The potential of earning a degree that works with your busy schedule is what makes online degrees so attractive. But while the allure is brought forth thanks to convenience, many are still skeptical about partaking in an online program because they’re afraid that employers won’t hire them. While there are some employers that are hesitant about online graduates—after all the concept is still relatively new and fraudulent online schools have tainted some employer’s view on distance education—there are many employers that do in fact hire online graduates. In fact, 79% of surveyed employers said they hired at least one online graduate within the year in 2010; and 34% said applicants with online degrees were viewed just as favorable as applicants with traditional degrees, according to a 2010 Society for Human Resource Management.
While there are some companies that are specifically known to hire online graduates, for example Wal-mart, Intel, Bank of America, and General Electric just to name a few, other employers will be open to online graduate applicants too if you know how to properly “sell” your degree. To learn a few ways to convince your potential employer that your online degree has equipped you with all the necessary skills during an interview, follow these tips below:
Tout About Your Time Management Skills: Earning an online degree may mean that you can “attend” classes whenever you get the chance but by no means does it mean that it’s any easier than traditional school. In fact, it can be harder since online students take distance education because they have a lot more going on like a full time job or a family to take care of. If you complete your online degree program successfully, this alone should prove that you know how to balance a hectic schedule and still get everything that needs to get done. This is a vital quality that can easily transition into the work place: it means you know how to juggle multi assignments and tasks at once.
Talk About Your Independence: Unlike traditional students, online students are not immersed in a classroom filled with their peers nor do they get adequate one-on-one attention from their professors—everything is conducted online. Thus, online students work independently to get their assignments and projects done, sometimes with very few instructions and directions from their professor. This should translate to your potential employer that you are a hard, independent worker and that you know how to grasp and follow instructions quite easily. This also means that you won’t waste your employer’s time and won’t need the help of other co-workers to get your assignments done.
Stress your Proficiency in Modern Technology: Lastly, but certainly not least you should definitely let your interviewer know that you have strong computer skills. The fact that you worked on a computer and attended classed that required not only the internet but the use modern digital communication systems such as video chatting software, specific plug-ins and social media sites as well, should let the interviewer know that he or she won’t have to waste any time training you already have basic computer software and systems down.
While there are other work-related skills that an online education can equip you with, the ones mentioned above are a start. Think of how your unique online program has prepared you for real world problems and solutions and always try to bring those up during your interview to increase your chances of employment.