Certificates vs. Degrees

Google recently revealed three new career certificates for people seeking to advance their career in several high-demand areas.

The certificates themselves are created and taught by Google employees, don’t require a college degree, and are offered entirely online. Google says it will "consider all of its certificates as the equivalent of a four-year college degree for related roles at the company."

The question is, if Google—arguably the most esteemed and selective company on Earth--can regard a well-made, online certificate program as the equivalent of a 4-year degree, why can’t other organizations?

And, if Google really does think that a six month online program is enough to get potential employees up to speed on the latest and greatest skills, tools, and techniques, why aren’t more businesses-backed certificates and courses available?

Nobody really knows what anyone is learning or doing by taking courses at an accredited-college. And businesses don’t do any favors when they put their faith in hiring people who have acquired these institutions’ high-priced degrees. By tailoring certifications to their hiring needs—based on the skills they know are in demand—Google (and organizations like them) can take back control of the accreditation process, while ensuring that new hires are accountable for the skills they claim to possess.

If we could unhinge the delusion that we need a degree from an accredited-institution (which is really just another business, in different industry), and instead do better to answer the question, ‘what is school for?’ I think we’d realize that going the route Google is taking isn’t only cost-efficient (for students and career-switchers), but more effective (for hiring managers, all around).