Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Utilize Online Education
If you aren’t already part of the online education revolution, you should be! This trend has been growing for the past decade, and will continue to get stronger in the future. Here’s why.
Access anytime, anywhere
Many people have life and work commitments that prevent them from attending a traditional school setting, whether it’s high school, university or trade school. Online courses allow for scheduling at the student’s convenience. Plus, there’s no time wasted commuting!
Integrity Staffing’s Next Step U, in partnership with Penn Foster, an accredited online learning institution, brings mobile-friendly education to all associates and employees.
More affordable
The costs of obtaining a degree from a “boarding school” type of institution are now out of reach for 99% of the population. Sure, there are financial aid and student loans, but they burden the student with crippling debt for up to a decade after they graduate.
Did you know that Next Step U is 100% free? It doesn’t get more affordable than that!
Skill specific
A traditional liberal education requires you to take many courses that are not relevant to the career you want to pursue. Online vocational education, on the other hand, focuses on the specific training you will need to succeed.
Next Step U offers a variety of useful courses ranging from popular computer programs such as Microsoft Excel to administrative skills to basic English.
Failing traditional schools
American colleges and universities have boxed themselves into a business model that is not sustainable — as the COVID-19 closures made all too clear. Some have already gone out of business and more are sure to follow. This leaves students looking for other options.
In the pandemic lockdowns, nearly all instruction converted to online formats of one kind or another. It’s hard to see how we will ever go back to pre-COVID norms of education.
Greater employer acceptance
Not so long ago, the vast majority of employers didn’t respect online degrees as much as those obtained from brick-and-mortar schools. But that’s now changing.
It began during the extremely tight pre-pandemic job market, when the demand for talent was much greater than the supply of available workers. Recruiters were forced to revise their job requirements in order to bring in enough candidates. With the COVID-fueled move to remote learning, they will have an even harder time finding workers who don’t have at least some online education.
According to a survey by Northeastern University, a majority of HR leaders say that an online degree or credential is equal to one received from a campus-type university.
Opportunity is knocking
All in all, it’s a great time to further your career with online education. Maybe Next Step U will be your first step toward a future that exceeds your own expectations!
