The TRUTH About Google Career Certificates [ A Hiring Manager's Perspective ]

Richard Walls - Career Dev & Finance
21 Sept 202308:15

Summary

TLDRThe video discusses the value of Google Career Certificates, which can be earned through online courses on Coursera. These certificates cover in-demand fields like cybersecurity, data analytics, and UX design, and aim to help individuals land entry-level jobs with good salary potential. While not a replacement for a degree or work experience, these certificates can complement existing qualifications and aid in career transitions. The video emphasizes the importance of networking and gaining practical experience to maximize the benefits of these certificates.

Takeaways

  • 📚 Google Career Certificates are a series of online courses designed to prepare individuals for in-demand career tracks in the job market.
  • 💼 These certificates are available on Coursera, a well-established online learning platform.
  • 🔍 The career tracks include Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing and E-commerce, IT Support, Project Management, and UX Design.
  • 🚀 The courses are designed for beginners, allowing individuals with no prior knowledge to start from the basics.
  • 📈 Each career track typically consists of five to seven courses, including a Capstone project to build a portfolio.
  • 📜 Upon completion, individuals earn a certificate that can be shared on LinkedIn or included on a resume.
  • 🤔 While the certificate can help land a job, it does not guarantee employment and is more of a complement to existing experience or education.
  • 🔑 The value of the certificate depends on factors such as work experience, education, and networking abilities.
  • 💰 The certificates aim to prepare individuals for entry-level roles with an average salary range of $55,000 to $85,000 per year.
  • 🚀 Within 3 to 5 years, it's reasonable to expect a salary increase to around or above $100,000, depending on various factors.
  • 🎓 The certificates are not a replacement for a degree or relevant work experience but can be a viable alternative, especially for those looking to switch careers or enhance their skills.

Q & A

  • What are Google Career Certificates and where can you find them?

    -Google Career Certificates are online certificates you can earn by taking a series of courses in various career tracks offered by Google. These certificates can be found on Coursera.

  • Can earning a Google Career Certificate help you land a job?

    -Yes, earning a Google Career Certificate can help you land a job, but it does not guarantee employment. It can serve as a valuable addition to your resume and help you stand out to employers.

  • What career tracks are available through Google Career Certificates?

    -The available career tracks include Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing and E-commerce, IT Support, Project Management, and UX Design.

  • Are the Google Career Certificates suitable for complete beginners?

    -Yes, the Google Career Certificates focus on foundational learning, making them suitable for complete beginners without any prior knowledge in the specific subjects.

  • What does the Capstone course in Google Career Certificates involve?

    -The Capstone course is project-based and requires you to put together everything you learned in the previous courses into one piece of work. This helps you build a portfolio.

  • Do employers value Google Career Certificates?

    -Employers do value Google Career Certificates, as they can demonstrate knowledge and skills in a specific area. However, the certificate alone may not be enough without relevant work experience or a degree.

  • What factors influence how much a Google Career Certificate can help in landing a job?

    -Factors include your existing work experience, any other education you have (such as a degree), and your ability to network effectively.

  • What are the salary expectations for entry-level roles obtained through Google Career Certificates?

    -Entry-level roles typically offer salaries ranging from $55,000 to $85,000 per year. Within three to five years, it is possible to earn salaries close to or above $100,000, depending on various factors.

  • Can Google Career Certificates replace a degree or work experience?

    -Google Career Certificates cannot fully replace work experience but can complement it. They can sometimes replace a degree, particularly for entry-level roles, though additional effort to prove your value may be required.

  • What other online course platforms are recommended for career development?

    -Course Careers is another recommended platform, offering various tracks in IT, sales, marketing, and more. It is also mentioned as a good resource for career development.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Google Career Certificates: An Overview

This paragraph introduces the Google Career Certificates, which are a series of online courses designed to provide foundational knowledge in various high-demand career tracks. The speaker, a hiring manager at a major tech company, emphasizes the value of these certificates, especially for those looking to switch careers. The courses are available on Coursera, a well-known online learning platform, and cover areas such as cyber security, data analytics, digital marketing, IT support, project management, and UX design. The paragraph highlights that these certificates can serve as a starting point for beginners and may include a Capstone project to build a portfolio, which can be beneficial for job seekers.

05:01

💼 The Impact of Google Career Certificates on Job Prospects

The second paragraph delves into the practical implications of earning a Google Career Certificate. It clarifies that while the certificates can aid in securing a job, they do not guarantee employment. The value of the certificate is influenced by factors such as existing work experience, educational background, and networking abilities. The speaker provides an example of how a data analytics certificate could complement prior business experience, potentially offering an advantage in the job market. However, for those with unrelated backgrounds, additional effort in building a portfolio and networking would be necessary. The paragraph also discusses the potential salary range for roles associated with these certificates, suggesting an average entry-level salary and the possibility of higher earnings within a few years.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hiring Manager

A hiring manager is an individual responsible for overseeing the recruitment process within an organization. They are often involved in interviews and making hiring decisions. In the script, the speaker identifies themselves as a hiring manager at a large tech company, which establishes their credibility and expertise in discussing the value of the Google Career Certificate.

