By Emmett Steele | 3rd year Journalism student
As the working world shifts and evolves to conform to the new normal introduced by the pandemic, people are looking for ways to expand on their resume, enhance their skill set and make themselves more competitively employable to take advantage of the shifting landscape.
As a Journalism student preparing to graduate soon, I’m starting to consider my next steps after graduation. I’ve been researching my field and the different ways I can try to get ahead and give myself the advantage to start my career in a way that will stoke my passion and help me to find the highest job satisfaction.
While there are many options out there, few are as effective and time-efficient as pursuing a Graduate Certificate. Here are a few reasons why I’m considering a graduate certificate program after I’ve earned my diploma, and how I chose the program I’m considering:
Enhance your Diploma or Degree
While the Journalism program has trained me well and prepared me with the skills I need to succeed in that industry, a graduate certificate can teach me the skills I would need to more easily branch out into related fields with a specialization, such as the Public Relations graduate program.
If I choose to study in the Public Relations program, it will serve to expand my skill set and make it transferrable between industries. I’ll receive an in-depth and hands- on education that will build on the skills I’ve gained through my program to fully prepare me for the world of Public Relations.
While I’m considering the Public Relations programs, there are over 30 graduate certificate programs offered at Mohawk College covering a wide range of subjects and specializations – which means it’s more than likely that there’s a program that can help you develop the skills you need.
How does a Graduate Certificate enhance my developed skills?
Part of what makes an education through a graduate certificate program so effective is experiential learning.
For example, through the Public Relations graduate certificate, I would receive an opportunity to participate in a 7-week field placement in a work environment that will put my new skills to the test and help prepare me to join the workforce. Having learned from professors who are currently working in the Public Relations industry, I can be sure the lessons I’ve learned are up-to-date with the current best practices and I’m ready to hit the ground running when I start my placement.
This field placement would provide on-the-job experience and references that relate directly to public relations (or whatever your program specializes in!) and can help to get my foot in the door as I aim to put my skills to work in the industry.
Advance in your career!
Not only will a graduate certificate help to broaden my knowledge and specialize my skill set, it looks great on a resume, too. Making an effort to improve and expand on your skills means a lot to a potential or current employers. Seeing that certificate on my resume shows employers that I take my job seriously, and that I’m willing to go above and beyond to ensure I produce the highest quality of work possible.
Having a graduate certificate can help to separate you from the crowd and give you an edge when trying to land a new job, get a promotion or even switch careers.
Want to know the best part about a graduate certificate? You can earn it quickly. In one year or less, you can earn a certificate and gain practical experience. Many programs offer flexible learning options that allow you to continue full-time commitments while gaining knowledge and skills to help you enhance your resume.
How do I decide which Graduate Certificate is right for me?
When figuring out which graduate certificate to pursue, it’s important to keep your career goals in mind. Think about your “dream job,” or any of the jobs that might be along the way to get there: do you have all of the skills you need to do that job?
I asked myself that question and found that I still have some skills I need to develop to take my career where I want it to go. I visited the Mohawk College website, which has tools available such as the career match quiz and the career coach which can help you to find graduate certificate programs that are a good fit for the skills you need.
If you already have an idea of what graduate certificate you would like to pursue, you can reach out to a Student Recruiter who will help you learn more about that program and get your application process started.
Check out Mohawk’s Graduate Certificate Programs
If you’re interested in learning more about the Graduate Certificate programs offered at Mohawk College, visit the Graduate Studies page for more information on the programs available.
