How Connections Academy Students Can Earn Professional Certificates Before Graduating High School

August 15, 2024 byMartin Schneider

3 min to read

Young teen in an orange shirt is laying on the floor in her living room working on a laptop for an online class at Connections Academy for a career program during the afternoon.

If you’re a high school senior—or still a year or two away—you’ve probably already started looking into summer jobs, internships, or career-focused college programs. You may have started thinking about your professional interests and possible career paths. Maybe you’ve wondered about what you’ll need to do to land your first job, what potential employers might be looking for, and which skills you’ll want to develop before joining the workforce.

Juggling all of this before graduating high school can be daunting, but something that might help give your resume a boost could be professional certificates

What are Professional Certificates?

For high school students, professional certificates are one of the best ways to develop the skills needed to succeed in the professional world. Just as importantly, they enable you to demonstrate those skills to potential employers, clearly and objectively.

Connections Academy students enrolled in participating schools may be eligible to earn select professional certificates before they graduate high school through Pearson’s partnership with Coursera.

What is Coursera?

Coursera is an online, asynchronous learning platform created in 2012 by professors at Stanford University. Today, Coursera is one of the world’s most respected providers of professional certificates and partners with other prestigious universities and some of the world’s most successful companies to offer a wide range of digital credentialing

For high school students—especially those currently enrolled in a participating Connections Academy-supported school—Coursera presents unmatched opportunities to explore areas of interest and earn valuable, resume-building digital credentials.

Professional certificate programs are offered in digital marketing, e-commerce, cybersecurity, UX design, and social media marketing, as well as many other in-demand areas of business, in partnership with companies such as Google, Meta, IBM, Salesforce, and Microsoft.

"I knew I wanted to be in business in some way. With Coursera, I learned I love marketing."

– Jasmine
Student enrolled in Iowa Connections Academy

Do Professional Certificates Have an Impact on a Resume?

For professionals of all levels, certificates from Coursera may help improve a resume since in-demand skills aren’t just listed; they’re validated. For high school students, professional certificates can be even more valuable. While most non-experienced candidates can offer little more than academic achievements, candidates who have earned professional certificates can demonstrate proven professional capabilities.

In fact, according to a 2023 survey, more than 8 out of 10 employers say that they are more likely to hire a graduate with a professional certificate, and more than 9 out of 10 say that these kinds of credentials help a candidate stand out.

When applying to colleges or other pre-professional programs, professional certificates can help distinguish you from other candidates, as they can help show your motivation and dedication to the field. In some cases, such as at select Connections Academy-supported schools, Coursera certifications can be applied as credit toward your high school degree.

“I’m taking 5 certification programs backed by Google and Meta. Experience is everything on a resume”

– Aiden
Student enrolled in Iowa Connections Academy

Can Professional Certificates Have a Long-term Impact on Your Career?

Professional certificates can be increasingly valuable to you as a professional throughout your career. Why? Because you are living— and working— in a time of continuous change.

Consider this: By some estimates, 65% of students today will one day work in a job that doesn’t yet exist. New technologies will be developed. New possibilities and new needs will emerge across the business world. New skills will suddenly be in high demand.

Organizations such as Coursera will meet employers’ new skills-based hiring needs by offering professional certificates and other digital credentials. The faster the business world changes, the more companies will value digital credentialing— and the more opportunities there will be for professionals who embrace them.

How Can Connections Academy Students Take Advantage of Professional Certifications?

As a high school student, professional certificates from Coursera enable you to explore career interests, learn valuable skills, and distinguish yourself as a candidate for summer jobs and internships, college and pre-professional programs, and full-time positions.

Speak with your school’s counselor to learn more about opportunities for career development through professional certifications from Coursera today. And for eligible students enrolled in participating Connections Academy-supported schools, select Coursera certifications are free!