I have a BS degree in General Business Administration. I also have a Certificate of Technical Studies in Human Resource Management. Im 2 or 3 classes off from a Certificate in Accounting Technology and in Administrative Technology. Should I go for it? I was looking at the certificates as a replacement for a minor or concentration since I did not have none of those. The certificates could be my focus since Business Administration is broad or am I wasting my time?
What are you looking to do ? Why do you need another certificate ? Looking to change gears ?
Sounds like you are a mid career professional. Education never hurts but what is the goal here or reason for post grad education ?
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I was going to do it because it will make me more marketable in the corporate world. Plus I have the majority of the classes already. Then there are some classes I may get to use that I could not originally use for my degree when I transferred. It would also be good for my resume.
I would suggest that you get a job…if you don’t already have one…in your field. Have you gotten a job since finishing your bachelors degree? Job experience is a very significant thing to have on your resume. Get a job…Then if you want to finish a certificate, fine.
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What @thumper1 said.
Short of changing gears in a career, I don’t see the need.
It’s not going to make you more marketable. You already have a concentration in HR - admittedly not the field with the most jobs today but there still are many and I have no clue what a certificate in accounting technology means or does for anyone.
In other words, if you couldn’t find a job b4, finishing another certificate is not going to land you a job.
Are you employed? If not, have you worked with your college career office for help/strategies. Perhaps you need help searching, interviewing, etc.
What is it you want to do in life? Focus on that - and finding a job in that area with the degree you already have.
If affordable, then do it !
Will your current employer reimburse your costs for tuition & books for a certificate course of study or just for study in degree programs ?
Does the OP have a current employer…or is the OP still taking classes only. I’m not clear on that.
If the OP has a job, and can still do this certificate course in addition, that is a different than if he or she is sort of extending taking classes in lieu of employment.
Hopefully they will clarify.
OP has a job according to a prior post in another thread.
This is another thread. The OP graduated with a bachelors in 2012. Scroll down to read the varied jobs he or she has held since that time.
From reading this…it’s my opinion this about 30 year old is still trying to figure out exactly what they want to do.
Oh, I remember this OP - so we’ve gone from welding to accounting??
Gotta get a focus.
@Drew_Up ,
A certificate in Accounting Technology or Administrative Technology or anything similar is not going to help you much unless the college has an excellent Career Services department with a history of job placement success.
What is the job market like in your city? What is the unemployment rate? City, rural, or suburban? Lots of office/business jobs, or lots of factory/blue collar jobs, or not many jobs for anyone?
What sort of salary do you anticipate earning after receiving one of these certificates? Do you have an idea of what companies to apply to immediately after (or even before) you graduate? Do you know for a fact these companies have current job openings for people earning these certificates?
I’ve seen people pursue certificates like this with no plan for how the certificate is actually going to benefit them afterwards. They simply hope a better job/career awaits them on the other side of the certificate. Because this is a certificate and not a degree, you must have a defined plan in place for after you achieve the certificate. Go into this knowing what your next step is going to be, not hoping for something to pop up, or else you will likely gain nothing.
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Earning a certificate has benefits in addition to possibly becoming a better qualified applicant for a particular position. Broadens one’s understanding and instills confidence are typical benefits.
Earning a certificate or certification in a specialty area is a great way to utilize one’s spare time.
FWIW Welding is a very useful & valuable skill as is knowledge of basic accounting procedures & practices.
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I fully agree about welding. Getting hands on experience/education in that field can lead directly to a job in that field.
And I fully agree that a student who has never taken an accounting (or Business Finance) class could learn a LOT of useful information by taking an Accounting or Business Finance class or three. But it sounds like this student has already taken some introductory classes in these subjects.
Paying for two more random classes to get a certificate in Administrative Technology or Accounting Technology (not an Accounting degree, mind you) is unlikely to impart any significant knowledge or advantage for this particular student. The “Technology” in the nomenclature leads me to believe this is less about learning actual Accounting than it is a class that introduces students to MS Office or some other software. Or maybe the general basics of bookkeeping or being an office manager.
These types of light introductions don’t do much to help students secure jobs, unless the school has a strong and active Career Guidance department that has working relationships with area employers. Even then, many students will be left without a job in the expected field because no meaningful skills were taught.
I guess my concern is - if you got your degree in 2012 and haven’t found yourself, how is getting another certificate going to help you?
Maybe getting into a top MBA program or if you have an interest in something else - pursuing that - if you can afford it. But can you get in a top MBA program? I’m not talking about an LSU - not that it’s bad. But you’d need a successful employment record to do that.
Maybe business isn’t for you and your passion lies elsewhere?
In the end, we all need employment to support ourselves…I assume, somehow, someway you’ve managed for the last ten years…
I sometimes I dont think business is for me. I just need to sit down and think things over. Sometimes I think about going to grad school. But why get a masters, stress myself out for 2 more years and get into debt for a degree I may not even use.
I’m not saying to get a Masters…but if you’re going to nibble on minor after minor, then sure.
I think what you just said is good - what’s for you? If you have an interest - maybe you can volunteer somewhere or get a part time job in that area…to learn more, to figure out if you’d enjoy it, etc.
Ten years out of school - you need to be on a path. It can change later but you need to get yourself a solid base.
Good luck