Enrolling in graduate courses or certificate programs can be good for your career… if you make the right choices. Read our latest blog for tips on putting in the work to decide your best learning path.
“A degree is a major accomplishment. It reflects discipline, resilience, and possibility. It opens doors. But it’s not the end of learning. In many ways, it’s just the beginning.”
Mary Barra, Chair and Chief Executive Officer at General Motors
If you’ve been scanning job postings lately, it’s natural to wonder how your experiences and credentials stack up against requirements for your dream job. Ready to take the next professional step? Easy! Keep learning.
Every school year, thousands of learners add an edge to their resume by pursuing a postgraduate degree or credential at UT Austin.
Will you upskill to boost your present career? Will you choose graduate school or a certificate program? Devote weeks or months? Maybe you will dive into a new industry.
But don’t dive yet! You’ve got work to do first if your results are going to match your dreams.
“I believe you can never go wrong with education, but understanding the ‘what’ and ‘why’ before you start any program is essential,” says Rosemary Guzman Hook, talent acquisition freelancer and former career coach.
Start With Homework
“The work begins before you choose a class,” she says. “The real question that working professionals want to start with is ‘What do you want to do?’ then determine what degree or certificate program will help you move the needle to get there.”
“Everyone hopes for an easy answer, but it is not always obvious,” says Hook, who has recruited for industries including digital marketing, SaaS, management consulting and educational publishing.
The arrival of AI in the workplace has many early- and mid-career workers looking for ways to add AI skills to their portfolios through the UT brand. For example, the in-demand Graphic Design Certificate Program includes exposure to AI-enhanced tools and learning designed to help you analyze the role of generative AI in creative work and make informed decisions about its use.
Find more industry-specific AI certificates and short courses at UT Austin here.
In some industries, certificates are mandatory for advancement, with a clear-cut path. Many job postings require the Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate, for example. UT offers project management courses in multiple formats, including self-paced and online. AI for Project Management is a recent addition.
On the other hand, a graduate degree may be required for licensing or upper management roles, such as the Master of Science in Social Work or Master of Business Administration. UT Austin offers more than 125 master’s programs for graduates.
Figuring Out the What and Why
Hook recommends self-assessment and exploration before committing to the time and expense of classes:
- Self Assessment
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- Uncover, identify and recognize your interests, skills and values.
- Explore how these relate to possible career options.
- Identify new skills that could lead to advancement.
- Decide whether your career options allow you to make a living at a standard that you find acceptable.
- Career Exploration
- Investigate jobs and industries that match your self-assessment.
- Talk to actual employees and hiring managers if possible.
- Learn what degrees, skills, certifications or experiences featured positions require.
- Consider lateral moves within the same company to accomplish your goals.
- Ask if your current employer offers to pay for training.
How to Talk to People in Target Roles
Hook strongly recommends talking to employees at your target positions or industries. Use LinkedIn to reach out to people with similar backgrounds in the fields or positions you are researching.
“Would you be willing to talk to me for 10 minutes?” is a great question, she says. “People love to share.”
No one’s path is the same, but you can learn by asking questions like “What would you have done differently? Done more or less?”
“The only way you can find out what is important to an employer is to ask the questions. Do the work. Don’t go out and sign up for classes without doing the job and industry research.”
“This sort of research and soul searching takes time, and many people give up. They just aren’t prepared to make the effort,” Hook says. For some, this is the point when a career coach can provide guidance for better research.
Match Your Needs to Training Choices
Your research should help clarify your budget and time commitment, as well as salary potential. For example, you might decide that you could handle a part-time online certificate or weekend executive program instead of a full-time master’s degree.
Helpful information, including career resources, tuition discounts, and upcoming courses, is available from UT’s Center for Professional Education.
Ongoing information sessions for certificate programs, including Paralegal, Health and Wellness, Financial Planning, Graphic Design, Human Resource Management, and more, are regularly offered online or on demand.
And don’t forget to ask about any in-house or corporate training offered by your current employer.
Exploring and understanding your goals is your first test as a lifelong learner. Give yourself an A when you confidently sign up for your first class.