Online and Distance Learning

If you are applying for a job, you will find that there are many others who have the same qualifications as you. So how do you make yourself stand out from those others?

Stage two in the process of getting a job is your application for the job you're interested in. For this you need at least two things: your CV or Resume, and your Letter of Application or Covering Letter.

Applying for a job: Your CV or Resume

Your CV or Resume is central to the process of applying for a job. It lists the basic information about you: personal data; academic qualifications; professional registrations; educational history; work history; communty work; interests; and any other relevant data.

Letter of application or covering letter

When applying for a job, it is no good just listing what you have got (as you do in the CV or Resume). I'm afraid that you are going to have to "sell" your qualities in your application for the job. This means looking at the list of criteria for the job, and methodically working through them to make sure that you write something on each one in the Letter of Application or Covering Letter, i.e., picking out aspects of your learning that address each particular criterion.

To go one step further, research the company or organization. Work out how your strengths can help the organization and be used in achieving their strategic goals or objectives.

Many of the skills you acquire in a course are generic rather than specific and so will transfer easily into employment in any job. These generic skills include the ability to write reports and essays, to give presentations, to work as part of a team, problem-solving, networking skills, to work individually, and to manage your time effectively. Employers are usually looking for these skills, so when you're applying for a job, make the most of the experience and skills you obtained in and outside of your course.

If you don't have all the qualifications required, then seriously consider upgrading by attending college or university, either online or on campus.

Making sure the selection panel wants to know more

If you have some areas that you are particularly strong on, write about them briefly in your Letter of Application or Covering Letter, and also suggest that you would welcome the opportunity to talk more about these in an interview.  For example, you might write:

"One of the problems I faced in job X was getting the group members to work as a team.  I found an interesting way to overcome this and we went on to win the team prize."

A statement like that is almost bound to result in the interview question "So what did you do?"  

These statements are "bait" that you place so that you can, to some extent, control the interview - if you are short-listed by the Selection Panel.

Click here to go to the next step in applying for a job.

For more information about getting qualified by online study

If you're not quite qualified, use this link to find online programs and schools suitable for your desired career.

Use the search facility on this site to find more online subjects and programs.

You can also use this link to search for online degree programs

Remember to compare the admission requirements and course content of several schools before you choose a program.

Getting qualified using campus programs

For those students who feel that online learning and distance education is not for them, the web site also has a section on campus programs.  Studying on campus is a great way to get qualified, if you can afford the time and the fees.

You can also use this link to search for a program or a school near you.