With nearly 40% of Americans ages 25 and older having bachelor’s degrees, it’s becoming harder to stand out from a sea of job applicants. Fortunately, there are many ways you can advance your career after college.
While earning a master’s or doctoral degree is an option for some, earning a professional certificate is another way to advance your career for less money and in many cases just as much of a benefit.
Benefits of Earning a Professional Certificate
Earning a professional certificate can equate to more credibility, improved job skills, and higher earning potential.
Increased Credibility
Having an industry-specific certificate under your belt shows continued expertise in your line of work. It shows employers that you stay on top of industry trends and ensure your practices live up to industry standards.
Improved Job Skills
In addition to learning industry trends and techniques, you’ll expand your work knowledge by learning other transferable skills. Your educational opportunities will expand to include networking and hands-on experiences that can mold you into a better employee.
Higher Earning Potential
You can earn a higher salary by showing employers you have more knowledge than the average candidate. By earning a professional certificate, you can demonstrate your experience, knowledge, and comfort in your field of expertise to employers.
Three Professional Certificates to Consider
Here are three professional certificates we currently offer to help you further your current career or make a move into a new industry or job role.
1: Professional Certificate in Meeting and Event Planning
Meetings and events are common in most industries. Our Professional Certificate in Meeting and Event Planning helps prepare students from all job sectors to hone their meeting and event planning abilities. You’ll cover topics such as:
- Contracts
- Finance
- Catering
- Site selection
- A/V tools and setup
- Marketing and promotion
Whether you want to transition into the event planning industry or add skills why staying in your current role, this program can help you learn how to create engaging meetings and events.
2: Professional Certificate in Human Resources
Nearly every company has a human resources department. Our professional certificate in human resource management prepares you to create a compelling workplace culture that aligns with your company’s values. You’ll cover topics including, but not limited to:
- Talent acquisition
- Performance management
- Compensation
- Organizational behavior
- Diversity and inclusion
By the end of the program, you’ll be able to communicate processes to a diverse, engaged, and talented team. You’ll have the skills employers seek to implement in their human resources department.
3: Professional Certificate in Project Management
Your boss will likely expect you to complete projects and meet deadlines, regardless of your career. Our professional certificate in project management prepares you to manage multiple elements of projects. You’ll cover topics like:
- Communication methods
- Stakeholder expectations
- Risk management
- Performance management
- Lean/Agile methodology
- Project management frameworks, standards, and definitions
- Work breakdown structures
After you complete the program, you can plan, manage, and control projects with the proper tools and methodologies. You’ll learn to become a project management master who can handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
These programs are part of the SDSU Global Campus Career Skills Institute, which is dedicated to bridging the gap between traditional education and the dynamic needs of the modern workforce. Check out the institute to see what in-demand skills you can acquire.
