Your 4-year college degree no longer guarantees you a job in today’s competitive market. Fifteen years ago, job seeking meant circling a classified ad, listing your education and skills credentials, and snail mailing in a resume. But the kinds of qualifications employers seek is shifting drastically and changing the way we prepare for our dream jobs.

While 71% of the US labor force is actively seeking or open to new a job, companies bemoan a lack of talented professionals in areas ranging from science to engineering to finance. Instead of taking a hiatus for grad school or relying on outdated corporate training, a growing number of professionals are pursuing alternative forms of credentials, like open online courses, to build diverse skill sets throughout their careers. With 70% of American workers switching jobs every 1-5 years, anyone who plans to change jobs in the future needs to understand what credentials matter most on resumes today.