You’ve likely heard of a “buyer’s market” or a “seller’s market” in the world of real estate. If the supply of houses is greater than the demand, it’s a buyer’s market; if the demand is greater, it’s a seller’s market. Translate that into the world of employment and there’s either an “employer’s market” or a “job-seeker’s market.” You have three seconds to guess which type of job market we’re in right now with all things COVID-19.
Unemployment Statistics
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 1.6 unemployed people for every job opening in the U.S. – ALL job openings. When you narrow that down to job openings requiring a degree (approximately 65%), the number of people vying for the same job skyrockets. The competition out there is fierce.
How do you boost your career in this environment? Now is the time to get more education! Well, let’s put it this way: NOT gaining new knowledge and skills could definitely keep you out of the running for a promotion or new job. Bolstering your education and staying abreast of market needs, on the other hand, will never hurt you. Keep ahead of the game by building new skills and strengthening the ones you already have. You can transform what you already know to make it marketable in a new industry and beef up your credentials, so you are the sought-after job candidate.
How Can a Degree Advance My Career?
Let’s explore just how an accelerated, online degree can boost your career in an employer’s job market based on where you are in the degree lineup.
Maybe you have a degree or maybe you don’t. Either way, in today’s job market, your career advancement will be limited without the next level of education. The good news is that earning an accelerated, online degree from Ottawa University gives you the best of both worlds – a paying job while increasing your credentials for a promotion. You don’t even have to wait until you complete your degree to showcase your new knowledge. In fact, you can apply what you learn in your classes to your current job, which may help you earn a leg up for an early promotion while you are still in school.
Want some additional incentive and leverage to earn your degree for the new role? According to a study cited by Forbes, external hires made 18% more than the internal employees promoted to the same jobs while scoring worse on performance reviews and being 61% more likely to be let go from their new jobs. The key takeaway here is that employers know that there are costs when bringing in external talent and they would much rather promote from within.
You had good intentions, but life got in the way. Maybe it was the money, or the time, or your other responsibilities. Maybe you simply didn’t know what you wanted to be when you grew up.
Joanne Moore had amassed 60 credit hours at a local community college as a cosmetology instructor and salon owner. When both her daughter and granddaughter earned degrees from Ottawa University, they encouraged Joanne, age 70, to go back to school to get hers. “I’m too old,” she protested. “I can’t do math after all these years; I won’t fit in with the younger students.” But all of her excuses fell on deaf ears when the OU advisors assured her that she would have a head start on her degree because most of her credits would transfer. They also let her know she could earn a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, thus avoiding those math classes. She now proudly displays her diploma on her salon wall.
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Transferring College Credits
Kim Houk has a different story with similarly astounding results. “When I was researching colleges to obtain my bachelor’s degree, I was working fulltime,” she recalls. “So, I looked at Ottawa University’s reputation, their non-profit status, their flexible and accelerated 8-week terms, as well as their generous credit transfer policy, which made my decision very easy. OU accepted all of my credits from my associate degree, saving me time and money, which was huge.”
Specifically, Kim made use of Ottawa University’s Transfer Advantage agreement with her community college, which gave her a significant discount on tuition as she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. We have Transfer Advantage agreements with many community colleges for significant discounts on tuition. Our accelerated, online degree programs are designed to help you finish what you started. We want to help you earn the credentials you need for that job transition. Remember - no regrets. Joanne did it. Kim did it. So can you!
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Gaining Professional Knowledge
Online courses aren’t just for the degree seeker. Maybe you are being considered to head up a project and you want to beef up your management skills with our Managing a Culturally Diverse Workforce course. Or maybe you have a career in nursing, and you need additional training in Advanced Pharmacology. There are benefits to taking online classes to meet a specific need in your current job. Not only will you gain knowledge that will make you more effective in your current role, but you will also demonstrate that you’re committed to staying on the cutting edge of your field. Bosses take note of that kind of initiative. Take a look at all the online programs Ottawa University has to offer!
Maybe you’ve been thinking about changing careers for a while now, but with the current job market, you worry it may not be the right time. You want to be ready when the market opens back up, though, and set the stage for transitioning to a new industry or job. Whether it’s a bachelor’s or master’s degree you need to pursue, you’re smart enough to know that earning an online degree now will keep you from missing out on that dream job opportunity when it comes around. Way to think ahead!
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Furthering Your Education
Students who have just completed their undergraduate degree and have little or no experience are currently at the greatest disadvantage for getting hired. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a rather dismal unemployment rate of 25.7% for recent graduates ages 20-24. What does this mean for you if you’re in this category? It means you have to be committed to being the best candidate, the most skilled, and the most highly educated. Now is not the time to simply sit, wait, and hope.
To make yourself more enticing to employers and to boost your career, enroll in a master’s program or take online courses to stay abreast in your industry. Keep learning. And be flexible when it comes to salary and job titles. You may need to take a position that’s not your dream job for now, if necessary. Demonstrating a good work ethic by staying in the workforce and continuing your education will speak volumes when the market finally turns around and the right door opens.
Some people just aren’t content to tread water; to be “good enough.” They need to be constantly soaking in knowledge, exploring the latest ideas, or learning the newest trends. Lifelong learners can benefit from online classes because the continuing education satisfies their thirst for information and boosts their careers. Classes can be in the form of formal education, online tutorials, seminars, self-paced courses, or a host of other formats. You can find some form of training on almost any topic online. Just remember, however, that if you want courses that will be useful on a resume for career advancement, courses from a highly accredited college, such as Ottawa University, are essential.
Where Can I Get an Accelerated Online Degree?
So, who can benefit from earning an online degree from Ottawa University? Anyone and everyone—recent graduates, career changers, promotion seekers, specialized skill seekers – and you. Don’t let COVID-19 hold you back in any other way – start boosting your career today!
Ottawa University is the best, fastest, and most affordable online university in Kansas City, Milwaukee, Phoenix, and the surrounding areas. Reach out to an advisor for more information!
See Also:
Self-Assessment for Career Development
Why Should I Pursue a Masters Degree?
Continuing Your Education After a Break