Project Management Certificates Online

Something I have noticed throughout my career is that in many organizations there is a disconnect between doing a job well and being prepared to succeed. This disconnect leads to frustration as employees, on every level including management, fail to meet the expectations passed down through the chain of command. 

Having worked in the education industry for many years, I have been exposed to others' frustrations many times. A lot of the professionals who experienced frustration in the workplace did so because they failed to make the connection between their job and their ability to do that job. I am not talking about the simple day-to-day tasks but more so about the ability to take an assignment and turn it into a game changing success story. 

The College Network partners with major universities that are recognized for having some of the best college programs to offer busy adults with a variety of professional certificate programs in areas such as; Project Management, Lean Six Sigma, Paralegal, Human Resources, Leadership, and Food Service Management that can all be completed 100% online. 

Most of the people we work with realize they have the ability to get the job done but fail to reach beyond the norm, because they don’t focus on professional development (i.e. themselves). 

I would like to share a brief story that might help shed some light on what I am saying… In my story there are two people responsible for cutting wood (person A & person B). Over the course of a week the two wood cutters are being evaluated against each to see why there is a big discrepancy in their production. Their manager sends someone out to evaluate each wood cutter. The outcome of the evaluations is noted below:

Evaluation Person A: Person A works tirelessly throughout each day barely ever stopping to take breaks. Their hard work and dedication is the best I have seen and there is no way anyone could keep up!

Evaluation Person B: Person B was diligent and hard working but often stopped to take breaks. Person B had it down to a science but I fear their productivity will not be as good because they seemed to work a lot less.

The manager brings both of these people into the office to go over their evaluations and match them with overall productivity. As it turns out, person A was 30% less productive then person B and both the manager and person A were shocked at the results. Person A yelled out, “How could you cut more wood when you sat around taking breaks all day...” With a confused yet confident look person B replies by saying, “I wasn’t taking breaks; I was sharpening my saw!"

The moral of the story is that you can get ahead in your career and achieve amazing things but it takes more than just plain hard work. 

If you are looking to move into a new industry or move up in your current industry then you should seriously consider seeking out professional development opportunities. Being committed to developing and/or diversifying your skill set (i.e. sharpening your saw) can help you achieve personal and professional satisfaction. 

At The College Network, we specialize in helping busy adults achieve personal and professional satisfaction through education. If you’re looking for Paralegal training courses, a lean six sigma certification course, a PMP preparation course or other courses in project management, we can help.  

The one thing I ask from the people we work with is that no matter what you do please don’t just do nothing. While there may never be a “good time” to take on more responsibility by getting started in a program, I can assure you that there will never be a “good time” to suffer the repercussions of not developing yourself when you had the chance.

Not being fulfilled in your career can lead to problems that show up in other areas of your life. We spend the majority of our lives at work, and a significant amount of that time spent being unhappy can lead to a short temper away from work. Or it can result  in a short wave of anxiety on Sunday night when you think of work on Monday morning. It manifests in a variety of ways, even if it’s just an overall feeling of exhaustion. 

Certifications and degrees from The College Network's partner universities can counter the emptiness of being unfulfilled. There are a variety of options from Project Management Professional® preparation courses, LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, and online paralegal certificate programs. A certification or degree provides achievement, recognition, and community. In effect, an overall feeling of serenity.

The designation change provided from a certification/degree is a reward for success. One example of a designation change that can be obtained through online classes for nursing is an LVN to RN program. The designation is more than just letters. It signifies to others that you can demonstrate the skills needed in that particular field. It is an achievement that you can proudly display in your home or office and on your resume.

According to the TechRepublic 2010 IT skills and Salary Report , the PMP Project Management Professional certification can lead to salary increases of 26 percent in the U.S. when compared to those without the certification. And according to PayScale.com, an LVN’s salary can increase as much as 27 percent to 29 percent when certified as a Registered Nurse. Salary is one type of recognition that an individual earns when they obtain a certification or degree. 

One of the most valuable aspects is the community an individual belongs to once a certification and/or degree is obtained. The community can provide a wealth of resources: encouragement, career suggestions, access to jobs, and growth opportunities are just some of the things the community of an individual’s certification and degree can provide.  

A certification/degree may be the answer to a feeling of lack of fulfillment. It provides achievement, recognition, and community. 

Mitzi Young’s interest in human resources began when she was a manager. “I’d been managing people for a long time, and as I went along in my career, I became more and more interested in HR,” Mitzi said. “When you manage people, you often have to deal with the same issues as HR people, so I thought it would be a good next step to get certified in HR. I love managing, and I love to teach. I wanted to be able to make people better at what they do.”

When it comes to deciding on whether to continue education, Mitzi believes learning is something that should just be done. “Just do it, and don’t think about it,” Mitzi said. “Sometimes we overanalyze these kinds of decisions. If you want it, you’ll make it happen. Don’t think about it, and just jump.”

