Once completed, you can add your new credential to your resume and LinkedIn profile. Image: Prae_Studio/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffAre you thinking about signing up for a self-study program to advance your career? There are a number of online certification programs that can help you increase your skills and knowledge base, and perhaps your career.
Here are some pros and cons to signing up for one of these programs.
Pros:
• Many of these programs offer affordable, self-study options for continuing education and professional development.
• These certificate programs can be an option for those seeking to boost their qualifications for an entry-level position in the field.
• Once completed, you can add your new credential to your resume and LinkedIn profile.
• Completing the certification can prepare you for other certification programs and/or provide college credit at certain institutions.
• Financial aid may be available for some programs (a discount off the cost of the course). You can complete an application that includes information about your educational background, career goals, and financial circumstances.
• Your current employer may reimburse you for completing the certification.
• Completing a certification demonstrates your commitment to taking responsibility for advancing your career.
Cons:
• The certificate itself may not be enough to secure an interview or a job.
• Certification is not a substitute for a relevant degree or direct work experience.
• Some people who have completed the course say that the coursework was too broad or generalized to be useful.
• Because the courses that make up the certifications are self-paced, you must be self-motivated to watch the videos, take the quizzes, and complete the exercises.
• The cost may vary significantly; make sure you understand whether the course is offered on a platform that requires a subscription or is a flat fee. If you complete the certification but forget to cancel your subscription, you will pay significantly more for the certification.
Nancy H. Segal is a federal job search expert. Following her own senior-level federal HR career, she founded Solutions for the Workplace LLC to provide a HR management perspective to astute applicants to U.S. government positions.
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