How online courses help you to manage studies while working

An online course could be the solution if you want to learn any particular subject from the fundamentals. These have a higher likelihood of being self-paced, which frequently means a less immediate direction from an instructor. Almost any topic and area of education that comes to mind can be pursued online. Various online courses for working professionals help them advance their careers without leaving their jobs.

If you want to advance into a managerial position or make a more significant career transition, you can think about enrolling in a paid online programme that offers a certificate. In addition to other options, this credential could be a fully online degree programme, a professional certification, or a certificate programme.

Some advantages of online learning are:

• Online learning is flexible, so many people choose online education. You can complete the course by learning remotely from anywhere without travelling to a physical institution.
• One of the significant benefits of online learning is that working people can access courses from universities worldwide and choose the one that best suits their needs without uprooting their lives.
• Online learning helps you to balance your education with your job obligations. You can study with a job and continue earning while upskilling yourself.
• The average cost of an online programme is much less and there are more course options and credentials are available. 

Why are online courses ideal for working professionals?

A question always comes to working professionals’ minds when they think of upskilling “how to manage study with a full-time job?” Online courses’ flexibility benefits working professionals by allowing them to expand their skill sets and strengthen their resumes. Due to the various benefits that online courses offer, more and more working professionals are enrolling in various accredited online courses. These courses assist working professionals in advancing in their professions, obtaining better positions and higher ranks at work, and, if they so choose, moving to a better working environment. Thus, online courses are ideal for working professionals.

So who can take up online courses? The following people can opt for online courses:

• Working professionals wanting to advance their careers
• Professionals planning to switch their careers
• Professionals looking for a promotion to a higher position
• People returning to the working field

Check out: Can online courses help your career and get you salary hikes?

Want to grow in your career? Take up online courses

The education sector has normally been operating over the past two years despite the COVID-19 pandemic because of online learning. The popularity of this trend is rising and it may soon become commonplace for people to enrol in schools and colleges, receive job training, or update their professional abilities in an online mode of learning.

Online courses are a practical choice for anyone considering upskilling to advance their careers. The following list presents the advantages of online learning for working professionals seeking to advance their careers or learn something new:

• Online courses give you the flexibility to study when and how you want. You may study and reskill yourself anywhere, at any time, thanks to the availability of recorded lectures, e-learning content, and online learning software. All you need is a strong broadband connection.
• There are a variety of online courses you can choose from, so you can choose a course best suited for your career objectives.
• Online or “e-learning” courses typically use fewer resources and are less expensive than traditional classroom courses. Accessing affordable online upskilling is a huge benefit, given the rising level of competition for jobs. 
• Businesses value workers eager to invest time in expanding their professional skill set. That demonstrates a desire to add skills that will enhance the functioning of the business as a whole. The management will be compelled to give you serious consideration for a promotion as a result of your desire to learn more.
• Online courses are widely available, and anyone can advance their knowledge with online courses even while working.

Looking to switch your career? Online degrees are the best option

Online courses are a great option for professionals looking for a job change or planning to switch careers. 

• You can upskill yourself with new skills and knowledge by choosing the appropriate online courses if you plan to switch your career.
• You wouldn’t have to immediately leave your job to enrol in an online course. Many online courses also let you study the lectures gradually whenever you have the time. It enables one to devote their attention to their jobs while still enrolling in programmes to learn new skills for a career change.
• Online certification programmes offer significant time savings as their main benefit. There is no predetermined period of time that you must set aside for learning. You can learn lessons whenever you have the time.
• Online courses are a great way to prove to potential employers your desire to put your best at work when you upskill yourself according to your preferred job role. Employers would undoubtedly see your desire to advance your knowledge to perform a job more effectively when you have participated in an online certificate programme. It will benefit you when you are planning to switch careers as it would provide you with a higher chance of getting hired.

Graduation, post-graduation, or certification: Pursue any course online 

 As per the UGC regulation 22, a degree earned through an online programme is equal to one earned through a traditional one. Of course, there are a lot of distinctions between the two, but that in no way compromises the legitimacy of an online degree. The degree earned via the online learning format is  equally authentic as the traditional ones and qualifies you for employment in both the public and private sectors or further education.

Over the past few years, there has been a dramatic shift in how online courses are perceived. The percentage of students who have opted for online learning has increased from 16.5% in 2008 to 45.6% in 2016. According to most companies and educational institutions, an online degree is just as effective and instructive as an offline degree programme today.

The normal degree programme mandates that students attend all of their classes. There, you’ll be joined by a sizable number of other students, and the studying environment will be conducive. Online degree programmes have taken over in recent years, it’s true. Online degrees provided by colleges are approved by the UGC, according to their guidelines.

