14
Managing Your Professional Development
We all are empowered to manage our careers. No matter where you are in your career journey, be sure to have a destination in mind. This chapter assumes you have already either established an overall career target (chapter 4) or decided to make a career change (chapter 12) and determined that you may need to pursue a new credential.
Your goal is to weigh your professional development options, and determine whether additional education or credentials are necessary. In the Foreword, Dick Bolles wrote of “disconnections—things that seemed always connected until now.” Education, as it is imagined, takes place in a classroom with a lecturer and a group of students. But in practice, education has become more disconnected from this image. This chapter reviews alternative ways to achieve your professional development goals beyond the traditional approach to learning.
Regardless of what career path you chose, earning a professional degree or certification can catapult your development and strengthen your qualifications. In some cases, they constitute bona fide requirements for specific job opportunities for you to be an eligible candidate. Fortunately there is a plethora of professional development resources available for nearly every profession, from traditional brick and mortar institutions to flexible virtual options to blended methodologies. The information in this chapter will help you understand the differences between several traditional curriculum-driven credentials, as well as noncredential custom choices. This chapter compares the pros and cons of each to give you a better understanding of what options are most suitable for your situation.
Is a Credential Required?
The first question to answer is whether a credential is required to progress further in or enter your chosen field. There are several circumstances that might warrant a credential:
• Your career goal requires a specific course of study to gain licensure or certification: accounting (CPA), attorney (JD), health professions (RN, MD, PT), or trades (plumbing and master electrician).
• You must fulfill specific requirements before you are eligible for a targeted position on your career path.
• Your goal is to earn an advanced degree, which requires a prerequisite degree; that is, a bachelor’s degree is required before you can enroll in a master’s degree program.
• You need to learn new material outside your current realm of competencies to facilitate a career transition or to gain increased breadth or depth of knowledge in a particular discipline.
Is there an entry-level education requirement for your field? A more advanced credential? If you’re not sure, here are two places to get answers:
• Occupational Outlook Handbook is a site maintained by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that has extensive information about various occupations, including any required entry-level education.
• O*NET OnLine, maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor, has information about existing and emerging occupations, including typical education requirements and what percentage of those in the field have various levels of education. These data are updated frequently and are some of the most extensive available on occupations.
However, with the rapid changes in many fields, the most current education and experience qualifications will be found in individual employer job postings. Job search sites, such as Indeed.com and Simplyhired.com, are also rich sources of information on the current job market and multiple employers’ job-specific requirements.
In relatively high growth or emerging fields, job requirements tend to be more flexible if no legal license is required to enter the occupation. When growth tapers off, or if your field becomes saturated with applicants, requirements generally become more stringent.
Does It Improve Your Job Prospects or Salary?
Some professions require a master’s degree to enter the field, while others merely prefer one. For example, managerial positions in the marketing, sales, and financial fields, depending on the level, do not require a master’s degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 51 percent of marketing and sales managers and 41 percent of financial managers had bachelor’s degrees in 2013; 17 and 19 percent, respectively, had master’s degrees. On the other hand, nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners require a minimum of a master’s degree, a subsequent state license, and passing the national certification exam.
Often, positions don’t require a credential, but it can improve your job prospects. Again, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine are excellent resources. The summary reports for occupations on O*NET provide the percentage of people in the field with different levels of education. If more than 50 percent of people in your field have a master’s degree, you will be in the minority without one, but this won’t necessarily preclude you from getting hired.
One way to determine if a credential is valued in your chosen field is to talk with people currently employed in the occupation. You can do this by conducting informational interviews (described in chapter 12), posting queries to LinkedIn or other online groups, or participating in local chapter meetings of relevant professional associations. Some professional associations survey their memberships to determine how educational attainment affects salaries and career growth.
Does having a degree affect salary? For some, this is an important question. The short answer is, yes, more education can have a correlation to salary. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that there is a 14 to 44 percent wage premium for workers with master’s degrees over those with a bachelor’s degree in selected education occupations. Similarly, for healthcare and social service jobs, workers with master’s degrees earn a 19 to 44 percent higher premium over those with bachelor’s degrees. However, it is important to note that not all healthcare and social service occupations at the master’s level earn higher wages than those with a bachelor’s. It is wise to conduct your own research of salary ranges and relationship to degrees before investing valuable time and money in a formal educational credential.
