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Should I Tell Employers I Earned My Degree Online? |
| Expert Advice > Careers |
| By Vicky Phillips, Online Education Analyst |
 Question:I’m worried about employer acceptance of my online degree. I just completed my bachelors online and am ready to send out my resume. Should I use my cover letter to reveal to potential employers that I earned my degree online? —Holly, Nashville, TN Answer: These days, taking college or post-secondary courses online is not an oddity. In 2010, more than 85 percent of traditional residential colleges will offer college courses online or through distance learning. Online education is no longer the future. It’s right now. As a result, there is no need to reveal in a cover letter or resume that you “earned your degree online.” Details about why you chose any particular type of school—such as a private school versus a public school or a Christian college versus a secular college—are best left to discussion during an actual interview. Even then, you’ll only want to discuss the issue of online education if asked. We say "if asked" because the GetEducated.com studies show that most employers are not overly concerned about how a degree was earned. They are, however, very concerned about overall school reputation and educational quality. In the end, the name of your college and the type of degree you have earned is going to be much more important to your employer than the method by which you earned your degree—online or on campus. Keep in mind that two kinds of colleges issue online degrees: those that are online-only (such as the University of Phoenix) and those with campuses that also offer distance learning programs (such as the University of Massachusetts). Expect to encounter no stigma if the college you attended is already known to your employer and respected by your employer for the quality of its graduates. For most people, this means attending an online degree program offered by a college with a long and respected tradition of educating students via a local residential campus. Which online college programs are most likely to suffer from employer suspicion or stigma? GetEducated.com has researched employer perception of online university degrees for more than two decades. We’ve found two specific instances where you are most likely to encounter questions about your online education during a job interview. If your degree was earned under either of these two circumstances you should arrive at your interview prepared to discuss online education. • Your college is 300 miles or more from where you live. If the college you attended online is located more than 300 miles outside the immediate area where you live or work, your future employer may wonder how you could have attended. Example: Your job history shows you've lived and worked in Los Angeles for the last 15 years, yet your resume says you earned your bachelors in business from the University of Illinois last year. On the other hand, if the online degree program you attended has a regular campus within 300 miles of your home or work area, chances are excellent that your employer will already have formed a solid impression of your school. This established brand impression will override any concerns your employer might have about how your degree was earned. • Your college doesn’t have a campus. If you earn a degree from a school that lacks a campus or from a school that is perceived as being “online only” by employers. GetEducated.com’s research shows that online-only schools are often perceived as “less rigorous” than universities that offer both campus-based and online degrees. Our surveys over the last twenty years have found that some employers may harbor strong bias against online-only colleges. What should you do if your school is online-only? If a potential employer questions your online education credential: • Stress the positive work traits that you have already demonstrated by your success in online education. These positive work traits include: > superior time management Studies show that online education is harder than residential learning because it requires more discipline, personal motivation and perseverance. • Point out that a recent study by the U.S. Department of Education found that online education at the collegiate level is as good or better than traditional on-campus learning. Most people are shocked to learn this fact, but the supporting data is readily available online. • The future of work is increasingly online. Stress to your potential employer that as a result of your high-tech, virtual educational experience, you stand well-equipped to help the company excel in today’s high-tech, virtual work world.  Click on the TV to learn more about how employers view online degrees in the Get Educated TV featured video. © 2010 GetEducated.com, Get Educated, Inc. |