An interesting trend is emerging in the industry. Instead of trying to accumulate academic credentials, individuals are trying to acquire skill-based expertise. If it wasn't clear before, it has now become very evident that upskilling is the only way to move forward in your career. With the dynamic working environment in place, one who cannot adjust their game to the environment can never advance to the next match. Probably this is why even the working professionals have started showing a sudden interest in certification courses.
Given the number of Online Certifications available these days, it can get tricky to pick the one where you are going to invest your time and energy. A person who has been in the industry for quite some time needs a practical module for learning. Something that is more focused and provides actionable insights instead of investing time into building a foundation and sharing theories. This is where executive certifications come into play. To understand how we need to know what exactly is an executive certification -
How do they stand apart?
These courses are created for senior professionals who have been working in the industry for a few years, however, they are willing to have more skill-oriented training to upskill or to make a career switch.
What is so special about their curriculum?
The syllabus is supported by hands-on training, case studies, and practical projects. If you scan the syllabus of this
Executive Certification by IIM Rohtak in Data Analytics, you will see that apart from theory, it mainly focuses on skill development.
Flexibility
One doesn't really need to take a career break to upskill or shift through the industries. These courses are usually flexible and are scheduled in such a way that working professionals can attend them part-time. Usually, the classes are scheduled on weekends or evenings. Some courses also allow you to follow a self-paced structure and only mention deadlines for evaluations and submissions.
Faculties
Executive certifications are provided by top institutions and are held by senior faculties who have the experience of teaching and training professionals working in the field for years. They know that you are not here for definitions, and they are here to tackle all your doubts. A major chunk of how good a course is going to depend on the faculty.
Networking
Trust me on this, the kind of environment that an executive batch share is completely different from a normal regular course batch. Each participant in these courses has some experience in the industry and his/her own network. Talk to people, they are working towards the same skills, probably the same career path as well, it is never too late to learn something new or make a good connection.
Now that I have established what exactly executive courses are, I hope it helps you in choosing the right one for yourself. Look at the syllabus, the curriculum, search a bit about faculty background, see all the practical training that is involved, research a bit about the institute that will be issuing the certificate, and make an informed decision.