Are Online Degrees respected by civilian employers(The HR department specificially?)

I'm currently Enlisted Active Duty Air Force and I'm thinking about pursuing my Bachelors to open up some doors for me (commissioning, employment on the outside, etc.).

From what I've read online and from some HR department friends I have back in New York City that I talk to, it seems like online degrees get a bad rap. They tell me that often times if they come across a resume with a known online school listed, that's an automatic red flag to put the resume in the discard pile. I find that the general consensus is that online degrees are mainly useful for people who just need those credentials to advance at their current job, yet very ineffective when you are the jobseeker.

I could be 100% wrong but this is coming straight from the horse's mouth. I'd like to know what you guys think.

 

You just opened a rather large can of worms. I'll let some of the senior member answer your question.

 

In my small circle I have experienced much of the same things as you. We are not there yet, but the reputation of online schools seems to ebb and flow. I suppose it depends on who you talk to. I have not been able to parlay my education (traditional and online) to a better paying gig. That is probably more a problem with me than with my education and I recognize this.

Your mileage may vary, but if I were in your shoes I would find the school nearest to where I was planning on job hunting (be that at your current base, your hometown, etc) that has distance programs and go with them. I'm talking about a good solid B&M state school. I think you will have the most success with that as you will not have to explain your degree. Its just, "Yeah, I have a BA from University of This Great State or Something State University" and that way you can avoid the quizzical looks.

The debate on here about the difference between RA and NA and perception of online schools and B&M schools will rage on for eternity.

It comes down to this, and this is where YOU will have to decide. Everyone's situation is different. For gaining access to OCS/OTS an online degree is sufficient. For some people in HR having an online degree is seen as a red flag to them and your resume will not get another look. Others just want the BA as a check box, or a way to filter out applicants.

Long story short, go with a solid brick and mortar school with a program that you will be successful in.

Good luck.

 

I think the pure online schools have a bad rap. You can go with any of the hundreds of programs though from B&M schools that happen to have online programs, and get around the stigma.

 

During the nine years (1991-99) I was involved in American and Canadian marketing for the distance MBA program of the Edinburgh Business School of Heriot-Watt University (Scotland), we kept careful track of the first 1,000 students, who worked for more than 70 of the Fortune 100 companies as well as many government agencies.

I don't have the exact numbers any more, but more than 98% were approved and accepted by the employers -- 2/3rds automatically because it is a Royal Chartered university -- and the rest after further interaction: sending materials or sample exams to the HR people, etc.

I recall the delightful moment when an HR exec at the Papermate/Gillette company turned it down, but was willing to have us make a presentation. Afterwards, not only did he approve it, but enrolled in it himself, and recommended it to his colleagues.

 

It's never even been an issue for me. No hiring managers have ever even mentioned it. In fact, my current boss is a DL University of Phoenix graduate and I have a DL Liberty University co-worker.

 

Do You Know Your Competitors?

Knowing your competitors is a key ingredient of your market strategy. Here are some questions to help you get to know "the other guys."


The UOP grad will lose to a Stanford grad (Measurement Ivy L)
The MA degree will lose to a MBA (Measurement MBA)
The High GMAT will win over no GMAT ((Measurement High GMAT)
No industry experience will lose to some related experience (Measurement industry experience)
BM Doctorate will win over a DL on-line Doctorate (Always)

In summary, you have to know your competitors; is it from an Ivy League, a MBA, a Doctorate, SHRM Certificate or so on.

Good luck


PS - the measurement is = to your greatest fire power (Best degree in your tool box)

 

Don't ask me. I've been with the same company for the past 10 years. BTW, they are paying for all of my tuition costs to attend a DL school. Guess I lucked out.

The anecdotal information that I've read on this forum and elsewhere leads me to believe that perhaps this used to be the case, but now DL degrees are so widespread that it has become more accepted by HR departments and hiring managers. I have no data to back this up.

 

My employers have paid 100& for my tuition cost too.

I see a trend.....


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So true, I can remember back in the mid-80's: I'd get "What is that?, so you attended school in NY?, Ok, well do you have a bachelors degree?

Have a plan - stick to the plan // For me a RA Bachelors was the requirement, the plan was a final bang with a Doctorate at Penn.

 

I work in Human Resources for the Federal government and I can assure you that a person with a degree from a traditional university will rule over someone with an online degree. However, an online degree is better than a high school diploma. Also, be mindful that you have to be able to sale yourself on an interview; someone whom graduated from UOP may interview better than someone whom graduated from Michigan state. Therefore, the person with the UOP degree may get the job. In sum, it truly depends on the employer. However, I would stay away from the online schools with bad reputations such as Phoenix, DeVry, etc. enroll in an unknown online school that sounds official such as American Military University. Perhaps, I am being biased because I attend this school I am attending this school for personal development/satisfaction, not to help me find a job because I already have my career but I think it will assist me as I move up the corporate ladder.


AMU-BA in Human Resources Management-May 2010

 

Since so many "traditional" schools are now offering online degrees it probably doesn't make any significant difference.

 

I feel that respect is what you earn, a degree online or otherwise just serves to open doors. The rest is up to your skills and capability.

 

My institution is an B&M, but we offer HR degrees (Human Resource Leadership) from the assoicate to masters level and we track out students dilligently. Virtually all of them are employed (no pun intended). One of our biggest employers is the military.

 

Here is the deal.

You are a professional and aside of degree you have skills and experience.

Many of the comparisons are silly.

Unexperienced employee with MIT degree may not get the job wile, experienced employee with UoP Degree may get a job.

When applying for job there are many requirements, education is important one
such requirement.

Now lets say if you have a person competing with you for a job and that person is almost a clone of you, with degree from better name recognized university then maybe he has a better chance.

Some managers hire based on attitude, team work and references.
If you have good reputation with references that can back it up with matching skills for the job the degree will have limited role.

Unless you are a highly marketable consultant or accountant, lawyer, then the firm can list your degree as sales marketing value added and yes some companies may require degree from a program that is specialty or professionally accredited.

And how many adds have I seen requiring Degree or equivalent experience?

Do your homework, take in to account if you plan to use the degree for teaching or continue later for a higher level degree. Check your finances, how mach debt you are willing to accumulate etc.

Find out who is a better provider, if you will lern more and the program is current up to-date etc.

 

FYI

Most HR Departments are GATE KEEPERS

My 2 cents!

 

I agree.

In my last company I hired engineers - the positions were never advertised - mostly I hired either people whose reputations I knew, people recommended by peers, or those smart enough to find me and drop off a resume. My number one hiring criteria - can they do the job? Once I decided to hire someone then HR did all the necessary checks and paperwork.

In my may years working for 7 aerospace companies my first contacts were with engineering managers.

 

A few days ago I found out that The General (not the TAG, that's an Air Force guy I guess) of the Nevada Army National Guard BG Gonzales is an old school UOP graduate. Looks like he did his degree when DL was a virtual unknown to most.

Who would have thunk it?