CAREERS NOW 12-15-10

Checking Out Online Certificate Programs

DEAR JOYCE: I have a high school diploma and a few college credits, but my financial circumstances don't permit me to try for a four-year degree at this time. What is your opinion of online certificate programs that would help me qualify for jobs? - J.V.

An online certificate program of a year or two could knock down entry barriers in the job market, which is expected to be thin for the foreseeable future. Even shorter programs are offered for those who must quickly become more marketable. Certificate programs often fall in the $2,000 to $4,000 range. Both private companies and public institutions offer certificate programs. Save yourself grief by looking before paying. Start with these websites: geteducated.com and detc.org.

DEAR JOYCE: I thought I had a job lined up but the recruiter called me back and said another candidate who had "industry experience" had been selected. What's so great about having industry experience? - P.B.

Typical reasons -spoke or unspoken - why employers want to hire individuals with industry experience include the following:

- Shorten training time. Hiring managers perceive industry-experienced job seekers as turnkey candidates. They believe their company's requirements mandate a long training cycle, and they don't want to spend time or money to bring outsiders up to speed. A related rationale is when the employer needs instant productivity to quickly fix a problem.

- Build teams faster. Bosses believe like-minded employees with a common industry background will fit in better than with current staff, making for a productive workplace. Outsiders may not be tuned into the industry's culture and values.

. - Bag competitive assets. Employers may assume that industry-experienced candidates will bring a list of customers, vendors, clients and other useful contacts.

- Cover HR's backside. Human resource managers may feel they can eliminate second guessing by management if a new employee turns out to be a bad hire - "this person came from our industry so it's not my fault he was a loser."

There are good counterarguments that chiefly focus on offering the fresh eyes of a new perspective, ending an echo chamber by bringing a diversity of thought, adding applicable familiarity with best practices of other industries, and the promise of greater productivity because you have new mountains to climb. If you can, talk about the cost and trouble associated with the employer's biggest headache, making the case that you've dealt with and solved that painful problem at another company.

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