What Are Your Options?
Once you determine that you need further professional development based on the requirements for your targeted jobs, the next step is to decide which educational option to pursue. The good news is, there are so many learning opportunities that you can create a learning strategy tailored to your specific needs. Which option you pick comes down to your criteria and whether you need a formal credential from an accredited education provider to achieve your career goal.
Degree and Certificate Classifications
Many careers require a relevant degree or certification, but it varies, depending on the industry, occupation, and company in which you want to work. For example, if your career choice is to become a school principal, your state board of education will require a master’s or doctorate in education. If you want to teach as a full-time, tenured faculty member at the college level, you will need to have a doctorate. However, if you want to teach online courses or at the community college level, a master’s degree and relevant field experience should be sufficient. Adjunct faculty typically require a master’s degree, not a doctorate. High school teachers typically require a bachelor’s degree and a licensure certificate, although a master’s degree is helpful for getting hired at a private school.
Explore what you will be eligible to do with your degree and how far you want to take your education before investing time and money in a degree or certification that might be unnecessary for your desired career path.
Associate’s Degree
An associate’s degree typically requires at least two years of full-time college work. It is a higher level of education than a high school diploma or GED, but lower than a bachelor’s degree. They can be general, such as an associate in science (AS) or arts (AA), or career focused, such as an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN). The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists 40 occupations that require an associate’s degree, including occupational therapy assistants and physical therapy assistants, which are two of the fastest-growing occupations.
Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete and can prepare you for a specific vocation, such as computer science, or a more general, liberal arts education. Bachelor’s degrees are sometimes referred to as the new high school diploma, because they are the minimal requirement for many professional and entry-level positions. Obtaining a four-year degree no longer guarantees a job and the rising cost of college has led some to believe that it is not worth the cost.
Certificate
These credentials—which can be earned in a year or less—can provide specialized training for people who have already earned diplomas or degrees. They are also helpful for those who want to quickly learn the knowledge and skills required for a specific job, such as home health aide. Many university extension and continuing education departments offer such certificates.
O*NET OnLine and the Occupational Outlook Handbook can provide helpful guidance on available certifications and training programs. You can also explore trade and professional organizations in your field to see if they offer relevant certifications.
Note that certificate does not equate to a licensed certification. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association offers a good example:
Professional certification is the voluntary process by which a non-governmental entity grants a time-limited recognition and use of a credential to an individual after verifying that he or she has met predetermined and standardized criteria. ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence is a professional certification. A certificate program is a training program on a specialized topic for which participants receive a certificate after completing the course and passing an assessment instrument.
As you explore certificates and certification, beware of the hard sell from representatives at for-profit online colleges and schools. Some have been found guilty in class-action lawsuits for their aggressive tactics to pressure potential applicants to enroll. Nevertheless, certificates are a sensible option for people who want to take the next step in gaining a new or deeper area of knowledge without the rigor of a full academic degree program.
Master’s and Doctoral Degrees
A master’s degree is earned after a bachelor’s degree and normally requires one to two years of in-depth study in a chosen field. Some examples include master in business administration (MBA), master of library science (MLS), master of public health (MPH), master of education (MEd, EdM), or master of engineering (MEng).
The highest degree for graduate study that you can earn is the doctoral degree. Examples of this classification include doctor of education (EdD), juris doctor (JD), and doctor of philosophy (PhD).
Professional Certification and Licenses
Professional certifications and licenses are credentials earned after the completion of a program of study in order to practice in a profession. These typically involve meeting the requirements for professional licensure granted by federal and state authorities (a licensing board) in which the holder practices, and require a minimum of two years of prior college work and at least six additional academic years to complete studies. Example disciplines include veterinary medicine, dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy, and optometry.
Other certifications require completing specific criteria, including proven knowledge, experience, and applied skills. These certifications are organized and granted by credible professional field and industry organizations, in addition to colleges and universities. They are not licenses. Examples in the talent management field include the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) and the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). The U.S. Department of Labor sponsors a comprehensive database on careeronestop.org.
