How Technical Job Seekers Can Maximize Online Learning Credentials

Credentials are an increasingly valuable indicator of competency and potential in today’s technical job market. In fact, many technical employers, such as manufacturers, prioritize certifications that demonstrate practical skills over traditional degrees. 

But not all credentials are created equal. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of pursuing an online learning credential to further your career in technical industries. 

Tech Employers See Value in Credentials

“Employers see a lot of value in credentials. They want to see more credentials in hiring for tech roles,” says Isabel Cardenas-Navia, PhD, Associate Executive Director, Research, Workcred, in an interview with MIT xMicroMasters. Workcred’s mission is to “strengthen workforce quality by improving the credentialing system, ensuring its ongoing relevance, and preparing employers, workers, educators, and governments to use it effectively.”

George Westerman, Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Principal Research Scientist, Workforce Learning in the MIT Office of Open Learning, echoed this sentiment. “Our research with manufacturers found that manufacturers prefer a credential over an associate degree when hiring their technicians,” Dr. Westerman says on a recent episode of the Beyond the Resume podcast featuring Roy Swift, PhD, Executive Director, Workcred. He added that these employers value the experience first, the certification second, and the associate degree third.

A recent Workcred study reinforces the value manufacturing employers place on credentials, stating, “The overwhelming majority of the participating supervisors and hiring managers mentioned that they valued seeing individuals with credentials in their applicant pools, but that it was not a common occurrence. They revealed that relevant credentials signaled many qualities that they valued in applicants: interest in manufacturing, experience in a role, and relevant skills.”

Not All Credentials Are Created Equal 

According to Dr. Swift, one of the challenges is that "credential" is a broad umbrella term that can comprise many different things: bootcamp certificates, apprenticeship certificates, certifications, licenses…the list goes on. "You have to peel the onion to figure out what a person has because 'credential' means everything," he says.

Furthermore, many credentials are little more than indicators of a person’s participation in a course or program. A credential can demonstrate that the participant completed the requirements, but it says nothing about their performance. 

“There are indications that people come to [employers] and do not have the skills and competencies as advertised from their particular credential. And that's a major problem,” according to Dr. Swift. “More research is needed, but we think that the lack of effective and accurate assessment of competencies is one of the issues. The content may have been presented, but the assessment was weak, and it did not verify that the person did indeed acquire that knowledge or skill.”

Dr. Westerman and Dr. Swift’s discussion leads us to a key takeaway. Job seekers hoping to rise above the competition in a tough job market will get the most value from online learning programs that go the extra mile. Ideally, the programs should include an assessment component to evaluate their performance, and an industry-recognized certification whose value employers can easily understand. 

Enhance Your Career Potential with MIT

Technical job seekers who want to build their skills and obtain assessment-based certifications will find excellent online education opportunities available through the MITx MicroMasters Programs. These programs, which are offered in concentrations like manufacturing and supply chain management, include a series of online courses and a set of comprehensive final exams. Students who complete a MicroMasters Program earn a standalone professional certificate and a graduate-level digital credential from MIT. MicroMasters Programs also allow students to pursue a Masters degree at a later date, if they so desire. Learn more about the benefits of an MITx MicroMasters and see if the program is right for you.