Suggesting Certificates
I have a friend who’s not too sure what she wants to do with her life. She graduated from a top-notch school with a liberal arts degree and really doesn’t know what she’d be good at doing. My suggestion: attend a certificate program.
I think certificate programs are so cool. They’re a great way to hone your skills or learn specific things in a short period of time. Whether you’re a recent grad, a longtime grad, or a career switcher looking for something more, certificate programs can be the extra boost you need to get that job you’ve been eyeing.
The options seem endless with certificates. Most programs last a couple of weeks to a couple of months, depending on the curriculum. Once you complete the prescribed course of study, you’ll have an additional piece of paper that will prove your worth; not to mention the support you’ll gain from the school you attend. Many career schools and community colleges offer programs, as do traditional colleges.
Some schools offer the opportunity of completing a certificate program completely online. This way, you’ll be able to complete the requirements at your own pace and convenience of your own home. Though it may not seem credible (I’ve had many people express excessive doubt on the whole online arena), it’s becoming more and more commonplace as time goes on. You’ll also be able to keep up with your current schedule and complete your course on evenings and weekends.
In addition to all this, certificate programs are so affordable. They typically cost less than a regular degree, mainly because they are for a shorter period of time, making it more cost- and time-efficient than a degree.
I’m certainly not suggesting that a certificate program can take the place of a bachelor’s degree, but I do think that it’s a great supplemental idea or way of trying out another field. Four-year degrees are also not always for everyone. What I do suggest is checking into them. You never know what you may come up with. Just another way of leaving no stone unturned…
-Amanda Fornecker