Saturday, September 11, 2010

Online Education Boosts Technology Skills While Earning Degree

While most news reports focus on the down economy and how tough the job market is, some people may not realize that this could be the perfect opportunity to enhance their resume through continued education with an online degree. The popularity of online education has increased, given its flexibility with a person's schedule, as well as being a cost-effective way to gain certain skills or insight into a specific industry. Online colleges are the perfect tool for a professional seeking a way to improve their position within a company.

However, online education may have another subtle benefit. As more businesses embrace emerging technology, the workers of tomorrow will need to be comfortable with things such as email, online forums, chat functions and posting information on blogs or on a website. Being able to understand the functions and advantages of technology tools might be the leading edge a person could need to advance their position.

People who are enrolled in an online degree program will use these skills toward their education, and may even become proficient in them. But more importantly, online education can reach students who may not be familiar with these types of technology, allowing them to possibly add another skill set to an already expanding resume.

Since online schools rely so heavily on technology, these institutions may also be the perfect place for people to experience the latest forms of technology that are being integrated into the workplace. Some people might find that school is a perfect way to go through the paces of learning a new technology.

One example is cloud computing, which is something companies both large and small, have started to embrace due to its cost-effective nature. Just what is cloud computing? Without getting too technical, it allows people to do a variety of functions without taking up any storage space on their computer, as well as freeing a person from being anchored by their PC or Mac. Cloud computing is becoming a staple of today's work place environment as more and more companies understand just how it helps to create a smoother workflow.

With just an Internet connection, users can create spreadsheets, write word documents and even contribute to projects, and can do so from different computers. This makes the modern worker more mobile and efficient. This mobility is one thing that might differentiate most workers from each other as knowing how to use these things is an advantage.

No matter what online degree a person decides to attain, the skills they learn through the courses, as well as through the process of using Internet-based software, will prove integral in polishing one's resume for the competitive job market.

The one constant in the professional world is change, and those who are willing to adapt and embrace new technology will be an asset to any company at any position. An online education is one way to facilitate this growing demand. This may also be especially important for older people looking to re-enter the workforce since retiring, as degrees online will better prepare them for some of the software they may encounter.

No comments:

Post a Comment