Earning a College Degree: Is It Worth It?
Although we’ve been taught otherwise, college isn’t for everyone. If it was, there would exist degrees in waste management, janitorial maintenance,landscaping or dry cleaning to name a few. Sure, there may be programs for training in these fields, but normally a college degree is not required or expected in order to obtain a position in these industries. However, in our modern-day society where the growth in population continues to increase along with the U.S unemployment rate, professional career opportunities are becoming less frequent, and more challenging to acquire and maintain.
The truth is, in order to compete in the employment world these days, a person must have at least a bachelor’s degree; and more often than not, show an interest in furthering one’s education through a graduate program or the like to remain qualified and current in one’s profession. According to Shierholz, Davis, and Kimball’s 2014 comparison of college graduates versus high school graduates labor market outcome, the unemployment rate for young college graduates was 8.5% and an even higher increase of 22.9% for high school graduates (The Class of 2014). Landing a job has become quite the challenge for even young professionals in a labor market with “a deficit of more than 7 million jobs,” but like the saying goes, “education is the key to success,” and the more education and/or training one receives, the higher the chances of employment and career-related opportunities one will obtain. Ultimately, employers want to hire highly qualified adults that are academically well-rounded; therefore, a college degree is the best investment a person can make to acquire competency in a professional line of work.
Perhaps you’re thinking, What about entry-levels? Although with some entry-level positions a high school diploma or GED is sufficient, some employers may require post-secondary education. And even if a college degree is not mandatory for the position, it can be assumed that most employers prefer someone with a college degree over someone without one. Consider the following scenario: an employer is interviewing two individuals with similar work experience and upbeat personality; however, one has a higher degree. Chances are that the candidate with the higher degree will have the upper hand in being considered and offered the job. Why? Because the employer sees the more qualified individual as being a better investment for his business.
In addition, employers want their employees to remain highly qualified in their careers; therefore, they often provide information, access, or reimbursement to work related training, workshops, and even college courses. If they don’t, it wouldn’t hurt to research your options and present them to the appropriate personnel. Perhaps by showing initiative, your boss will become interested in providing you with assistance or at least appreciate your desire to stay current in your profession. Worst case scenario, even if you are stuck paying for your education, the knowledge obtained through higher learning will serve as an investment to your future by keeping you informed and trained in your industry.
Do you think earning a college degree is worth it? Have you benefited from having a college degree or from not having one in your line of work? Let’s discuss!
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[Choosing a Career for Success; 5 Online Tools That Help You Stay Current in Your Profession]
