Certificates offer low cost means to a better job - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

A new study out this morning shows how you can be more competitive in today's job market.

Post-secondary certificates are giving some job seekers an advantage and they take less time to earn than traditional four-year bachelor's degrees.

Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce just released their findings.  They show rising college costs and student loan debt are partly responsible for a rise in post-secondary certificates, with over a million certificates earned each year.

A community college or for-profit institution can award certificates in just two years and they cost less than traditional four-year tuition.

That's just the start of the good news.

Certificates offer a significant increase in earning potential. On average, workers with certificates earn 20 percent more than high school graduates and roughly $240,000 more over a lifetime. Some certificate holders out-earn those with bachelor's degrees.

At Tuesday's job fair at the State Fairgrounds, hundreds of job seekers tried to match up with companies that are hiring, but competition was still high. Experience, skills, and credentials on your resume matter more than ever.

"(I) went to talk to one company and the only thing is, that certain positions you have to have so many years of experience," said Nicole Reeves, who joined other job seekers. "But other than that, everyone is informative and some (were) hiring on the spot."

Health care, business and cosmetology are the top three earning fields for people holding certificates for positions such as technicians, home health aides, bookkeepers and clerks.  But certificates are available in almost every field, including aviation, mechanics, law enforcement and more.

The study also showed employers are more likely to hire someone with more credentials, and post-secondary certificates are one way to stand out. Certificates can also provide training for particular skill sets in a variety of specific fields employers are seeking.