| In researching a degree program that will give you a | | | | one you went through? Would you have changed |
| leg up in your career, search engines may not be | | | | the program in any way? Though it remains |
| your friend. It's a cliche that the key to a big payoff | | | | unspoken when hearing interview questions of this |
| in the real estate world is "location, location, location." | | | | kind, your future employers are waiting on you to |
| When it comes to getting any payoff from your | | | | say that you did at least enough due diligence to |
| online education, the key is "accreditation, | | | | confirm that the program is properly accredited. |
| accreditation, accreditation." | | | | Indeed, be on guard. There are even a number of |
| Online degree programs are an entrenched practice | | | | bogus accreditation groups here in the United States |
| today, and may open your mind as well as career | | | | and abroad. |
| doors. Yet few of the degree-granting or certification | | | | Legitimate accreditation of educational institutions is a |
| institutions have the instant name recognition that an | | | | lengthy and rigorous review process in the United |
| established college campus does. This causes a | | | | States, and the agency that oversees all |
| justifiable amount of skepticism. | | | | accreditation procedures is the Council on Higher |
| When touting a credential on your resume that is | | | | Education Accreditation (CHEA). Hence, the most |
| linked to a virtual campus, you are nearly guaranteed | | | | sensible approach to weeding out your options and |
| to get questions in job interviews about the program | | | | honing in on the degree program that is going to |
| you attended. These days, it is common for human | | | | advance your career is to begin your search at the |
| resources professionals to press job candidates hard | | | | CHEA website. |
| on how they elected to pursue the online education | | | | First check the CHEA's directory of officially |
| option that they did. Interview questions in this vein | | | | sanctioned accreditation institutions. Visit those |
| speak volumes about the job seeker's own | | | | websites in turn. These legitimate accreditation |
| judgment. Be ready in your job interviews to answer | | | | institutions will offer their own directories of online |
| questions such as: How did you choose this program | | | | degree programs that have the official stamp of |
| over the alternatives? Was the program everything | | | | approval. Those degree program directories -- not a |
| you expected? What were the strengths and | | | | search engine -- are the right place to begin your |
| weaknesses of an online learning environment like the | | | | search for quality programs. |