Credentials May Be The New Bachelor’s Degree
In a world awash with college grads and Bachelor’s degrees, it is becoming clear to those searching for a job that a college education may no longer be enough. Increasingly, it would seem that the new must-have on a resume is credentials.
“We are watching the job market become more and more competitive, and working professionals need additional knowledge and skills … certificates and stackable credentials are the wave of the future,” Susan Aldridge, the president of Drexel University Online, told The Atlantic in the article, When a College Degree Isn’t Enough.
Credentials programs come in many forms, be they from universities, trade organizations, corporations, or online programs. They can cost thousands of dollars or be free, they can take months of study or be completed quickly, and unlike traditional higher education, they don’t leave you with a degree, but rather with licenses, badges, and certificates.
These credentials are becoming more popular with employers. As a result, more graduates are turning to these credentials programs to round out their resumes and stand out in a reality where 1 in 3 adults in the United States has a bachelor degree. Additionally, in a job market where credentials matter so highly, many are beginning to consider foregoing the degree entirely and skipping straight to the credential programs.
This shift in focus is causing many to question if it’s time to rethink higher education — is it possible to pick and choose more narrowly what education to pursue and still succeed in a chosen career path? Does one need a bachelor’s degree and thus several classes in history, for example, to qualify for a job in computer programming? Or is it possible to focus on the parts, rather than the sum, and obtain the same objective?
It may be to soon to tell, but as more employers and applicants opt for credentials, the impact will surely continue to affect the futures of both secondary and higher education. With our enrichment programs and rich individualized instruction, Mind Foundry is helping prepare today’s young students with 21st century skills for this rapidly shifting environment. In order to be able to adapt, curiosity, creativity, digital literacy, and a love of lifelong learning are all necessary, no matter what path our scholars take.
