How Online Degrees Benefit Working Professionals
Friday, September 13, 2024
Learn how online degrees are enabling career advancement for working professionals. Accelerate your career with a U.S. accredited SNHU University online course.
The Benefits of Online Education for Working Professionals
With the exponential technological advancements that the world has witnessed in the last decade, it is crucial for working professionals, now more than ever, to acquire in-demand digital skills and stay updated with industry-relevant knowledge. This is not easy to do with a full-time job on your hands, but the flexibility of an online education makes it possible. Maintaining a work-life balance is just as important as advancing your career, and an online degree or course is a great way to achieve both.
“Commitment to learning is the key to career advancement. Online education makes it accessible.”
Although online education gained massive popularity and significance amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, it has struck a cord ever since and is here to stay. What’s more, the industry is expected to reach a whopping $661.6 billion market size by 2032.1
In this blog, we’ll take a deep dive into the various benefits of online education, while also discussing some of the common queries related to it.
Why online education is a growing need for working adults
According to a report by India Today, more than 130,000 tech employees have been laid-off in 20242. This, however, does not signify a decline in demand for technical experts. On the contrary, it signifies the dire need for upskilling to stay relevant and meet the dynamic needs of the corporate landscape.
Evolving fields such cybersecurity, psychology and AI are some industries which are witnessing a spike in demand for experts. A study by the World Economic Forum3 revealed that more than 4 million job-openings for cybersecurity professionals need to be filled urgently.
Despite the staggering number of lay-offs, the demand for professionals with industry-relevant skills is at an all-time high. However, getting hired for specialized roles isn’t a piece of cake. Employers look for respectable credentials, relevant skills and job-preparedness before offering you that coveted job or promotion you’ve been eyeing. This is where an online degree from a renowned institute can make a significant difference.
A U.S. accredited degree from SNHU Online won’t just help you acquire industry-relevant and in-demand skills, it would also prepare you to succeed and grow in the ever-evolving corporate world.
More than 170,000 students have graduated with an SNHU Online degree and fueled their careers, you could be next.
9 benefits of online education for professionals
While online education has numerous benefits for working professionals, let’s take a look at the seven most prominent ones.
You enable career development
Gone are the times when you could get a promotion by simply putting in the hours and sticking with a company for years. In this day and age, you need to keep upgrading your skills or acquiring new ones to advance your career. Sure, experience counts, but without the right skills, it won’t do you a lot of good. An online education from a reputed institute will provide you with the skills and knowledge that enable career growth.
If you want to accelerate your professional growth and climb the corporate hierarchy, you have to upskill and dedicate time to learning. SNHU online provides various time-flexible bachelor’s and master’s degrees that can help you boost your career.
Your networking opportunities take a leap
A HubSpot study indicates that 85% of job roles are filled through networking. Additionally, a report by CNBC revealed that 70% of the jobs are never even publicly posted4. Needless to say, the impact of creating the right network is huge! With an online U.S. accredited degree, your network gets wider, increasing your chances of accessing lucrative jobs you wouldn’t even know existed.
During your online course at SNHU online, you will make a global network that comprises industry leaders as well as professionals from various corporate departments. After completing your degree from SNHU online, you unlock various alumni benefits that include but are not limited to: staying connected with former SNHU students through social media platforms, accessing career development resources and personalized counseling sessions, receiving professional support services like mock interviews and resume reviews and gaining unrestricted access to SNHU’s extensive online library.
Your career transition becomes a breeze
Some working professionals like stability and prefer sticking to the same corporation and job-role for long. However, many seek a change towards different lucrative fields or companies that offer better pay. There are multiple reasons behind this—maybe you don’t like your boss, or maybe the last appraisal cycle left you feeling undervalued or perhaps you just find your current job role’s potential for growth abysmal.
Irrespective of the reason, online education allows you the freedom to upskill or gain knowledge that makes your career transition a breeze.
Ready to invest in your success? Browse a diverse range of top-quality, U.S. accredited bachelor’s and master’s programs from SNHU online and select one that can fuel your future. Apply today!
You update your knowledge and develop/acquire new skills
We’ve all heard the saying that the pen is mightier than the sword. But just as a sword needs honing to remain sharp, so does the human brain need learning and knowledge to function at its best capacity.
