About Online Learning Lessons
Making the decision to pursue an online program can be intimidating for students. Online Learning Lessons offers tips and advice from online students and educators on everything from finding a program and paying for it to what happens after enrolling. Got a question? Email onlinelearninglessons@usnews.com.
Online courses are very appealing to working professionals because you can gain new knowledge without leaving the workforce.
At the same time, you should be strategic and incorporate your new skills into your career. Whether you want to switch fields or quickly advance in your current role, you have to be proactive. Below are four tips on how to apply what you've learned.
1. Ask for new tasks outside of your typical responsibilities: If your current role is not something you want to stay in for long, try leveraging your online degree coursework to seek out new responsibilities that better align with your career aspirations.
[Learn four reasons online learning works for working adults.]
Your online courses can give you a great reason to ask for guidance from a different business department or get assigned new tasks.
When I was completing a business analytics class as part of my online MBA program, for example, I actively asked to help a business analyst in the department where I worked at that time. By taking on those new analytics tasks at my work, I got hands-on experience applying the new skills I gained in the online degree program.
2. Look into a different position at your company: If it's hard to officially broaden your responsibilities, you can start by pursuing a voluntary role – for example, a committee member – or even suggest a new position that better suits your goals. Such proactivity will give you leverage in completing or creating tasks that interest you the most.
I took a similar route when I came across a nonprofit that needed some help in analyzing its business processes. This was a great opportunity to test my MBA skills in a low-pressure environment, and eventually, it helped me get into the field I wanted to.
3. Build relationships with others in your industry and network: Another great way to learn about or advance in your career field is to grow your network. Ask your online classmates about any professional and industry groups they are a part of and join those that seem relevant to your career goals.
Interacting with the other students in your online course can also be a great way to find professionals in your industry who live in different regions if you ever plan on moving and are looking for a job.
[Explore ways to build a campus network in an online program.]
4. Apply your virtual collaboration experience to your job: Once you are in an online course, you will begin – if you haven't already – to master virtual interactions with students and faculty. Applying these skills in the workplace – especially one where some employees work remotely – can benefit the quality of your interactions within a company.
For instance, if you learn about a specific software in an online course that your company's team can benefit from, be a conductor of ideas and spread the knowledge. Being a subject matter expert even in little things can improve your professional brand and career.
The takeaway: Even if your online program takes two or more years, there is no need to wait until the end to apply your new expertise to your job. As a prospective or new student, think about the best ways to do so – whether by asking to take on new tasks or looking into positions that are more relevant to the curriculum.
