Google Career Certificates – An Ingenious Initiative Taken At A Perfect Time!
February 25, 2021 | SimbaQuartz
Recently, Google introduced a new program for ‘career certification’ which comprises
several courses beneficial for participants making them qualified for high-potential, high-paying job
opportunities. Though this program of Google disrupts the college degree in a way, it is still an absolute
great initiative.
The courses under Google Career Certificates program are of 6 months duration and
cost a way less than a normal college education. There is so much about the recently introduced
certification program by Google and this article is going to cover every relevant aspect of this update. It
will reveal why this initiative is so great; and why we call this plan simply genius.
About the
career certificates, Google’s senior vice president of global affairs said, "We will
consider our new career certificates as the equivalent of a four-year degree for related
roles."
New Offering Differs From The Old Idea –
The responders showed their excitement on finding a better alternative for an unorganized and less-fruitful educational system which often results in a heavy financial burden of debt on students before they enter the real market to work in.
The reality is, for some professions, conventional higher education is perhaps
requisite, however, for many, and it is not much necessary and not practical. The alternative given by
Google does not merely cost less than ¼ of a conventional college education, one can complete it in a
shorter duration. Moreover, it helps graduates to get better equipped for better jobs.
Certainly, what is currently offered by Google is not wholly new. At some extent,
this program seems a copy of many other existing training programs such as apprenticeship and vocational
education programs. Though the key difference here is; Google is an organisation that has already reached
every household and hence, certification from here will be more recognised and widely accepted across
varied industries just as a degree from a reputed university.
The introduced initiative of Google presents a significant lesson for employers as
well. For instance, numerous companies have found that hiring a personality or a character is a way better
and after that, train them for skills.
Just imagine, if you are a job provider, would you like to create a skill training program for yourself?
You probably would share functional techniques and principles observed from the best
performer of your company. This kind of programs would be a great investment; however, you can also
organise an online training through pre-existed e-learning mediums, charge interested participants to
register, and after that award a certificate in the end. There would possibly be an existing in-house
training program serving as the base of a course.
A digital certification program is helpful for employers immensely for growing their
talent circle, introducing the possibility to locate unexplored talent in rare places. You can also build
up an emotional relationship with prospective candidates.
In addition, in this time where a majority of organisations struggle to
rediscover themselves, and inclining towards digital resources, it can be an alternative revenue
stream.
Can Google Certificates Program Actually Replace College & University
–
This is a question that many readers have come up with. Well, the truth is; with
Google’s certification, you won’t get a job in Google itself. But, Yes! As Google is into a
conglomerate of more than 50 employers, you grow your chances to get tapped into by these employers with
that certifications. So, in some way, this certification invites graduates to disclose their
details to these said-employers straight. The list of employers in Google’s conglomerate includes
Walmart, Sprint, PNC, Intel, Bank of America, Best Buy, Hulu, Sam’s Club, H&R Block and
Infosys.
It is merely a beginning and it keeps those companies away that have already
implemented the four year degree requirements within various job descriptions, covering IBM and Apple. As
much as employers would accept the new practice, it will keep gaining momentum. To the whole, we can say
that Google certificates program will not replace university or college education completely. However, it
is a great step in a more result-driven direction – a unique path for learners and students who look for a
different solution from a normal higher education.
The best thing about this program is; Google has introduced it at a right time as
the world needed something like this urgently. As the ongoing pandemic has brutally attacked millions of
employees and employers too. And hence, a skill-based program is an immediate need of the time.