Are you interested on learning how to prepare a resume highlighting an online college degree? If you are currently working, parenting, and studying to earn your degree, you can appreciate the flexibility that an online degree program offers, but not all employers look highly upon online degree holders. The key to using an online degree to your advantage is highlighting the unique skills you have gained by studying to become a graduate online. While traditional degree programs have their advantages, online courses will teach students how to be independent and responsible in unique ways. If you want recruiters to look highly upon your degree, here are tips on how to structure and word your resume.
How to List Your Education on Your Resume
Bachelor’s degrees attained online are becoming increasingly accepted by employers because so many candidates are studying online. With more than 6.7 million students taking at least one online course each year, you can see that distance education is hear to stay. This means that more and more employers are equating an online degree with the same value as a traditional degree, but not all employers in all industries can be convinced that an online degree is equal.
If you want to get your foot in the door during the recruiting process, you cannot assume that the hiring manager of an organization is happy to see online degree holders. It is in your best interest to list your degree as you would a traditional degree on your resume. Put the name of the institution, your major, and also your GPA to attract recruiters. If you earned your online degree from an institution that offers both traditional and online courses, this can work to your advantage. For students who have attended a well-known online school, it may be in your best interest to list the accreditation body of the school so that the recruiter knows that your degree is legitimate. Many recruiters automatically assume that online programs are sub-par, but having an accreditation ensures the standards are just as high as a traditional program.
Resource:How Can I Find Out If an Online College is Accredited?
Focus on the Skills You Gained From Studying Independently
Your resume is all about marketing yourself as the best candidate for the position. You can use the fact that you studied online to your advantage, even if you do not yet have professional experience in the field. If you are applying for positions that require you to work independently, you can point out that you studied for 2 to 4 years independently. This shows that you have organizational skills and are the type to commit and perform under pressure. By putting these skills on your resume, you can show that your online degree instilled skills that a traditional program does not. Point out these skills as you are interviewing, and it will be difficult for a recruiter to frown upon your degree.
Surveys given to employers show that 75 percent of recruiters embrace online credentials and the remaining 25 percent do not. The key to finding a recruiter to embrace your online degree rather than shame it is to highlight what it takes for a student to earn a degree online. Be sure to take the time to learn how to prepare a resume highlighting an online degree, and you can market yourself so that you land the job.
FAQs
To effectively highlight your online education on your resume, focus on the institution's accreditation, the relevance of your degree to the job, and specific skills or projects completed during the program. Mention the degree, the institution, and the completion date in the education section.
How does an online degree look on a resume? ›
Be direct and positive. As an online student, be up front with – and proud of – your online degree. List your school on your resume along with your degree and any distinctions or awards. Add leadership experiences, work with faculty or real-world experience you gained from your program.
How do employers see online degrees? ›
In general, employers are likely to care less about whether a degree was earned online and more about a program's reputation and what type of specialized skills a graduate brings to a position.
How valuable is an online college degree? ›
Online programs are absolutely worth it, depending on your circ*mstances. In general, online programs are not easier than on-campus programs. Online programs aren't necessarily more affordable, but they can be. Just like degrees earned on campus, online degrees are widely respected by employers.
Should you put online courses on your resume? ›
If you've taken courses that have taught you something that will help you on the job, by all means, include them on your resume, she says. Just keep the list of courses short, and confine them to a single, small area, such as a “Professional Training” section under your work history.
How do employers verify college degrees? ›
There are three generally accepted methods:
- Contact the schools or higher learning institutions directly.
- Ask the candidates to provide a copy of their diploma or transcripts.
- Work with a third-party background check service.
Also, your transcripts usually won't disclose whether or not a degree was earned online unless the word “online” is within the title of the school or program. Just in case, be sure you know exactly what is stated on your transcripts before sending them to a potential employer to avoid any surprises.
Will employers hire someone with an online degree? ›
The findings are great news in terms of equity and access to education. NACE's Job Outlook 2024 survey found that among employers that capture their new hires' degree modality, 87.4% hired new college graduates with an online degree.
Do companies recognize online certificates? ›
Most Employers Accept Online Degrees
employer acceptance of credentials earned online has been slowly and steadily increasing.” When the study was released five years ago, 61 percent of HR leaders believed that online credentials and degrees were of equal quality to those learned in person.
Do employers care where you got your degree from? ›
There's a reason you're required to put the name of the college you attended on your resume and job application. Despite what you may read to the contrary, most employers do care about where you went to school for your degree. Fortunately for many, that's not all they're concerned with, though.
The highest-paying online degrees
- Construction Management. ...
- Intelligence, Command Control, and Information Operations. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Fire Protection. ...
- Information Science. ...
- Registered Nursing. ...
- Energy Systems Technologies. ...
- Quality Control & Safety Technology.
But in many cases, an online degree is more challenging for students because it requires more self-discipline and motivation to "take an active part in their learning," Mathes says. And, like residential students, online students need to maintain academic integrity when completing assignments and taking exams.
Is SNHU degree respected? ›
As a fully accredited institution, SNHU's credits are generally accepted by all colleges and universities.
Does Coursera look good on a resume? ›
Like anything else on your resume, whether to list Coursera certificates on your resume depends on: How relevant it is to the job you're applying for. Whether you picked up important skills or accomplishments as part of the course. Whether you have more impressive experience to list instead.
Can I put Udemy courses on my resume? ›
Yes, you can add Udemy certificates to your resume or LinkedIn profile as evidence of your skills and knowledge.
What are the cons of online resume? ›
Online resumes are meant to be pleasing to the eye, rather than practical. If your resume is only going to be seen by a human hiring manager, this wouldn't be a problem. However, if you enter the job search with a resume that can't be read by an ATS, you would be in for failure.
Is an online degree as good as a regular degree? ›
Many students worry whether an online degree holds the same prestige as a traditional degree. The truth is, they're equal in terms of academic quality, job preparation and career opportunity. Online degrees and traditional degrees only differ in the format they're delivered.
Do you put an online MBA on a resume? ›
Yes, you should include your MBA on your resume.
How do you put an active degree on a resume? ›
When putting your current education on a resume, you should include the following information:
- Degree and Major: List the degree you are currently pursuing and your major field of study.
- University Name and Location: Write the name of the university or college where you are currently enrolled and its location.
Remember to spell out the name of your degree rather than abbreviating it. If you need an abbreviation to save space, you can use BA for Bachelor of Arts or BS for Bachelor of Science. Additional, less common abbreviations include: B.A. for Bachelor of Arts.
Are you interested on learning how to prepare a resume highlighting an online college degree? If you are currently working, parenting, and studying to earn your degree, you can appreciate the flexibility that an online degree program offers, but not all employers look highly upon online degree holders. The key to using an online degree to your advantage is highlighting the unique skills you have gained by studying to become a graduate online. While traditional degree programs have their advantages, online courses will teach students how to be independent and responsible in unique ways. If you want recruiters to look highly upon your degree, here are tips on how to structure and word your resume.