The days of a lifelong career at a single employer followed by a pension for life are long gone. Neither employers nor employees are loyal these days. Employers let people go at the merest sign of an economic downturn or a change in business conditions, and employees constantly keep a lookout for something better, leaving companies at the drop of a hat.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals born in the latter years of the baby boom era (1957-1964) change their career twelve times during their working life.

Research company Gallup calls millennials the job-hopping generation.  A recent Gallup report on the millennial generation reveals that 21% of millennials say they’ve changed jobs within the past year.

There are many reasons why employees decide to make a career change, but whatever the reason, taking an eLearning course or two can smooth the process. Let’s discuss five ways that taking an online course can help with a career change.

1. Enhance your resume preparation and interview skills

Many employees spend five years or less in a position, so every five years, they need to brush up on their resume writing and interview skills. Job hunting and interviewing is such a tricky process and so demanding that it’s become almost like a fulltime job in itself.  And to get it right, you need professional advice.

To be sure that you tackle this in a professional manner, you can look for an online course that covers topics like resume writing, cover letters, and interview etiquette.

2. Real-life experience

If you want to impress a hiring manager, show them that you are studying while you are working. This illustrates your dedication and time management skills. It also shows the hiring manager that you are dedicated to continued learning, which will benefit the company.

While you are working, you gain real-life experience, and because you are studying online, you can schedule your courses around your work schedule. Enrolling for an eLearning course means you can continue expanding your job skills at work, while at the same time acquiring additional skills.

3. Development of management skills

If you want to move up the corporate ladder in your current place of employment, acquiring some management skills might be called for. In a world where diversity in the workplace is increasing, the management of employees has become complicated. The right online management course can teach you how to form meaningful professional relationships with others, how to motivate a team and keep it on track. You will also learn how to gain insights into the needs of individual workers and help them to meet their goals.

4. Development of professional skills

In today’s business environment, the way tasks are completed is constantly changing, requiring an increasing number of different skills. This means a gap in your skillset can suddenly arise. For instance, you are proficient in several software programs and feel quite confident about your skills. Then you notice that several job postings require proficiency in a program you don’t know. Not a problem. Just look for an online course on the subject and enroll so you can qualify to apply for the position.

5. Job placement assistance

This is one of the greatest benefits of online learning. Many online courses offer job placement assistance at the end of the course. Online course instructors are aware of the employment and skills needs of companies.  That is why many of the courses are developed in the first place. It will not always be the case, so maybe you should check before you enroll. Often lecturers will provide you with contact details of companies that are looking for people with your skills, including your newly gained skills.

No matter what field you’re in, eLearning is a game-changer in education that you can take advantage of to progress in your career.