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Fortune 500 Companies Offer Training for College Credit

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Want to enroll in “Hamburger University?” Get a job at McDonald’s, and you can! The fast food giant and several other major corporations offer training that can eventually lead to a college degree.

Starbucks, Walmart, and Jiffy Lube are just a few of the Fortune 500 companies willing to hire people with no college experience, and enroll them in company-sponsored business classes. Employees/students in these classes learn valuable business skills that benefit the organization, and many colleges accept the credits toward associate and bachelor’s degrees.

It seems many managers at these companies decided that it was easier to train current workers with the skills needed to advance in the company than to look for new hires who already had the necessary background and education. In the long run, this may save the companies precious funds. It is expensive to interview, hire, and train, only to have an employee leave and need to be replaced, which starts the whole process over again. By investing in the education and advancement of current employees, these company executives are making sound financial decisions for the long-term health of their businesses.

It’s a sweet deal for employees, as well. While it is up to colleges and universities whether or not to accept company class credits, the companies are reaching out and working with institutions of higher education to help their employees earn a degree.

Do You Know What You're Worth?

The training and support employees receive while participating in these programs engenders a sense of loyalty to the company. They are more likely to stay with the company for many years and bring enthusiasm to their jobs. They learn, they advance, they make more money, and most importantly to the employer: they stay. A little investment in people can go a long way.

Tell Us What You Think

Have you ever taken company-sponsored classes? Did you use the credits toward a college degree? Tell us all about it below.

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Hamburger University

(Photo credit: Sean MacEntee/Flickr)


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