years of full-time college academic work.
· Graduate certificate. Awarded on completion of 18 credited hours beyond a Bachelor’s degree.
· Graduate degree. Awarded for education at a level beyond a Bachelor’s degree.
· Master’s degree. Requires 1–2 years of full-time academic study beyond a Bachelor’s degree.
· Doctorate degree. The highest degree a student can get for graduate study.
Certificates are great because they can help you make a complete career change without having to pursue a full degree. More than ever, companies are accepting certificates, so if you’re interested in gaining more credentials, it’s a perfect place to start. In fact, certificates are the quickest-growing form of credentials.
1 out of 10 American workers have certificates as the highest form of education, but a third of those with certificates also have degrees, ranging from associate to graduate. That means many people use certificates to bolster their academic learning and their skills in a difficult job market.
Certificates and degrees are great ways to showcase your talent, academic prowess, and commitment to a program. They give employers and hiring managers confidence in your abilities and competencies, a factor that may make or break their decision to hire you.
Remember to keep your credentials up to date, as well. If you earned your degree thirty years ago, it may not hold the same weight as it once did. Earning a certificate in the same field is a great way to update your skills and show your employers you’ve still got it.
