How to Discuss Your Online Degree with Potential Employers

Online degrees are gradually gaining acceptance in the workplace, but some companies still have a poor perception of non-traditional degrees. When you are ready for job-hunting, there are several ways to convince potential employers of the value of your online degree. Just as you studied hard for your degree, prepare ahead of time for conversations with interviewers who may not be aware of the new trend toward online education.

Explain that 30 percent of traditional classroom students also take online courses. A whopping 5.6 million Americans took at least one of their courses online in 2009, according to the Sloan Consortium. Online courses are increasingly integrated into mainstream learning and are no longer on the fringe of the education world.

Refer to your school's accreditation. Many online colleges and universities are accredited by the same bodies that offer accreditation to traditional classroom institutions. Most institutions now offer both online and face-to-face classes, all under the same umbrella of accreditation. The Department of Education sets the same standards for brick-and-mortar institutions as they do for online colleges and universities.

Tell your interviewer how much work experience you were able to accumulate while pursuing your degree online. The flexibility of online courses allows students to work in the field where they are seeking degrees, getting hands-on experience that is difficult for students with inflexible classes to get. If you have also raised a family, done work within the community or took on other responsibilities while earning your degree, tell your interviewer how much experience and knowledge you gained doing these activities, as well.

Point out how self-motivated you are to achieve your degree without someone setting your schedule for you. You already have the ability to work independently, succeed without much supervision and survive without help from your peers. All of these are skills that every employer seeks in their job candidates.

Stress how your online degree taught you to conduct online research, use new technologies, and capitalize on mass social media tools. Computer skills are necessary in almost every field today. Unlike some of your competitors, you do not have to depend on tech support for minor glitches, because you know how to use and maintain computers for yourself. Your technological skills make you faster and more productive than your less technologically knowledgeable competitors.

Interviewing for employment is a process of selling yourself. This is as true for a student who only attended face-to-face classes as it is for an online student. There may be a few old-school employers who pass up a solid candidate because they earned their degree online, but most progressive, forward-thinking companies are open to all candidates, and the way you sell yourself during your interview will determine your success at landing the job you are after.