Mitzi chose to go with eCornells’s online program because of her workload. “My work schedule was pretty full, so it just made more sense for me to do it online,” Mitzi said. “I would absolutely do it that way again. It was a great experience.”

In earning her certificate from eCornell, Mitzi’s initial goal was to become a better leader, and that’s exactly what she did. “It helps me professionally because I’m able to communicate better with my employees, and I can bring that level of expertise to the table,” Mitzi said. “But it also helps me personally because I can offer advice on a different level than I would have been able to before.”

Shawn Camp knows a thing or two about becoming certified in his field. He already has his Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and his Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) certificates. “I have a bachelor’s in computer information,” Shawn said. “I wanted to earn my Certificate in Project Management because that certification places you in the middle of everything that a corporation wants in an employee.”

Because he’s originally from Boston, Mass., Shawn found the opportunity to earn his Project Management Certificate from Boston University Corporate Education Center very enticing. The fact that he could earn the certificate completely online also caught his interest. “The nearest school to me that offers this program is four hours away. Online education was just a much better option for me in this case,” Shawn said.

With all the education that Shawn continues to accumulate, he hopes to one day be a network administrator or to be able to run his own computer firm. “I’m really excited to just get this experience and move on from there. I want to see where it takes me,” he said. “This certificate shows your willingness to learn, your ability to take on more responsibilities, adds more weight to your resume and, in some cases, even gets your foot in the door.”

Coming from a technology background, Shawn knows the importance of keeping up with trends in today’s highly technical world. “Technology changes every six months,” Shawn said. “If you can keep up with everything that’s changing in today’s world, you’ll be all the more valuable to employers.”

Have you been considering going back to school, whether it be for a certificate or a degree? Let The College Network help you meet your goals! The College Network works to offer online degrees from leading universities. Our distance nursing degrees include MS in Nursing Management, LVN to BSN programs, Associate Degree in Nursing online, Online Paramedic to RN program, Bachelor of Nursing programs, RN to MSN Bridge Programs and more. Our certificate programs include: project management and PMP preparation courses, paralegal, lean six sigma green belt, hospitality, human resources and more.  

"Honey, are you sure you know where you are going?" or "Why don't you stop and ask for directions."  I'm sure I am not the only man in this world who hears this from time to time from the "better half." (I think I hear more than most however)  And one of my favorite quotes is "I don't know where I'm going, but I'm making good time."

Everyday at The College Network, I hear basically the same questions being asked in one form or another from people needing directions.  Directions on ways to make their life better through career development programs; such as Paralegal Certificate, Project Management Certificate, Human Resources Certificate, LPN / LVN to Associates Degree.  We have a great saying here at The College Network; it's "Education Inspired by Life".  In life we sometimes need a compass or GPS to show us the way to our destination.  I like to think I'm that voice; like in a GPS that says "turn here" or "follow for the next 10 miles" The voice that tells you how to get to where you are going. 

I can help by giving you the right directions.  And, because our programs are completely online, you can get there without leaving your home.  Project Management Certificate programs with a FREE PMP exam prep course, 14 week Paralegal Certificate program from a TOP school program, Human Resources certificate from an Ivy League institution, Lean Six Sigma programs from a leading university, Nursing degrees, all ready for you to get to where you want to go.  I can help get you there.

Call me at 1-800-307-1006 ext 2649 and I'll give you all the directions you need for a better life inspired by education. 

I'm looking forward to saying; "You've arrived at your destination."

Dana Mills had experience with web-based learning before beginning her Certificate in Project Management from Boston University Corporate Education Center. “I found it to be pretty easy since I’d done it once before,” she said. “Overall I would rate my experience as a solid eight.”

Dana worked in the project management field for years before finally deciding to become PMP certified. “I’d been doing the work for years, but I wanted to be recognized as an official project manager. Now that I earned my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, I’m taken more seriously and so is my work,” she said. “Even in situations where I’m not necessarily given the title of ‘lead’, I still end up leading the project because I have the qualifications to back it up.”

Life outside of school had prepared Dana well for the additional responsibilities of school. “I had a lot of commitments outside class and studying. I was a mother, plus work was incredibly busy,” she said. “Because of her previous experience, Dana wasn’t worried. “I knew what I was getting into when I signed up, so I knew I was going to have to balance many things at once. It was just a matter of scheduling everything that needed to be done.”

Dana also has some advice for those who are still wavering on whether to go back to school: “Don’t procrastinate. I would have gone back and gotten my project management certification much sooner had I realized how much of a difference those little initials meant behind my name.”

Did you know…

            • Human resources, training, and labor relations managers and specialists  
              are employed in virtually every industry
            • About 13% of human resources, training, and labor relations 
               managers and specialists were employed in administrative and support
               services 
           • 11% were employed in professional, scientific, and technical services 
           • 10% were employed in healthcare and social assistance
           • 9% were employed in finance and insurance firms 
           • About 12,900 managers and specialists were self-employed, working as
              consultants to public and private employers
           • Overall employment is projected to grow by 22% between 2008 and 2018

Give me a call today to learn how you can save $850.00 on the cost of this program!  Don’t delay!

