Online certificate programs are an effective way to build and develop vital business skills. Whether you aim to prepare for an MBA program, advance to a new role, or make a career change, online courses can be a flexible, cost-effective path to reach your goals.
As online education’s popularity has skyrocketed, so have its number of options—making choosing the right course critical and challenging. Here’s a rundown of an online certificate program’s benefits and five questions to ask yourself to ensure you select the best fit.
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Earning an online business certificate can equip you to advance your career. From foundational basics to advanced deep dives, certificate courses can build and hone your skills to become a stronger business professional.
Online certificate programs can also pay off financially. In a survey by City Square Associates, 42 percent of HBS Online learners said they earned an average salary increase of $17,000, with 16 percent earning an average bonus increase of $14,000. On a resume, a certificate in a specific subject area can signify your commitment to professional development and gaining new skills.
An often-overlooked benefit of online courses is the ability to make global connections. Since courses aren’t tied to physical locations, your peers may take them from anywhere in the world. The HBS Online Community enables you to network before, during, and after your course. You can also attend in-person events with learners in your area.
Because online certificate programs enable you to gain these benefits on your schedule from any location, they’re increasingly popular among professionals pursuing career advancement.
Related: 4 Reasons Online Classes Can Benefit Working Adults
5 Questions to Ask Yourself to Find the Best Online Course
1. What Are My Professional Goals?
If you’ve decided to take an online course, be clear about why you’re enrolling. Start by listing your professional goals. It can help to craft statements about where you are in your career and what you hope to gain from a certificate program.
For instance:
- I’m an entry-level engineer and aspire to manage an engineering team.
- I’m a seasoned manager and want to improve my ability to execute strategy.
- I have an innovative idea and want to build a successful startup.
- I’m a new leader and want to understand how to leverage financial information.
- I’m a prospective MBA student and want to set myself up to succeed.
- I’m an organizational leader and want my business to make a positive impact on society.
You can list as many goal statements as you like, but choose one to focus on for this exercise.
2. What Skills Do I Need to Reach My Goals?
Next, consider your goal and skills. Which skills do you already possess that will help you achieve your goal? Which do you lack or aren’t as strong in?
For instance, if your goal statement is “I’m a new leader and want to understand how to leverage financial information,” you may list the following:
Existing skills:
- I have some familiarity with financial statements.
- I’ve occasionally created budgets for my team.
- I’m familiar with how to pitch a project based on the value it could bring to my organization.
Skills to gain or strengthen:
- I don’t have a strong understanding of how capital markets work and impact my organization.
- I want to learn how to apply key financial concepts to my daily work.
- I’m not sure how to use financial statements to inform leadership decisions.
Through this process, you might discover that you aren’t sure what skills you need to reach your goals—that’s OK. If you’re aiming for a promotion within your company, have a conversation with your manager about what skills are beneficial for someone in your desired role. You can also review the competencies listed in job postings for roles you want. Keep this in mind later in the process when searching for courses.
3. What’s My Schedule?
After determining the skills you want to gain, gauge your availability. With online programs, you’ll have the flexibility to fit coursework into your schedule whenever is best.
For this step, create a visualization of a typical week. Block off time for standing commitments such as work, school, and appointments. Consider any caretaking responsibilities, daily necessities like preparing meals, and adequate time for rest and sleep.
Once you’ve blocked off those times, you’re left with your availability for an online course. Tally how many hours per week you can dedicate and ensure it’s a commitment you want to make.
If you’ve determined, for example, that you can dedicate six hours per week to your education, use that information to select a course that requires no more time than that.
4. What Do I Value in an Online Course?
The next step is to identify what you value in an online certificate course. Many are on the market, so it’s beneficial to know what you like so you can search for relevant offerings.
Begin with an open brainstorm: What do you need or value in an educational experience?
You may list things such as:
- Engaging course content
- Credible instructors
- Real-world examples to gain insights from
- Opportunities to engage with fellow learners
- The ability to see diagrams and graphics
- The need for closed captioning or alternative text
Use the above as a starting point for your personal list. Note which factors are “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” so you can reference your list when researching options. Some courses may hit one or two of your boxes; others may hit all.
5. What’s My Budget?
Finally, determine your budget. Prices for online certificate courses can vary—so can their quality. Be wary that not all certificate courses are created equal.
Think of this step as considering what price you’re willing to pay for your perfect course—one that provides the skills to reach your goals, aligns with your availability, and has all the factors you value most.
If your budget is keeping you from pursuing your ideal course, investigate scholarship and financial aid opportunities. If your employer has a budget for professional development assistance, craft your case for how the course would help you succeed in your role, provide the skills to advance, and benefit the organization. You may be able to take your ideal course for a fraction of its cost.
Research to Jumpstart Your Career Advancement
Enrolling in a certificate course is an investment in yourself and your career. Once you’ve answered all five questions, research courses that align with your preferences.
Some may fit your budget and time constraints but lack instruction for the skills you need. Others may provide the skills to reach your goals but lack factors that are important to you, like social interaction.
By determining your goals, priorities, and needs, you can find the best course for you. It’s a puzzle you now have the pieces to solve.
Are you interested in discovering how HBS Online can help advance your career? Explore our course catalog, and download our free guide—complete with interactive workbook sections—to determine if online learning is right for you and which course to take.
