What Does Degree Optimization Mean For You?

To help you succeed outside of the classroom, CSU Global has implemented its new Degree Optimization program.

Degree Optimization introduces Awards of Completion and Skills Endorsements specific to each of our programs of study, which spotlight the knowledge, skills, and abilities that hiring managers find essential to success in the field. We worked closely with actual hiring managers and professionals across industries to ensure that each of these awards and endorsements will help you succeed in your professional goals.

You might be thinking, “Sounds good, but how exactly do they work?”

That’s a great question, and we’re here to answer it, along with some others you may have regarding the Degree Optimization program.

Link Your Classroom Learning to Workplace KSAs

Awards of Completion and Skills Endorsements are similar to LinkedIn’s concept of endorsements. You will earn Awards of Completion or Skills Endorsements as you complete courses and acquire the skills and knowledge that are essential to your degree program. What this means for you is that you will be able to communicate that you have the KSAs needed to succeed in the workplace.

KSAs stands for Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, and these are the things hiring managers are evaluating every time they make the decision to hire and promote individuals. Your ability to communicate your KSAs can be integral to your success, and by spotlighting your Awards of Completion and Skills Endorsements, you can draw attention to them easily.

Each degree program at CSU Global, both undergraduate and graduate, has a different set of particular Awards of Completion and Skills Endorsements. When you complete courses that promote your understanding in a particular skill set, you will earn a Skills Endorsement to reflect that fact.  As you progress toward your degree and earn more Skills Endorsements, you will then earn Awards of Completion that reflect your mastery.  Each Award of Completion requires the successful passing of three to five related courses.

In short, you’ll already be earning Skills Endorsements and Awards of Completion as you progress toward your degree. For example, if you’re in our bachelor’s degree program for Business Management, you can earn an Award of Completion for Managing Business Fundamentals in the Global Marketplace by completing the necessary courses. On the way to earning this Award of Completion, you will also earn the following Skills Endorsements:

• Accounting Principles for Business Management
• Financial Decision Making
• Financial Analysis
• Modern Global Economic Theory
• International Financial Systems
• Applied Strategic Managerial Economics
• Analyzing Financial Statements
• Forecasting and Budgeting
• Statistical Analysis
• Research Methods
• Problem Solving

Any or all of these can then be added to your resume, your LinkedIn profile, and anywhere else you list your professional qualifications, but you’ll want to make sure you’re drawing attention to the most relevant ones.

Determine the KSAs for the position you seek, and make sure those are in line with the Skills Endorsements you communicate. It’s a great way to show management that you’re already practicing the skills that will make you a great fit for the job you want.

Awards of Completion and Skills Endorsements also give you something concrete to talk about in your interview.  Speaking of which…

Interview Preparation

One major, helpful aspect of Awards of Completion and Skills Endorsements is the point of reference they give you, as a future job candidate, to articulate your workplace-relevant skills to employers.

Interviews can be intimidating, especially when you’re a recent graduate. It’s easy to talk about your college courses during an interview by simply reiterating the objectives of the courses you’ve completed, but that may not help an employer to understand what your capabilities really are, or why they will help you in the position you seek.

This is something that Awards of Completion and Skills Endorsements can help you avoid; you’ll be able to express and focus on the skills you learned while earning your degree, and have the documentation to back them up. According to a U.S. News & World Report article, employers don’t just want you to sell yourself; they want evidence from your past experiences that proves you can do the job that you’re applying for.

To stand above the other candidates for the job, you can speak conclusively of the key, career-applicable skills you possess, and which Awards of Completion and Skills Endorsements you’ve earned that prove it.

Shoot for Your Dream Job

In addition to giving you a foundation to prepare for interviews, Degree Optimization can help you put things into perspective when you’re thinking about which jobs to apply for, and what skills you possess that are vital to today’s leading organizations.

Last year, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) conducted a survey in which 260 hiring managers were asked what skills they plan to prioritize when they begin recruiting from the class of 2015.

The survey found that employers are looking for candidates with the ability to:

1. Work in a team structure
2. Make decisions and solve problems
3. Communicate verbally with people inside and outside an organization.
4. Plan, organize, and prioritize work
5. Obtain and process information
6. Analyze quantitative data
7. Apply technical knowledge related to the job
8. Efficiently work with computer software programs
9. Create and/or edit written reports
10. Sell and influence others

This survey shows that no matter which degree program you’ve completed, employers are looking for specific soft skills that will add to the value of the workforce as a whole. The secret to landing a great job right out of college may be the ability to convey that you have already developed these important career-relevant soft skills.

This is where the Degree Optimization Program can help you; your Awards of Completion and Skills Endorsements can directly and concisely express that you are the right person for the job.

It’s one more great addition to our Career Center, so students should take advantage of it, in addition to our free career coaching and resume assistance.

Still have questions? Here’s an infographic to help break it down.  If you have further questions, contact your Enrollment Counselor or Student Advisor directly, and be sure to check out the complete lists of undergraduate and graduate Degree Optimizations!