Five Ways to Impress An Employer with Your Online Degree
Recent statistics show that employers view candidates with online degrees much more favorably than they did in the past.
But a shrinking percentage of employers still struggle with the concept of online schools and online degree programs. Job interviews with those employers could involve a few uncomfortable moments if the online degree graduate is not prepared.
So how can online college graduates increase their chances of impressing a potential employer?
Here are five ways:
- Walk into the interview confidently and well-informed about the company, industry and position for which you are interviewing. Anticipate the questions that may come up about your online degree; and be careful not to let your voice drop or your confidence wane when speaking about your online school, program of study, or distance learning methods used. Remain positive and upbeat about the educational experience without sacrificing honesty and integrity.
- Find opportunities to interject positive tidbits of information about the online degree program if the employer is slanting the interview in that direction. According to statistics, employers who have an unfavorable attitude toward online schools are simply uninformed or misinformed about e-learning. They do not know how challenging an accredited online degree program is; and most are unfamiliar with the high degree of interaction e-learners experience with instructors and fellow students through distance learning technology. So you may say, for example, that the “rigorous program of online study, with its practical application of learned principles, prepared me well for the integration of technology and expertise required for this position”. Be subtle and not preachy about the benefits of an online education.
- If the interviewer does not bring up the online aspect of your degree, you should not be the one to begin a discussion about it. You have obviously scored an employer who does not consider e-learning to be an issue. Interviewers tend to focus on what is important to them and to the company; so flow with the interviewer and stick to answers that remain within the bounds of the questions being asked.
- Before earning an online degree, do your homework and research the chosen higher education institution to be sure that it is properly accredited by accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Check out the online degree program of study, the required and elective classes, and the school’s areas of specialty. Choose an accredited online degree program that will fit well into your chosen career niche.
- In preparation for a job, if you are still a student, excel in your e-learning classes and don’t wait until the last minute to work on assignments or study for tests. Cramming at the last minute may get you through a test; but when you need the information in an interview or on the job, it is often missing in action. Employers are impressed with job candidates who are eager to learn, eager to work, and who love a challenge. If you already have your online degree and have forgotten a lot of the material you learned in school, review relevant materials and notes over the few days before the interview so the information will be on the tip of your tongue if needed.
These suggestions, along with the practical and common etiquette required for any job interview, should help increase the success of winning a desired job. The library is a wonderful resource for general resume and interview information that will complement these suggestions.
So happy job hunting!
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