Which Companies Are Hiring? Get the Education You Need to Apply
As the country moves out of the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, professionals are seeking ways to get an edge against the job-hunting competition and become more attractive job candidates. One sure method is earning degrees and certificates online, which can better position graduates to either change careers or move up in their current one.
The question is: which companies are hiring? The answer depends on which industry you’re looking to enter, and the type of degree or certificate you earn could give you an edge. Excelsior College understands that the foundation of professional expertise rests on relative and applicable education. To that end, Excelsior recently added new degree programs to better prepare graduates to meet the challenges in today’s business world. They are:
● LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
● Master of Science in Human Resource Management with an Emphasis in Diversity and Technology
● Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Technology and Data Analytics
● Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics
● Graduate Certificate in Distributive Workforce Management
Each offers graduates the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their chosen profession. The following looks at where these degrees and certificates can take those who earn them.
Companies Hiring By Degree
Each of these degree programs prepares students for a career in growing industries, with higher-than-average hiring rates Or, as with nursing, some parts of the United States are hiring at a faster rate than others (All salary figures and job projection numbers shown below come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS]).
While hard skills are essential for professional competency, soft skills are increasingly important for employers. Soft skills include clear communication, guiding and mentoring teams, a strong work ethic, digital literacy, and intercultural fluency.
LPN to BS in Nursing
Nursing ranks among the best careers for growth in the coming decades. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects that the demand for RNs will reach 3.6 million by 2030, a 795,700 increase from 2014. At least seven states are projected to have a nursing shortage: California, Texas, New Jersey, South Carolina, Georgia, South Dakota, and Alaska.
The report names factors driving the nursing shortage trend, including population growth, economic conditions, expanded health insurance coverage, changes in health care reimbursement, location, an aging population, and health workforce availability.
MS in Human Resource Management
A degree in HR management provides skills that transfer across all industries. Every type of business needs HR professionals. Some industries hiring the most HR professionals include healthcare, government, technology, financial services, hospitality, and non-profit organizations.
Pay for HR managers reached a national average of $134,580 in May 2020. States that employ the most HR managers include California, Illinois, New York, Texas, and Florida.
MS in Organizational Leadership
Earning a master’s degree in organizational leadership provides graduates with the skills needed within any organization. People with expertise in organizational leadership can apply their expertise in a variety of ways. Examples of job titles include senior director of leadership development and organizational change, director of organizational effectiveness, organizational learning manager, and director of organizational development.
Graduates from a master’s program may also work as consultants, helping businesses streamline organizations, increase profits, and provide higher-quality products. Some industries hiring the most organizational leaders include healthcare, universities, government agencies, and financial services.
Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics
Data analytics are now used in business across industries, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Big data drives better decision-making for business leaders, more accurate healthcare records for patients, and more accurate return-on-investment projections for investors, to name a few examples.
The BLS lists two categories in data analytics. The projections call for a 25% increase in operations research analysts by 2029 and an 18% increase in market research analysts.
Graduate Certificate in Distributive Workforce Management
A distributed workforce involves employees who work in a variety of locations, including home and satellite offices. This is sometimes referred to as “telecommuting.” It’s a trend that increased out of necessity during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, but it’s one expected to continue moving forward.
Earning a Graduate Certificate in Distributive Workforce Management prepares managers to oversee a remote team successfully. It’s a certificate that applies to the work of people at all levels—managers, directors, vice presidents. Topics include maintaining employee productivity and morale long distance, ensuring secure remote access to business systems, and remote conferencing.
Skilled specialists are highly valued in today’s job market. Any of these degrees and certificates can help make professionals a highly attractive target for recruitment. And with the availability of online classrooms, it’s more convenient than ever for professionals to attain their educational goals and boost their careers.
