The years one spends acquiring an education in one’s chosen field of study at a chosen college are sure to be counted as among the most productive years of one’s life. But, gone are the days when it was sufficient to finish one’s college education and then look for a job that matches one’s profile. Current employment trends indicate that employers across the globe give great importance to internship experience that is gained as one is studying.
Many colleges offer students a chance to intern as they study. Here are a few reasons why such internships are considered vital in creating a sound profile for oneself.
When you intern, you get a chance to try out first hand what it would mean to be in an actual job. This exposure can contribute greatly to your future career choices post-college. The hands-on experience gained as a rookie can surely give you great insights and learning opportunities.
Also, even without realizing it, you might actually find a perfect match for an organization or individual, with whom you could later seek permanent employment if the job interests you and you prove to have an aptitude for it.
Also, even if you are studying at a top ranking college or university, what you gain there is largely theoretical inputs from the best minds in academia. Pursuing internships, when you study can give you much needed practical experience, which is what most employers also look for when recruiting.
Many companies also look favorably at hiring interns, as they are not bound to pay the same remuneration that they would have to pay a salaried professional with a consummate college degree. This can prove to be a win-win situation for both sides, as the company gets youngsters who are willing to work longer hours and prove themselves and the interns gain valuable experience that is always attractive to future employers or headhunters.
Internships are also an excellent way of networking with professionals who would be in a position to offer you advice, mentoring and guidance in shaping your career. In many cases, these contracts prove to be invaluable both when one is studying and later as well.
Keeping all this in mind, do make the effort to research all available internship options at your college and outside, especially when you are on your breaks. Even if, there may not be very high pay levels, nothing can equal the experience you will gain in the process. Stay in touch also with your college academic counselor who can update you on internship opportunities as and when they arise.
They say it is never too late to pursue your dreams. This is especially true when it comes to career and education. Unfortunately, not all can afford to quit their jobs and go back to school. This can make it difficult to pursue higher studies or certain courses that can enhance skills. Fortunately, there are several free online learning platforms that allow anyone and everyone to be able to have access to good quality learning resources.
Here are some of the best websites for free online education that you can sign up for.
Coursera
Coursera is one of the most popular platforms for taking free online courses. It features classes, both free as well as paid, on a variety of different topics. This platform is currently being used by over 35 million learners that have access to 150 university partners, 2,700 courses, 250 specializations, and four degrees. These courses are curated in partnership with leading universities and organizations from around the world, such as Stanford and Harvard.
edX
edX is a platform that was founded by Harvard and MIT that brings together top-ranked universities. This platform was founded to help eliminate the primary barriers that prevent people from pursuing education, i.e., cost, location, and access. Along with free courses, edX also offers certain specialized courses for a specific fee. The platform can be accessed by interested educators and technologists through Open edX if they wish to assist in developing new educational tools.
Udemy
Udemy is another online learning platform that is quite similar to Coursera in terms of the format of the courses. The unique aspect of this platform is that it allows users to build their own custom courses by compiling individual lessons so that these can be taught online. There are over 100,000 courses in 50 languages on this platform that are taught by 42,000 instructors from around the world.
TED-Ed
TED-Ed is a platform made by TED to help share ideas and knowledge from teachers to students. This award-winning platform has a global network of more than 250,000 teachers that teach several free courses on a variety of categories and themes. The lessons are taught using animated videos and interactive content so as to make them more interesting for the students.
If you are planning to pursue an accounting degree, you should consider doing it online. There are more than 580 institutions in the country that offer master’s degrees in accounting, and many of them offer their courses online. Therefore, you can pursue this course without shifting to a different state, and you can also continue with your current job. Here are the top picks of online master’s degrees in accounting that you can consider if you are interested in this field.
Auburn University
The online master’s degree in accounting at Auburn University is open for you if you hold a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business, and if you meet all the prerequisites for the business and accounting department. Students who enroll in this program receive study materials, instructions, and assignments that are similar to the on-campus course. The schedule is extremely flexible and can accommodate working professionals as well. Full-time students of this course can complete it within one year. They get to select electives like real estate finance and information risk analysis, among others. This course also prepares students for the Uniform CPA Exam. This whole program is available online, including the exam. However, students have to complete a three-day on-campus residency during their final semester.
University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina offers an online Master of Accounting (MAC) degree through its Kenan-Flagler Business School. This school accepts students from all undergraduate backgrounds. However, students who have business or accounting backgrounds may get course waivers. Students who enroll in this course can choose a concentration in Tax or Audit. If you take up the full-time course, you can finish it in less than 15 months. You can start this course either in June or December. This way, even if you miss the application deadline for one semester, you do not have to wait for an entire year to enroll in the course. The MAC degree is entirely online, except for a one-week leadership immersion on campus, which is mandatory and takes place at the beginning of the course.
University of Connecticut
An online master’s degree in accounting from the University of Connecticut is one of the best online courses in the country. This university offers a Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program. Full-time students can complete it in two semesters. Working professionals who enroll in this degree take two courses per semester. The University of Connecticut also offers you electives like Forensic Accounting, Disclosure for Not-for-Profit Entities, and Fraud Examination among others.