Some professional certifications and licensures do expire, and require ongoing learning and earning of continuing education units (CEUs) to renew.
Which Option Should You Choose?
If you decide to pursue an additional credential, you will find many formal learning options from which to choose. Using a credential decision matrix makes the selection easier (see Table 14-1 for an example). List your criteria across the top and the credential options down the left column. Then, assess each credential against each criterion and place a check in the appropriate box. As you complete the table, your best options become clearer. If you prefer to use different criteria than what you see here (for example, geographical location, online access, accreditation status), the matrix is intended to be flexible. Simply modify it by replacing those criteria that are less important to you.
Table 14-1. Credential Decision Matrix
Career Goal: Secure instructional design position
My current credentials: Bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field with some work experience in the field
Emergent Learning Options
Unprecedented trends in the labor market, technology, and work-life balance over the past several years have afforded remarkable new ways of learning. The “partnership between man and machine,” as Dick Bolles coined it, makes managing your professional development easier than ever, with flexible options that enable you to reach your individualized learning goals. However, along with so many choices comes complexity and a mind-boggling array of options. The following is a summary of learning alternatives outside traditional academic curriculums that anyone can pursue without cost.
Instructional Design Example
Suppose you have decided you would like to pursue a career in instructional design. You have some related experience, but no formal credentials in the field. What steps can you take to decide how to proceed?
A first step is to visit O*NET OnLine and search for instructional design, which will yield a summary report for instructional designers and technologists. The report reveals that the field has a “Bright Outlook,” which means there is a demand for professionals in the field. Job growth is projected at 5 to 8 percent, with 25,000 job openings projected in the next 10 years. This is healthy growth. The average salary is listed as $61,000 per year; 65 percent of people in the field have master’s degrees, and the rest have bachelor’s degrees or less. The summary report also links to a number of degree programs and training options across the country.
You then search for jobs posted to Indeed.com, and find 17,000 openings that list instructional design as a needed skill. A spot-check shows that master’s degrees are not typically required, but they may be able to replace years of experience. Based on the job postings, the requirements appear to be flexible.
Next, you search for education and training options and you find:
• master’s degree in instructional design or learning technologies
• certificate programs from colleges
• certificate programs from associations such as ATD.
Your research shows that a master’s degree could take two years to complete and will be costly ($30,000+ per year). Certificate programs from a university are less expensive and can be completed in a year or less. In addition, you may be able to apply some coursework from your certificate program as earned credit toward a master’s degree, should you decide to pursue one in the future. There are also options from recognized associations that could help you get your foot in the door, but may not apply toward a degree.
You decide to further explore three certificate programs that provide the training you desire, and ask each organization to provide a list of alumni with whom you could speak to learn more about their experiences.
MOOCs
The term MOOC (massive online open course) was first introduced in 2008 and has emerged as a popular mode of free, unlimited participation, open-access online learning. Stanford University designed and led the first MOOC in 2011 with 160,000 participants. Subsequently, many universities branded their own version of MOOCs, such as MIT’s Open Courseware. The number of MOOC provider sites has grown as rapidly as the massive volume of courses offered by them. Yale University offers courses on a variety of online platforms, including Coursera, iTunes U, YouTube, and Open Yale Courses. edX is a collaboration of academic institutes offering more than 950 programs in subjects such as humanities, math, and computer science. A few other easy-to-use sites include Udemy, Class Central, and Udacity.
Universities worldwide now offer MOOCs in their native languages that can be translated into English at the click of a button. For example:
• Alibaba and Peking University sponsor a platform called Chinese MOOC.
• Edraak is an Arab MOOC platform that is an initiative of the Queen Rania Foundation.
• France Universite Numerique (FUN) is France’s national MOOC platform.
MOOCs are basically a no-cost resource for exploring unlimited topics and fields of interest. They are convenient, self-paced, and accessible at home and on mobile devices. Users can interact with one another from all over the world. Additionally, some courses are facilitated by professors from leading Ivy League universities. Be aware that some sites advertise “free” online courses, but then request your credit card information for payment at the point of registration. Paying for online courses should not be necessary with so many open-access options.