With an online degree, working professionals have the flexibility to learn at their own pace without their current job performance taking a hit. You will acquire new knowledge, polish existing skills and develop new skills that keep you relevant and in demand for the dynamic changes of the corporate world.
You save time and money
When you pursue an online degree, you don’t go to the classroom, the classroom comes to you. This automatically saves time and money you’d spend traveling to the campus.
For someone with a full-time job, time-management and utility is a big factor considering their commitments. Hence, saving even an hour daily can make a big difference. Additionally, by learning online you help reduce the carbon footprint by avoiding commute, higher energy consumption, paper use and physical infrastructure requirements that are generally associated with on-site education.
You decide the schedule
Many online education providers, such as SNHU online, let you choose your learning schedule. This means that you won’t miss any lectures or classes if something urgent comes up and your plans change at the last minute.
Online education allows you to learn at your own pace, at your own place. As long as you have access to a laptop and a stable internet connection, you can learn from anywhere and anytime you choose. This helps maintain a work-life balance that is good for your mental health.
You can unlock study abroad programs at a better price
Let’s face it, there are endless online education programs available right now. While it is important that you choose the right one, it’s also crucial that the quality of the online degree you select is top-notch.
Whether you want to pursue a degree domestically, or from a renowned university abroad, online learning provides you access to both. What’s more, with 100% online degrees being offered by SNHU online, you save big in expenses related to studying abroad (cost of living, transport and visa fees).
You learn new technical skills
Getting familiarized with new digital tools and applications can be difficult for adult workers who are habituated to doing things differently. As the world quickly shifts towards digital work-mode, with many companies offering hybrid or remote opportunities, being well-versed with new tools and software is crucial to thrive in your career.
With an SNHU online degree, you get access to a robust set of online learning tools like Microsoft Suite and LinkedIn Learning subscription, in addition to a whole suite of AI-powered career-enabling tools.
Learn how top-tier bachelor’s and master’s degrees offered by SNHU online can enhance your skill set to meet the growing demand for industry-relevant experts. Shape your future and pave your path to success with our U.S. accredited online programs.
You enhance your resume
For working professionals, a resume is among the most important pieces of documents which has a major impact on the employer. According to a study, more than 80% of resumes for a job post do not make it past the initial screening.
A U.S. accredited degree from SNHU online showcasing acquisition of relevant skills can be the change that pushes you into the top 20% and lands you a coveted job or promotion. What’s more, we provide the training and tools so you can craft your resume to be the best and get noticed by global employers.
In a nutshell
As automation and generative AI grows at an alarming rate, so does the demand for specialized experts with core human skills. Statistics reveal that six out of 10 employees will require training before 2027.
For working professionals who cannot quit their jobs to get on-site training and skill enhancement, online education is a perfect enabler to meet the rising demand of the global workforce. Pursuing a degree online will give you the skills and relevant knowledge that employer’s seek, while allowing you to maintain a work-life balance and learn at your own pace, according to your own schedule.
With SNHU online’s merit scholarships and several financing options, top-quality higher education is now affordably available to Indian students. Ready to take the leap towards success? Apply now and see how we can help transform your career!
SNHU Online Education: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Does an online degree from SNHU have the same value as an on-campus degree?
Ans. Yes! Absolutely. The degree you receive after completing your course at SNHU online is the same as one attending SNHU on-campus students would receive. It holds the same value, can be completed in the same time-frame and will unlock the same career advancement for you as it would for an on-campus student. - Will an online degree guarantee career advancement or promotion?
Ans. A whopping 93% of online students and graduates report that their online degree has or will have a positive ROI7. So, yes, the skills you acquire with an online degree will definitely help you get better job opportunities and excel in your career without having to quit your full-time job. - Do employers value online degrees?
Ans. Over 70% of HR leaders have admitted to personally hiring people with an online degree8. Unlike the old days when on-campus degrees held the golden stamp of quality, employers and learners are quickly realizing the fact that online degrees from accredited institutes like SNHU do provide the same learning outcomes as an on-campus program, only with reduced cost and enhanced flexibility. - What are the requirements to pursue an online degree from SNHU online?
Ans. You will require a laptop, access to a stable internet connection, a webcam and microphone for interaction during live classes and sessions. Once these bases are covered, you will be given access to a suite of tools and resources that will enable uninterrupted learning and career advancement for you!