Tons of degree programs lead to high-paying careers, but most of these are costly and take years to complete. Some do not even guarantee a lucrative career. If you’re interested in completing just a quick certificate program, here are some examples of profitable jobs you’re looking at:
Paralegal
If you enjoy clerical work and are interested in law, you will excel in a paralegal career. As a paralegal, you will perform legal work for which lawyers are ultimately responsible. Your tasks include helping lawyers prepare for trials, investigating the facts of a case, drafting legal documents and correspondence (e.g. contracts and mortgages), obtaining affidavits and formal statements that can be used as evidence in court, and assisting lawyers during trials. Most paralegals work closely with lawyers, but you may be employed by a law office, private company, or even a government agency, as well.
There are plenty of paralegal courses available online. If you are more comfortable with a traditional classroom setting, you may also attend lectures in colleges and universities. Most paralegal programs can be completed in a month, and cost under $2,000. Once you start, you can earn over $40,000 dollars a year, and the rates can rise to six figures with seniority.
Web developer
Web developers create and design websites, and handle the speed, performance, and capacity of the sites they create. Now that everyone is going digital, web developers are all the rage, because companies from different industries need them to create and maintain their sites.
Up until a few years ago, you had to go to college and obtain a degree in computer science to learn web development. However, due to the increasing demand for developers, more and more experts and institutions now facilitate boot camps where you can learn web development. Most of these programs equip you with skills suitable for a junior development job and provide a well-rounded education in coding within three months.
According to Glassdoor.com, a web developer can earn between $50k to $117k per year. Certificate programs for web development are a lot cheaper than going to college but offers a similar quality. Coding boot camps in reputable trade schools often cost around $10,000.
Executive Coaching
An executive coach works with high-potential employees, managers, and executives, but also offers coaching for any role. They help their clients assess their performance, clarify their goals, act as a sounding board for ideas, achieve their development goals, and unlock their potential. As an executive coach, you create a dialogue with highly competent people to guide them toward growth. You can choose to work as part of a company, but if you want to use your skills for successful intrapreneurship, working as a freelance coach is ideal.
The average salary for an executive coach is around $100,000, according to Payscale.com. You can complete executive coaching training online in 2-4 months, usually costing below $5,000.
Whether you are yet to start your career, boosting your skills, or are looking for a career change, completing the programs for these professions is an excellent option. They do not cost as much time and money as attending college or university, proving that you do not have to wait very long to taste the sweet fruits of education.