Alternative Credentialing: From Lamestream to Mainstream

The perennial myth in education being subject to classroom learning has been debunked. Witness the surge in Alternative Credentialing for working professionals and adults who want to bridge the gap and resume education after years of break. Alternative credentialing has caused a paradigm shift in the way higher education is seen. Despite its recency, this emergent phenomenon is established against the conventional degree-granting ecosystem.

Employer stipulations continue to evolve rapidly. With development of the digital credential market offering credit-bearing programs in countless domains, young working professionals are cashing on the opportunity to up-skill themselves with one foot at work and one at academia, although both virtually. 

Accelerating Growth through Alternative Credentialing

Be it industry certifications online, micro-credentials, apprenticeships or boot camps, alternative credentialing does pique the employers as much as the learners. From delivery mode that can be face-to-face or online, to the profusion of duration and pace choices, customizable content and validation process to integration option- learners have access to free online courses with certificates and paid multifarious programs that abet them in career progression and establishing a foothold in the industry.

Preparation to Merge in the Neoteric World

The pandemic has changed the shape of global happiness, but it also brought along digital transformation many professionals find challenging to adapt to. Not only did it introduce new avenues to IT professionals but also a change in the modus operandi of corporate houses and enterprises. The organizational culture has seen a major shift and IT savvy employees have been seen grabbing the limelight, while overshadowing other working professionals. Online courses have been instrumental in skill enhancement for the non-technical workforce that gets an opportunity to step up and embrace the change. Looking further, preparing for the future is part of human evolution. For instance, AI and Internet of Things (IoT) aren’t fictitious anymore! So equipping yourself with a couple of credentials and badges in latest technology increases your chances of jumping onto the bandwagon.

Squeezing the Problem of Skill Drought

Technology is an ever-evolving space with newer advancements rolling out before we get accustomed to the prevailing magnitude of automation. The problem of skill drought consequently has become a boardroom issue for every organization. Employees and workers aren’t oblivious to the situation, ergo attaining credentials and industry

recognized certificates not only for their career growth but also to acquire and validate a variety of competencies in their sphere of work. While many employees find job stagnation most embittering, others have the quest to scale the corporate hierarchy and make a detour to the top of the management. The concept of promotion on seniority basis has fossilized; what corporate houses demand in this day is the aptitude to take up a leadership role. Re-skilling, up-skilling and self-edification have led to the growing footprint of alternative credential market in the modern world.

Addressing the seemingly insurmountable hurdle, alternative credentialing brews the right concoction for a candidate to be job-ready. So while organizations are on a lookout for professionals with upgraded skills, pursuing an outcome-centric course online can prove to be one of the best career decisions for a candidate.

Back-to-School for Learning Quest

There are soft and hard skills every candidate wants to mention in their CV. Given a chance, who wouldn’t want to upgrade themselves with skill-sets they always wished they had. There are certain one-size-fits-all skills every recruiter is foraging. Be it troubleshooting, critical thinking, cognitive flexibility, judgment and decision-making, or emotional intelligence, the list goes on.

Degrees are still gold standard in recruitment, but skill-sets complete the adornment. When you embark on the journey of success, alternative credentials will be the yardstick to measure your capabilities and validate your prowess. So to quench the learning quest, candidates find programs extremely beneficial in polishing their personality, augmenting their performance efficiency and becoming industry-ready.

Also Read: How to Get Shortlisted for Job Interviews?

Smooth Career Transition

Whether you are sitting on the fence or find your career choice sterile; a skill enhancement program unlocks the potential in a completely different domain, enabling you to achieve agility and transformation. For instance, professionals can pursue a 10 month long Product Management Certification from an esteemed group. This Product Management training can help them bag a high-profile job as a Product Manager with a Unicorn company. Opening the gateway to better opportunities, there are case studies-based programs, real-life projects and sessions guided by industry experts. This helps the candidates get on track with the industry-specific prerequisites, find a job and sustain in the aggressive marketplace.

Innovative Pedagogy

E-learning modules are well-thought of and designed by psychology experts to enhance the learning experience for the candidates. With innovative pedagogy and active learning methodology, student engagement remains the crux of fast and effective teaching. Delivery methods are deployed such as discussions, brainstorming, case studies, focused listening, role plays, team work, formulating questions and annotating. These are some of the methods and instruction approaches that are employed in modern education system.

In juxtaposition to the conventional degree-granting ecosystem, this innovatory learning process is not bound by rigid standards.  This not only looks alluring and rewarding but also more pragmatic.

This stackable, short-term way of learning offered in the adult learning space is motivating more and more young professionals. It’s suddenly easier to pursue a program that can escalate them on the corporate ladder. These programs and courses are not only interesting and engaging; they are also highly beneficial with quite an instant gratification. What’s more, you will also come across a program you only need to pay after you get hired! So that’s the level of certitude these flexible format adult education programs carry.

Need more information about courses that come with a job guarantee? Visit Pragmatic Leaders