Introduction
It can often be quite challenging to make yourself stand out in the business world. Despite good qualifications and passion in your field, it can sometimes feel impossible to get the recognition and professional responsibility that you know you deserve.
Further, having a job might make it difficult for you to get a full-time degree simultaneously due to time constraints. So what do you do then?
The answer is quite accessible. The answer is an online Management Degree or an online MBA degree. Continue reading to find out exactly why this is the investment for your future and a sure-shot for your career advancement.
Ways an Online Management Program can help you advance your career
1. Same skills, more flexibility
An online management program is a better version of distance learning. Apart from the learning material, the knowledge is transferred through video lectures, assignments, collaborative projects, and live online sessions.
Many sources agree that online management programs can be on-par with a full-time degree in intensity, granted you do your research to find a good program. The biggest point of difference between an online management degree and a full-time MBA is that an online management program allows you flexibility in terms of when you plan to study during the week.
This can be especially useful for working professionals who can then plan their time accordingly between their job and learning. Additionally, many online programs are also accelerated, meaning that learners can speed up the process of getting this degree in comparison to a traditional MBA, granted their schedule allows them to do so.
2. Training you with a greater focus on Technology
Professionals with digital literacy are the need of the hour. An online management program ensures that learners get comfortable with online tools to communicate effectively with their peers and superiors. It also ensures that networking occurs virtually as well, which is a skill that is more and more crucial to success in an increasingly digital world.
Successful management professionals need to know how to initiate and build a connection in an era where business connections are occurring online on social media platforms.
Businesses are also becoming more global and internet-based than ever before. And knowing how to engage in virtual self-presentation for yourself and your business is a highly valued business skill. Further, technical know-how always comes in handy for your businesses in an increasingly digital world. Knowing the basics of how to study data and coding will always help you stand out as a versatile professional.
3. Financial Edge
An online management program not only saves money in terms of the fee structure of the course compared to a full-time physical course, but it also increases your salary package post-completion. So you can think of it as a way to double up your earnings while also investing in your career growth.
Additionally, enrolling in an online course means you can continue working your full-time job due to its flexibility. It means that you will not lose your primary source of income due to class timings or commute timings – things that are common hindrances for people to continue working in the case of full-time MBA programs.
Finally, full-time MBA programs, besides being exponentially more expensive, to begin with, also have additional costs involved in commute, housing, and textbooks. These can add up to be a high cost to pay, especially for individuals dependent purely on savings.
4. The Best ‘Leaders’ Contribute Directly to the Business
In the tech industry, there is a growing crisis due to the skill gap. And this affects the business’ overall ability to make the best decisions for itself. Hence, most CIOs are now increasingly focused on being ready for the digital era. It means that they have to be as comfortable with tech-based solutions for their business as they are with the knowledge of management solutions. And for this, an online management program is the ideal combination of tech and management.
Further, many IT professionals enroll in online management courses when they realize that many workplaces have a vacuum for individuals who can directly contribute to the business in terms of management rather than simply tech solutions. By some estimates, some online management programs see about 50% of their learner profile comprised just by the IT sector.
5. Employers Respect Commitment to Your Current Job and Learning, Simultaneously
You may have heard that it is often better to stick with one company or one area of expertise to build up your credentials for a management program rather than to dabble in a bunch of different domains full-time.
Taking an online management course can help you continue building your expertise in your chosen line of work paired with learning about management. Potential employers are impressed with the ability of individuals to juggle these two, as it shows a clear commitment to your career path.
Doing so also allows you to apply the management skills you are learning in your course to your current job almost immediately to test its effectiveness. This means you already get an edge over people with an MBA in terms of real-life application of the concepts as well.
Conclusion
While we are on the topic of impressing future employers with your online management degree, there is one key thing to note here. They will only value such a degree from an accredited educational institution, and not just any online program that is available for free or lacking a comprehensive program structure.
Employers understand the value of online programs that are rigorous. Such programs have several aspects such as multiple assignments, interaction with industry experts, and networking with well-qualified professionals for well-trained learners of all the right management skills. Hence, make sure to research to find the right program.
One such program is the Great Lakes Executive Education PG Program in Management. It is a 12-month online program offering live virtual classes, networking, program support, and career assistance to ensure that learners receive top-notch management training.
Management is for everyone: from finance to healthcare to marketing, there isn’t a single domain that doesn’t value the skills professionals gain from a management program. Even in the entertainment and sports sectors, an online management degree can help you go a long way with learning how to market the client, manage finances and prioritize business prospects over others. To advance your career, start considering an online management degree more seriously!