Not all employers take MOOCs as seriously as traditional academic programs. Like anything new, this could change over time. For now, MOOCs should not be pursued in lieu of recognized credentials; instead, treat them as supplemental to your overall professional development. MOOCs are also not degree-granting programs, although some do offer certificates (not to be confused with certifications as described earlier). In summary, MOOCs offer rich content and engaging experiences for avid learners.
Online Education
In addition to MOOCs, other online programs have arrived to provide a convenient mode for learning and earning a degree. In addition to traditional face-to-face offerings, many colleges and universities now provide online programs. These programs allow participants to obtain college degrees, with minimal in-person attendance required—some without having to ever step foot on campus. Instead, participants engage in dialogue through virtual classroom formats. You can find a list of accredited online degree programs at Geteducated.com. As with MOOCs, not every employer takes online degrees seriously, but more and more are realizing that online learning is a suitable mode of education in the modern world.
Microlearning
Continuous learning does not always warrant a curriculum or a course. Microlearning is another emergent strategy that has become a popular means for quick, on-the-spot learning. The potential topics are almost limitless—from how to grow a lawn to communication models to how to create a strategic plan for your organization. YouTube is a great delivery source for this form of learning.
Instructional designers also use microlearning as a component of their design strategies. Microlearning has numerous benefits, some of which include learner-centric, just-in-time, accessibility, time- and cost-effective, and rich media for retention. Microlearning can act as a supplement to any ongoing professional development plan, especially in this dynamic world of fast-changing content.
Academic Credit for Nonacademic Accomplishments
Do you want to spend more time learning what you already know? Learning experiences outside the walls of the traditional classroom may be eligible for academic credit. The following are four ways adult learners can earn educational credit for prior study and work experience.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
RPL is the umbrella term for Accrediting Prior Experiential Learning (APEL), Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), and Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). RPL is a process used by adult learning centers, academic institutes, military organizations, and other organizations globally to evaluate learning acquired outside the traditional classroom. It constitutes a consistent set of standards or competencies by which to evaluate a person’s skills and knowledge for a given topic. In essence, an RPL assesses a claim provided by individuals to support their request for credit for prior experience that they wish to apply toward college degree requirements. The prior experience might be gained by volunteer work, paid or unpaid employment, standardized exams, and employer-provided training. Make sure you keep a portfolio of learning experiences and programs you have completed as a record for submitting your request.
The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) provides resources for translating your work experience into college credits.
Transfer College Credit Earned at Other Institutions
Many universities and colleges will honor credit from other accredited institutes toward a matriculated course of study. Criteria regarding course content, minimum grade, accreditation, and timeframes can usually be found on your target college’s website.
Standardized Exams
Most colleges will allow you to test out of a course if you have a proficiency in specific topic content, such as a language. The most common standard examinations for this purpose include:
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• Excelsior College Examinations (ECE)
• Thomas Edison Credit-by-Exam Program (TECEP)
• Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)
• Advanced Placement (AP).
Each exam tests for specific topic proficiencies. The exams that are accepted by your target college will be listed on its website.
Noncollege Sponsored Learning
Another way to seek college credit is by leveraging nonacademic learning from professional development programs, employer training, military, and professional associations. The American Council on Education (ACE) qualifies many of these programs. ACE also has a page for personnel who seek formal courses and occupations offered by the U.S. military.
Summary
With so many learning options, there is no one-size-fits-all professional development plan. Rather, your strategy should reflect a unique blend of experiences and education that meet your assessed needs. A college degree is not a panacea or a replacement for experience. Nor does professional development always necessitate a formal education. For example, you can create an individual development plan (IDP) with your manager to gain valuable experience that aligns with your employer’s goals. This will strengthen your portfolio, and your value to the team and your company. Working through your self-assessment to determine your career and development goals is necessary and worth your time.
If you decide that a new credential is necessary, matching various credential options to your criteria using a decision matrix will help narrow your focus. With the many traditional and emerging options available, the online databases and robust information contained in the suggested web resources will help narrow your choices even further.
Learning is ongoing and may be as formal or informal as you wish. Prudent, successful, career-minded professionals will continually assess their portfolios to make sure they are ready for the next milestone in their career.