Differentiating factors for online and offline modes of learning:

• The primary distinction between the two educational models is learning style. For regular offline courses, you must routinely visit a college, attend in-person classes, and keep up your attendance. Both the faculty and your classmates will be accessible to you in person. For online classes, the learning management system (LMS), which is provided by the institution, is where all of your classes are held, discussions happen, and you access the course materials. It is comparable to a virtual classroom. Everything takes place as it would in a traditional college, only online. There are e-libraries, online gatherings for alumni, and webinars with well-known people from around the world.
• In comparison to online learning courses, offline courses have a much higher pricing structure. Since you must attend college for offline courses, you must pay for the infrastructural resources provided by the college. You don’t have to pay for any equipment when taking an online learning course because you can finish it from your home. You even reduce costs for travel, lodging, laboratories, etc. Due to these characteristics, online and distance learning courses are significantly affordable.
• Offline exams are taken at the college for the traditional degree. Online courses, however, typically provide students with a choice between two possibilities. They can either opt for exams online or offline. Exams can be taken online at home, and software will be used to administer their invigilation. The college or institution can also specify a few locations where learners can go and take offline exams as an alternative option. The conducting college is in charge of the invigilation at the centres. The centres are typically spread out over several cities to make it easier for students who live in different areas to take the exams in an offline mode.
• Placement drives and opportunities are provided in both modes of learning. The difference is that in traditional learning, placement drives are held on the campus, whereas in the online mode of learning, it is usually held online. Placement support is usually offered to students by top colleges and institutions. It assists them in creating better profiles and CVs, preparing for interviews, and connecting them with reputable businesses where they can find employment or internship opportunities.

Thus, even though there are certain differences between online and offline modes of learning, any graduation, post-graduation, or certification courses can be easily pursued in the online mode. 

Also read: Top online MBA programmes for working professionals

Ways to manage your work and online courses

Many students choose online learning as a time-saving method for balancing their work, education, and personal lives. Many professionals are worried about the question, “how to manage study with a job?” So, here are some tips for balancing work and personal obligations when enrolled in an online course.

• Stop procrastination – Delays could ultimately result in a growing backlog of work. The fact that procrastination merely serves to increase stress on top of the everyday workload is another drawback.
• No multitasking – Some may prefer multitasking, but the issue with multitasking is that it uses more energy than usual, and, in many instances, it results in longer completion times for specific jobs. The best approach to finish a task is to get it done first and then move on to another. Taking breaks is fine because you don’t want to exhaust all of your energy, but try not to accomplish everything at once.
• Remove distractions – Most people today occasionally become distracted by using social media or checking their cell phones constantly. These factors can cause you to lose focus on any work you are doing and make tasks take much longer to complete than they should. At the end of the day, this may cause you to stress if you haven’t completed some tasks. Attention is therefore crucial to finish one work and go on to another.
• Follow a schedule – The reason for this is that when you plan, you always stay informed. For example, you will be aware of when you can complete a specific project or assignment. There’s always room in the schedule for breaks or a quick excursion. It will serve as a reminder to maintain your timetable and be aware of when to complete each task; otherwise, you risk having a backlog of work that includes new tasks that you were unaware of since you failed to plan. You will find it much simpler to arrange your life between studies, employment, and personal life if you take notes, write things down, and establish a good plan of action.

It’s never too late to learn

Reasons how online courses help working professionals in their 30s and 40s

• Online courses are flexible because most online courses are open around-the-clock, every day of the year. People may typically study in between commitments at work. This flexibility is perfect for older professionals who must balance their studies with other obligations. They can finish their schoolwork all at once or in bits and pieces in between other commitments.
• A degree can frequently be earned online at a speed that suits your schedule. Thus, working professionals in their 30s and 40s can register for an online course with shorter periods that make it simpler to focus on one course at a time and take one or more courses per semester.
• Working professionals in their 30s and 40s can learn new talents and polish those that they already possess. Enrolling in online courses, whether at home or the office, can help you learn new skills that will increase your earning potential.
• Professionals in their 30s or 40s can opt for online courses to keep up with the shifting demands of their profession or if they want to sharpen or update the abilities they already possess.
• Online learning is more useful because it allows working professionals to apply everything they learn to their daily work and enhance their performance.
• Working professionals in their 30s and 40s can also find opportunities for new careers by opting for online courses. They can take online courses to add to their resume, which will provide them with a higher chance of a promotion in their present workplace or provide new opportunities if they are planning to switch careers. 

Thus, obtaining a degree certificate online can be a great opportunity to reinvent oneself, especially for working professionals in their 30s and 40s wanting to switch careers.

Read more: How can an online MBA help working professionals?

Online Manipal is your preferred source for accredited online courses

Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) provides top-notch online education in a variety of fields through Online Manipal. One of India’s top academic and research institutions and a university with a NAAC A+ rating, MUJ is a powerhouse within the world of higher learning. MUJ’’s online courses are also suitable for working professionals so that they can upskill themselves while working.

With online courses from MUJ, you can study wherever you choose by taking live or recorded lessons from the best experts in the industry. 

Your critical reasoning abilities will be developed and honed with the aid of real-world case studies incorporated into the teaching methodology. A vast e-library and other study resources are accessible as part of the curriculum’s broad learning environment. Using pop quizzes and mock tests in your courses will help you keep your knowledge current.