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Most people are thinking about taking their career to the next level. They might be in the research stage and trying to figure out what the best route would be for them and their future. There are various ways in which individuals can improve their skills and achieve important goals. One option is going back to school and changing majors, which would be the most time-consuming and financially-obligating decision. Another is to hire and pay for a career coach to work with one-on-one, which is definitely a good option. There are also other long-term opportunities out there. One alternative option is to look into short-term online career training programs.
Short-term career training programs online can offer many more benefits rather than going back to school or getting into a long-term, expensive program that people may feel stuck in due to its heavy time commitment.
This article will dive into what the benefits and drawbacks are of going through a short-term career training program online, the skills and experience one can gain through these programs, and what some of the types of short-term career training programs are that job seekers can enroll in.
How to Choose the Right Career Training Program
Anyone can simply search for key terms in the area of interest, which will result in many online course options to browse through. There are programs for the most specific and technical skill all the way to a broad area of expertise. This is the age of digital technology and companies know it; they understand that people don’t have much time to allot to professional development outside of a full-time career, other responsibilities, and possibly a family, and in turn these companies have created online career training courses for learners to use to make a valuable career move.
When someone is determining which career training program to choose, they need to think about a few factors:
- How much time do they have to spend on the program?
- How invested are they in using the program all the way through?
- How much money are they willing to spend on the program?
- What knowledge and skills are they hoping to gain from the program?
- How will they put the new knowledge and skills to use after the program is over?
- Will this program increase my marketability?
Once those factors have been decided upon, a short-term career training program can be chosen online.
The Specific Types of Online Short-Term Career Training Programs
Hourly Courses
People who are looking to advance in their career and want to do so affordably and with a quick turnaround need to look no further than enrolling in short-term career training courses that only take between 10 and 90 hours of their time. Not only are there fairly cheap online career training programs, but there are also free programs! People just need to know where to look. The great thing about hourly courses is that they focus on specific knowledge and skills to get learners the best bang for their buck in a very specific amount of time. The teachers of these courses are experts in their field and know how to guide learners through modules and activities in the most beneficial and efficient way.
Monthly/Yearly Courses
If the learner needs more time to work through the program to get the outcome that they are looking for, they may opt for a longer course, such as a 120 or 180 hour course, or one that meets certain days a month for 3 to 6 months, or even for a year or two. It all really depends on what type of course they are looking into and how comprehensive the lessons are. A longer career training program may hone in more on very specific and technical skills that require more discussion and practice, as well as getting feedback from experts than a shorter program.
Benefits of Online Short-Term Career Training Programs
There are definite benefits to choosing a short-term online career training program over a long-term program. With the need for companies to provide a path to getting alternative credentials is on the rise, employees are racing to the internet to get a virtual seat and to reap the benefits.
Some of these benefits include:
- Higher salaries
- Better promotion prospects
- Increased specialized or transferable skills
- Learn the latest and greatest skills
- Turn a hobby into a business
- “Road-test” a career
- Make the best of money and time
- Get practical skills
- Have fun learning
- Avoid the need to commute
Where there are pros, there are cons. Short-term career training programs online may not be the best choice for some.
Drawbacks of Online Short-Term Career Training Programs
Some individuals may not flourish in a short-term online type of environment in order to learn. Many people prefer face-to-face learning, there may be some who have a disability that requires accommodations that being online cannot provide, or they may simply like the social aspect that being in a classroom or at a training allows.
Here are some of the other possible drawbacks to this type of training:
- Little or no face-to-face interactions
- Lack of accreditation or low quality training
- Intense requirement for self-discipline and self-direction
- Even more work required outside of the online session
- Little networking capability
Do Online Career Programs Work?
Short-term career programs online will work if the learner is disciplined, motivated, and has their eye on the prize. Short-term programs pack a lot of information and activities into their curriculum and the learner needs to be able to keep up with the workload on top of having a career, if they are working simultaneously. These progress show great success and employees who finish short-term career training programs should expect to move up in their career.
After completion, some individuals may worry if their current or future employer will take their online degree or certification seriously. The good news is that the world is in the age of digital and technological advancements and this even more so true due to the recent pandemic. Employers understand that many things are going online, which includes professional development and career training programs. It is the way of the future!
Conclusion
Those who are looking for a quick way to boost up their resume and get trained on marketable skills, short-term career training programs online are the way to go. Even though there are some drawbacks, there are even more benefits to online learning. The future is digital, and digital is typically the more efficient and cost-effective approach lean toward when it comes to education and professional development. Get online now and start searching for short-term career training programs that fit your career goals.
