Online Degrees Gaining Positive Reviews From Hiring Managers

“Will employers have any issues with my online college degree?”

I’m pretty sure this thought crossed your mind as you considered your options for an online education. While just about every college and university in the nation now offers online programs and courses, students wonder (with justification) about how their online education will be received in the human resources office. After all, this is the one gateway most job applicants have to get past before being considered for an interview.

The good news is, attitudes toward online education are getting better all the time. In 2010, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) surveyed just under 450 randomly selected human resource (HR) professionals from among their membership about their attitudes toward online versus “traditional” degrees. Responses were very encouraging.

• More than one-third (34%) of organizations said that they treat applicants who obtained their degrees online as favorably as those who received degrees through “traditional” ground campus institutions.
• Over half (55%) said it would not make a difference to them if they had to weigh two candidates with equal experience but held an online versus a traditional degree.
• Almost 80% said they had hired an applicant with an online degree within the past twelve months.

SHRM found that HR offices are welcoming online degree-holders. Eighty-seven percent of the HR professionals it surveyed said that online degrees are viewed more favorably “than five years ago” when asked in 2009, but a full 90% agreed just a year later in 2010. Interestingly, 72% agreed in 2010 that the recession has led to more people enrolling in online courses or degree programs, up from just 59% a year earlier.

And if you’re wondering, the HR folks usually can figure out if your degree is from an online institution or not. About ten percent of applicants state if their degree was obtained online, but more likely, the college is recognized by the person reviewing an application.

HR professionals are open to hiring online degree holders at most levels of an organization. For entry-level jobs, 83% said an online degree was acceptable or that where the degree was obtained did not make a difference. For mid-level positions, 56% said they same. Almost half (49%) agreed for management-level positions.

HR professionals also seem to understand that graduates from online degree programs might bring a bit more motivation and self-management to the job. Here are some interesting findings:

• 14% strongly agreed that online degree graduates had greater self-discipline than traditional degree holders. Just 6% said that traditional degree holders had more self-discipline.
• 14% strongly agreed that online graduates communicate more effectively. Just 4% said the same of traditional degree holders.
• 10% strongly agreed that online graduates have better time management skills. Only 5% said the same for traditional degree holders.
• 7% strongly agreed that online graduates were more motivated—the same margin as those who felt the same way about traditional degree holders.

Imagine discussing how your online education improved your time management and communication skills in an interview. Your interviewer might be waiting for you to bring this up.

Speaking of interviews, you should know that as an Anthem College Online student, you have access to a devoted Career Services Department whose staff can assist you with job search preparation, including resume development, job-search strategies, and interview training. They contact employers in your area, and can identify volunteer opportunities to give your resume an additional boost.

Other Career Services personalized packets for each graduate that holds resumes and business cards and access to InterviewStream, a technology that helps train people to interview effectively.