How Important Is an Education in Getting the Job You Want?

When people are preparing for college, many people will invest their heart and soul into getting into the college they want. But education is only one part of the journey. Ultimately, going into education is about coming out the other side and getting into the career or industry that you want. And it’s an age-old debate, whether education is crucial, or does experience trump education to get the job? Let’s try and show you what is the best.

The Choice of Industry

In a general sense, education provides a thorough foundation with regard to income. The higher the degree, the higher the salary. And while there are industries that welcome working up the ranks, education is crucial to “jumping the queue.” People like Frank Ditommaso emphasize the importance of education as a foundation, especially in his industry, construction. But construction is an industry where you can start out from the bottom.

However, if you are starting out in a career, having some higher education will serve you well. But this is with the caveat that acquiring job experience and additional skills will bolster your abilities.

Is it Just Better to Get Work Experience? 

While getting work experience is perfect to get a taste for a job, the modern workplace demands higher education. And this is for the simple reason that if you want to advance in your career, you need to get the best of both worlds. Having a degree can show employers that you have specialized knowledge. And when you have a degree under your belt that has utilized technical skills or niche knowledge, an employer may look upon this more favorably because this can be transferred to the workplace environment.

Should We Go to College Regardless?

While there is evidence to show that a degree can give you an advantage over someone who doesn’t come out especially when applying for a job, there is more to an education than just the degree. For example, soft skills are a key component of the college experience. Going to college allows you a variety of experiences. But there are trade-offs, such as the cost of college. And the longer you spend in education, the fewer years you will be working and earning money to pay off the fees. There is also the fact that if you decide to continue your education and acquire a master’s, this keeps you out of the workforce for longer, but it can mean you are also running the risk of being overqualified. Or if you choose a niche master’s, it doesn’t necessarily lend itself well to certain career paths. We can cite the oft used example of people with creative qualifications not getting into the arts industry, but rather having to go for any job due to necessity.

As you can see, they’re quite a few issues to consider if you are debating going into higher education. There are some people that consider a degree pointless. But you have to decide on the industry, but it can show employers that a degree shows you have the ability to excel in your work.