Why Obtaining Academic Qualifications Is Always A Good Idea
Why should you consider furthering your education? The world is continually evolving. That places a lot more expectations on people. We need to be smarter, faster, more knowledgeable, and more adaptable. In many cases, this requires having a solid education behind us. The good news though is that today obtaining the necessary education to get somewhere in the world is a lot more convenient. There are plenty of alternatives from attending college, university, or via e-learning. A good education with a degree can potentially earn thousands of extra dollars over the course of a lifetime.
Money is the first reason why it ‘pays’ to get some sort of formal qualification. Going back to college or furthering their education online in order to get a better paid job, or a promotion, is a very common reason why there are so many mature age students in the education system. When you’re still in high school, and your parents are footing the bill for your expenses, it’s difficult to appreciate just how much difference a few extra dollars a week can make. And how much having a good solid college education behind you can contribute towards earning them. However, if money is your sole motivating factor for a career, choose wisely. A long, expensive education doesn’t necessarily equate to the best earning potential.
A good degree is also an insurance. In many cases, it will give you a slight edge over someone who doesn’t have one. Where once employers were looking for experience this is not so much the case anymore. Of course, if you have both the degree and the experience you’re way ahead from the start. Today though many university degree courses provide a much more rounded education. This ensures graduates receive exposure to topics and information that may not necessarily be related to their major. It’s this broader education and skill sets that employers are looking for more and more as opposed to someone with a particular skill set who may not be able to multi-task or take on responsibilities outside their skills and knowledge.
This leads to better employability. Many employers are looking for people with the flexibility to hop in and do other things if required. The implication is that someone with a degree will have already been required to do this to a certain extent during their educational process, which of course is a big part of the reason why degree courses now include it. Where a secretary for example once turned on their computer and it would load directly into their word processing program for them, today’s secretaries not only know how to access the software themselves from the operating system, but can also use a complete suite of office programs.
A good education gives you confidence on both a personal and a professional level. This is often one of the best reasons for pursuing a degree. The confidence that comes from knowing you’ve not only got the dedication to stick it out, but are also well-educated, will flow on to the other benefits of having a degree. Self-confidence allows you to take on work that you know you can do, and gives you the self-assurance that comes from knowing you can do a good job of it. This in turn leads to more opportunities for promotion, which means more money. For instance, if you’re currently a fire fighter, you could consider upgrading your qualifications online by becoming a Fire Officer 1.