💡Google Career Certificate

The Google Career Certificate is a professional certification offered by Google for individuals looking to enhance their skills in various in-demand fields. The script discusses these certificates as a means to acquire foundational knowledge and potentially improve job prospects, emphasizing their role in the job market.

💡Online Education

Online education refers to educational courses or programs delivered via the internet, allowing for flexible and remote learning. The speaker mentions benefiting from online education in their career, highlighting the growing trend and value of such learning opportunities.

💡Coursera

Coursera is one of the largest online learning platforms offering a wide range of courses and programs from various institutions. In the script, it is mentioned as the platform where Google Career Certificate courses can be found, indicating its role in facilitating access to these educational resources.

💡Career Tracks

Career tracks are specific paths or fields within a profession that an individual can pursue for career development. The script lists several career tracks offered by Google, such as cybersecurity and data analytics, which are considered high-demand in the job market.

💡Foundational Learning

Foundational learning refers to the basic knowledge and skills that form the basis for understanding more complex concepts in a particular field. The script mentions that most of the Google Career Certificate tracks focus on foundational learning, making them accessible for beginners.

💡Capstone

A Capstone is a culminating project or course that integrates and applies the knowledge and skills learned throughout a program of study. The script describes a Capstone course as part of the career tracks, where students consolidate their learning into a portfolio piece.

💡Portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of an individual's work that showcases their skills and accomplishments. In the context of the script, completing the Capstone project helps build a portfolio, which can be shared on professional networks like LinkedIn or included in a resume.

💡Networking

Networking is the process of building and maintaining professional relationships. The script emphasizes the importance of networking in conjunction with obtaining a Google Career Certificate, as it can help in establishing connections with potential employers.

💡Entry-Level Role

An entry-level role is a position that typically requires minimal prior experience and serves as a starting point in a career. The script discusses the Google Career Certificates' goal of preparing individuals for entry-level roles with a focus on salary expectations.

💡Salary Expectations

Salary expectations refer to the anticipated income one might earn in a particular job or role. The script provides a salary range for entry-level positions obtained through Google Career Certificates and discusses the potential for salary growth within a few years.

💡Degree

A degree is an academic qualification awarded by an institution of higher learning upon completion of a course of study. The script compares the value of a Google Career Certificate to a traditional degree, discussing the potential of the certificate to complement or, in some cases, substitute for formal education.

Highlights

Google Career Certificates are online course series for in-demand career tracks.

These certificates can be earned through platforms like Coursera.

Available tracks include Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, IT Support, Project Management, and UX Design.

Certificates focus on foundational learning for beginners.

Course tracks typically consist of five to seven courses, including a Capstone project.

Earning a certificate can complement work experience and education.

Employers do value these certificates as they can help land a job, but they are not a guarantee.

Certificates are particularly useful for career switchers starting with the basics.

The certificates can help build a portfolio through the Capstone project.

Certificates are designed for entry-level roles with an average salary range of $55,000 to $85,000 per year.

With experience, salary can potentially reach or exceed $100,000 within three to five years.

Certificates cannot replace relevant work experience but can complement it.

For those with a bachelor's degree, certificates can be a viable alternative to a master's degree.

Certificates are backed by the Google brand, adding credibility.

Additional platforms like Coursera offer various course tracks in IT, sales, and marketing.

Certificates require networking and building a portfolio to prove value in a new field.

Certificates are a first step and not a complete replacement for a degree or experience.

Transcripts

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as a hiring manager at one of the

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largest tech companies in the world and

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having benefited greatly in my career

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from online education I wanted to give

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my perspective on the real value of the

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Google career certificate first of all

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what are they and where can you find

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them can earning a certificate in any of

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these subjects that Google offers help

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land you a job and will they be well

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paying jobs can this replace a degree or

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experience in this video I'll answer all

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those questions to help you better

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understand for yourself if these might

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be worth it for you so with that said

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let's get started Google career

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certificates are certificates that you

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can earn by taking a series of online

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courses that pertain to whatever career

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track you're interested in that Google

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offers these career tracks happen to be

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some of the most in demand in the job

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market which is why Google created all

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these courses in the first place they

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themselves need talents but it's not

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just Google it's many other companies

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many tech companies especially now these

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certificate courses can be found on

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Coursera this is one of the largest

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online learning platforms that has been

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around for quite a while at this point

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it's something that I've used for many

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many years and Coursera is a platform

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I've talked about extensively on my

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channel so if you want to see more

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content on that make sure to subscribe

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down below and then of course check out

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some of the the videos on there and

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everything I'll talk about in this video

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you can find in the links down in the

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description below so make sure to check

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that out and when you go there you'll

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find that they offer a really good

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variety of different career tracks

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you've got cyber security data analytics

