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How CORe Can Jumpstart Your Career

Online Learner Taking CORe
  • 19 Sep 2019
Lauren Landry Author Staff
tag
  • Business Essentials
  • CORe
  • Career Development

When Pamela Raymond registered for Harvard Business School Online’s Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, her goal was to reacquaint herself with vital business concepts and develop universal, transferable skills.

By the end, she achieved that—and more. Raymond gained the confidence to email her supervisor and say she was ready to take on more responsibility at work. A few weeks later, Raymond earned both a promotion and a raise.

“[CORe] gave me the confidence to say, ‘This is what I want,’” Raymond says. “And to be able to articulate it and back it up. I can prove what I can offer.”

Raymond is one of many who have benefitted from completing CORe. If you’re also interested in furthering your career, here’s a closer look at what CORe is and how it can help you prepare for that next step.

What Is the Credential of Readiness (CORe)?

The Credential of Readiness (CORe) is a three-course program featuring Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, and Financial Accounting. It’s designed to equip college students, those considering graduate school, and mid-career professionals with business fundamentals. You take all three courses in tandem and conclude the program with a final exam.

As you progress through each course, you develop essential business skills. Topics covered include making data-driven decisions, conducting a cost-benefit analysis, preparing balance sheets, and reviewing financial statements. No matter your industry, CORe can help prepare you to contribute to business discussions and decision-making. Here are five ways CORe can jumpstart your career.

How CORe Can Advance Your Career

1. Prepare for an MBA Program

If you’re interested in pursuing your MBA, CORe is a helpful prep tool. Malachi Koop initially enrolled in CORe as an MBA substitute. The program instead confirmed his desire to attend business school.

“I was worried about being able to prove to an admissions committee that I had what it took from a quantitative perspective,” Koop says. “But HBS Online gave me another data point on my resume to prove it wasn’t going to be an obstacle for me.”

Despite never taking any business classes in undergrad, Koop was able to show he had the skills needed to succeed. He’s now enrolled in Georgetown University’s Flex MBA program.

Harvard Business School alumnus Niko Stahl also used CORe as a way to prepare for his MBA. Coming from an engineering background, the program offered him the opportunity not only to test whether business school was the best next step, but get an introduction to topics like accounting.

“CORe was a way for me to explore business before diving into an MBA program,” Stahl says. “I’d never taken an accounting course. Just getting that familiarity with the concepts was super helpful, especially once you start an MBA program and you’re sitting in class with people who’ve spent the last four years in investment banking.”

Whether you’re new to business or need to brush up before applying, CORe can get you ready for the MBA experience.

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2. Gain Essential Business Skills

The number of business and financial operations jobs is expected to grow seven percent by 2028—faster than the average for all occupations—according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Beyond the growing job demand, employers today want candidates with solid communication, problem-solving, and quantitative skills, who are also effective leaders with a strong work ethic.

Gaining essential business skills can then help advance your career no matter your industry or profession. You’ll start to understand different facets of your organization better and develop more in-depth knowledge about your industry overall.

For Pankaj Prashant, an engineer based in Australia, completing CORe enabled him to understand how pricing works in the mining industry, read balance sheets, and apply statistical concepts to his daily work.

“My ability to identify details related to business efficiency and performance that I may have missed in the past was fine-tuned in this program, and my understanding of the business is now much stronger,” Prashant says. “After my CORe experience, the level of discussion with my managers at work has been insightful and productive.”

Related: Why You Should Study Business

3. Complement Your Existing Background

Fellow engineer Isha Khambra knew her technical skills alone wouldn’t advance her career. She registered for CORe to develop the business fluency she needed to articulate technical topics to a broader audience and understand how her contributions impacted her organization on a larger scale.

“Now I have technical and business skills, which are crucial in furthering my career,” Khambra says. “I have gained a competitive edge and am now confident I can take on more challenging roles in the future.”

Whether you’re working as an engineer, in healthcare, or as a creative, developing essential business skills can complement your existing background and make you a more well-rounded employee. You’ll discover the impact your work has on the company’s bottom line and learn how to communicate more effectively with stakeholders from across the organization.

Related: 7 Business Skills Every Engineer Needs

4. Transition Into a New Field

Changing careers requires leveraging transferable skills. Examples of transferable skills include:

  • Communication
  • Leadership
  • Problem-solving
  • Data analysis
  • Time management
  • Critical thinking
  • Business strategy
  • Budget management

CORe can help you build up these competencies. No matter the role you're transitioning into, having a foundation in business can help you gain a better grasp on your new industry and start your next position on the right foot.

5. Bolster Your Resume

According to a recent survey by City Square Associates, 89 percent of learners said they gained new business skills they could add to their resume after taking an HBS Online course, while 50 percent reported receiving increased attention from recruiters.

By taking CORe, you’re signaling to employers that you’re serious about your professional development, are self-disciplined and motivated, and have built a solid foundation in business. While there are no guarantees, past participants like Raymond, Koop, Stahl, Prashant, and Khambra show taking CORe can help you achieve your goals.

Taking the Next Step with CORe

Whether you want to pursue your MBA, change careers, or grow in your current role, CORe can help you take the next step.

Do you want to take your career to the next level? Download our free Guide to Advancing Your Career with Essential Business Skills to learn how enhancing your business knowledge can help you make an impact on your organization and be competitive in the job market.

About the Author

Lauren Landry is the director of marketing and communications for Harvard Business School Online. Prior to joining HBS Online, she worked at Northeastern University and BostInno, where she wrote nearly 3,500 articles covering early-stage tech and education—including the very launch of HBS Online. When she's not at HBS Online, you might find her teaching a course on digital media at Emerson College, chugging coffee, or telling anyone who's willing to listen terribly corny jokes.
 
All FAQs

Top FAQs

How are HBS Online courses delivered?

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We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

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No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

How do I enroll in a course?

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All programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly from program to program, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

After submitting your application, you should receive an email confirmation from HBS Online. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk email folders and double-check your account to make sure the application was successfully submitted.

Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your Dashboard. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application.

Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

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No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

What are my payment options?

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We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

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After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

 

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