Sam Nugent
Program Advisor
The College Network
800-307-1006 ext. 4753
snugent@collegenetwork.com 
 

My job at The College Network is to be your program advisor - not sell you on our program - but be the person who gives you objective advice and educates you on what our program details are and what it can help you accomplish.  Even though it is my job to help you; I genuinely want to help each and every person I speak with, that's just my nature.  But, I want to be more than an advisor, more than just help you - I want to be your champion.

When you inquired into our Purdue Lean Six Sigma Online Program, Boston University Corporate Education Center Courses for Project Management, or Boston University Paralegal Training Courses, something inside of you became curious on how to better your career and life.  Something told you that pursuing this education will provide you with self-fulfillment and an improvement in your quality of life.  You want to be a winner.  You want to win a championship.

As your advisor, I will be your champion - on one condition.  That you yourself be your own champion.  I'll be here to give you the information.  I will tell you the facts.  I will provide you with the best advice for your situation.  I will tell you straightforward that you need to make the decision you made when you inquired - go for the gold.  Win your own championship.  Put in the work.  Make the commitment.  Follow your dreams and better your education and career.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.  Everyone wins when you make the commitment (in time, effort, and finances) to enhance your life through education.  Overcome your obstacles to become a winner, become a champion.  I'll do my part, now do yours.

This venture is an investment in yourself - is this an investment you can afford not to make?  Are you ready to become a champion?

If you have any questions about The College Network Certificate Programs please contact me at 317-569-4734 or kburton@collegenetwork.com.
 

I had an opportunity to read an article in the August 2010 issue of Chief Learning Officer Magazine that discussed the current trend in talent management to create a work experience for employees that allows them to feel more empowered to act in the best interest of the organization.  The article, titled "One Size Fits One" by Owen Sullivan, provides us with a great model for how to best prepare ourselves and our organizations to not only develop but more importantly retain our best talent. 

The author provides five specific steps that we should be following, each of which is an integral piece of The College Network experience at the corporate relationship level.  Today, I will look briefly at the first two of five.

Step one: Inventory current talent and identify future needs:  This is what The College Network refers to as a Group Needs or a Gap Analysis.  Our Program Advisors and Education Executives spend time getting to know the specific needs of your organization in nursing, management, and other areas.  Not just where you are today, but where you want to be tomorrow.  In some cases it's a matter of increasing credentials via advanced degrees to meet specific standards set by the facility or by an organizational goal.  Other times, we work with learners to work through certificate programs (such as Project Management, Lean Six Sigma, and others) to give employees a more rapid and specific learning experience in their chosen area.  In either case, we tailor our efforts to make certain the learner has the information and the options available to them to make the decision that best suits their specific goals, whether those goals are best served by independent study or by an accelerated program is specific to that individual.

Everyone is a free agent.  Your performance and contract may not be based on how many points you score, rebounds you grab or assists you dish out, but all of your past experiences add up to make yourself who you are in the job market today.  While past work experience and education make up your resume, what can you do for yourself to help increase your marketability and hire-ability as an employee?

It's time for your own episode of "The Decision," sponsored by The College Network.  If LeBron James wants to spend an hour broadcasting his decision on where he will "work" next season, why can't you broadcast yours?  The kicker is we must find sponsorship to help your broadcast.  What credentials can you provide that makes you a marketable candidate?  LeBron has a background of being an Olympic Gold Medalist, multiple time MVP and All-Star and leading his team to the most victories in the NBA the last 2 years.  While all those on the job achievements are great (plus he is probably the best basketball player on the planet), he also boosts his resume by aligning himself with corporate giants like Nike, Sprite, Vitamin Water, and State Farm.  When someone throws names like that around and can help your business become more profitable in the near future, how can you deny them?

That's why enhancing your resume is so valuable.  Don't you want 'brand' names aligned with you?  How do you think a Lean Six Sigma Online Certification from Purdue University, a top 10 engineering school in the nation, would look compared to the next applicant?  Would an employer want to hire someone with Paralegal Training Courses from Boston University, a top law school in the nation, or your run-of-the-mill community college?  How could courses for project management that help you obtain your PMP Certification look better than achieving them from a member of PMI's Corporate Council? 

It's this kind of 'name dropping' and 'sponsorship' that can help set you apart from all of those other free agents out there and help you create a buzz for your own "The Decision."  Let The College Network help you achieve your goals and add valuable experience to your name!

If you have any questions on any College Network program, please contact me, Kevin Burton, at 317-569-4734, 1-800-307-1006 Ext. 4734, or at kburton@collegenetwork.com.