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digital marketing and e-commerce int

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support project management and ux design

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that's user experience design now I

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think this is a really solid list of

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career tracks all with really good short

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term or immediate term potential as well

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as long-term career prospects but let me

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know what you think down in the comments

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below if these are career tracks that

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you yourself would be interested in now

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most of these focus on foundational

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learning so you can jump right into

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these as a complete beginner you don't

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have to know anything at all about these

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topics now this is of course a really

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good thing because if you're looking to

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make a career switch you really need to

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start with the basics now most of the

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tracks consist of five to seven courses

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again this is all online and one of

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those courses is likely to be a Capstone

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which is really a Project based course

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and those projects essentially require

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you to put together everything that you

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learned in the previous courses all into

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one piece of work that really can build

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a portfolio from but once you complete

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it you earn a certificate that you can

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share on LinkedIn or even on your resume

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now this is all fine and well that you

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get this cool fancy certificate but the

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real question is do employers really

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care that you got the certificate and

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more important than that can it help you

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land a job short answer is yes these can

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help you land a job a key word being

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help not guarantee and I think it's very

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important to set your expectations on

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what this can really do for you but

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there's more to that question which is

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if it can help you land a job how much

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can it help depends on a few factors the

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kind of work experience you already have

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what other education you might have in

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the form of some degree and your ability

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to network for example if you want to

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get into data analytics and perhaps you

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have some background some work

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experience in a business related role

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then getting the data analytics

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certificate might be a really strong

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complement to what you already have in

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terms of formal work experience and it

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might just be the advantage that you

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need and again presuming that you do a

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well enough job networking interviewing

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but to make that kind of move with the

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certificate I think is not wouldn't be

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terribly difficult however if your

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background is in say fashion design the

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certificate will be a step in the right

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direction it's going to add a point of

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proof as to your knowledge in a specific

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subject but you're gonna have to work

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much harder to prove to a prospective

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employer that you are truly qualified

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unfortunately the Google data analytics

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career track does allow you to do that

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the Capstone is a project and so that's

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how you can get your start and start

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building that portfolio but then you're

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gonna have to Branch out consult other

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resources and start going on and sort of

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carving your own path and building out

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more and more proof points for those

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employers and on top of building this

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portfolio you're going to have to

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network like crazy you have to work more

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diligently to establish the right

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connections with perhaps the companies

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that that you are intending to go to or

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trying to get to anyway you look at it

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it's very much possible to land a job

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with the help of these certificates it's

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just that some people are going to start

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at different points and for some these

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certificates will be what gives them

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that slight advantage to land them a job

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and for others it's really just going to

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be a first step now when you look at all

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these career tracks that Google offers

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you might also be wondering well are

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these well-paying jobs now if you look

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at any one of these certificates that

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Google offers you'll find that the goal

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really is to set you up with an

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entry-level role in terms of salary this

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is often going to mean an average of

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between 55 and 85 000 a year but within

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a three to five year period after being

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in that entry role it really wouldn't be

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a stretch to expect a salary close to

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you or at or above a hundred thousand

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dollars of course that depends on the

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company you work work for the type of

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work that you're able to do many other

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factors so this is by no means a

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guarantee but the bottom line is there

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is a lot of demand in the job market for

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these roles and the pay is quite good

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because many companies want to attract

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strong Talent all that said Can these

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certificates replace a degree or

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experience unfortunately this is not

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going to be a replacement for good

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relevant work experience as I mentioned

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earlier these certificates can be a good

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complement to work experience that is

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relevant already to what you want to go

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into you'll still need to find a way to

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get that experience which is why I

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recommend projects or say internships or

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freelance works a lot of ways to go

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about doing that but if it can't replace

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work experience can it replace a degree

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I'd argue that it can again the

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certificates are designed for entry

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level roles and generally if we're

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talking about a bachelor's degree which

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is the degree that you would get coming

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out of high school if you decided to

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pursue higher education that degree is

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going to include a lot of miscellaneous

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education that's not relevant to the

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degree itself so it's a lot of time and

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money invested just to get you prepared

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for an entry level role anyway but let's

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say you already have a bachelor's degree

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and you're now weighing your options

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between a master's degree and a

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certificate now while master's degrees

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will still have a lot more weight to it

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I would still consider certificates to

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be a viable solution especially when

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it's a certificate with the Google brand

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behind it but similar to someone with a

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complete lack of relevant work

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experience you're going to have to work

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a lot harder to prove your value in this

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new field and that means doing all the

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things that I've been recommending

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throughout this whole entire video and

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if you put in the work and effort you

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can certainly land a job with the help

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of these certificates now these aren't

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the only options available there are a

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lot of online courses and certificates

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out there in one platform I'm a big fan

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of is course careers where they offer

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various course tracks in it sales

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marketing and they have plans to expand

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that even more into the future if you

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want to learn more about that make sure

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to check out this next video right here

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folks I hope this helps thank you so

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much for watching and I'll see you

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around

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