Those in the process of earning an online master degree constantly wonder if they will be able to use it later. It is only normal to think about your future after you have finished your studies. That is, will the HR officers actually credit the online degree on an applicant’s resume?
One has to think about that because of the persistent prejudice held against unconventional ways of schooling. A good deal of the suspicion stems from the ever-increasing number of fraudulent activities over the Net and their victims. The result was a general suspicion of web-based education.
Since the development of standards and accreditations to support them, however, the situation has been getting better. Formalised—and recognisable—accrediting bodies have done a great deal to soften HR officers’ attitudes towards online degrees. Since majority of the certifying agencies are run by persons who are also major employers in the relevant sector, other employers are more likely to take notice now.
You still have to exercise great care in your choices, however. A good idea would be to find a very well-established university, so that you can fight off some of the lingering prejudice against distance learning. A reputable institution's prestige can add to your own when the HR people inspect resumes.
The problem is that you are not going to be safe just because a university has accreditation. This is why even accreditation is not enough. Ideally, you want a program that does have accreditation and also comes from a big-name school.
To that end, you may want to avoid purely online schools. These universities, even if they are decent, are not finding much support from employers. There are always special cases, yet this remains the rule.
Some divergence is also perceptible in how people see the undergrad equivalents of these courses. More so than with the graduate course, the undergraduate elicits a great deal of pessimism. Thus, it is largely unwise to seek a bachelor's online.
Overall, opinions have been changing for the better for online masters graduates. This is no longer a major educational liability in the job market. However, majority still do consider them less desirable… although that is slowly improving.
It is a smart move to try to counter this with everything you can. One might build up one's CV with good experience, for instance. There are a lot of opportunities for you to flex your muscles out of university too in your field.
The ideal is still to find an online master degree that can help you get ahead, before everything else. Be certain that you pick one that is actually accredited and recognizable. This should go a long way towards making you a hireable candidate for HR officers later on.
