Degree vs Skills - What helps you acquire the dream job in 2022?
The Future of Work for the Future Generation
Degree vs Skills - What helps you acquire the dream job in 2022??
Some Quick Facts:
Prelude
Spending the first third of our life acquiring college degrees has been the path we have been following for generations. These degrees were considered a stamp on our professional passports clearing the way for the remaining two-third journey of our lives.?
However, in the last two decades, the rapid advancement of technology has helped built an environment where theoretical education has become outdated while the demand of skill based expertise has increased exponentially. This rapid rise in skill based jobs that can mostly be done digitally or online has proved that the future generation needs command on relevant skills, most of which can be learned without pursing a college degree.?
Degree vs. Skills - What helps you acquire the dream job in the current times?
With the ever change times, recruiters and employers are now preferring candidates’ specific skill set, work experience in a certain domain, and problem-solving skills over a degree since it has become a mere formality and doesn’t guarantee to fulfill real life job and business requirements.
This article on CNBC.com says that “Companies, especially those in tech, have been trying upskilling, reskilling, and quicker background checks to get enough of the talent they need amid labor challenges.”
This hiring trend was initiated by companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook who principally relaxed their demand for college degrees a few years ago. Taking hint from this increasing trend, many young entrepreneurs started their careers with little or no dependency on college degrees.?In the US and Europe, this proved to be a skyrocketing element for the economy, since scores of start-ups and new businesses were founded, providing employment to hundreds and thousands of skilled individuals without degrees.
Realizing a gap for skill training and coaching, several online training websites were established by experts, helping people learn new skills at an economical cost and land a job without making commitments for lengthy and expensive degree programs. Kudos to Coursera, Udemy, Google, LinkedIn, edX, YouTube, and many other platforms that collectively offer millions of courses and skills training without any restrictions and limitations. A huge number of these courses are also offered free which makes learning even more interesting. What a contribution!
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However, some researchers say that in the US alone, over 50 million workers are capable of working in high-paying jobs but can't avail this opportunity due to a lack of college degrees. Likewise, studies also show that in an employment crisis, organizations prefer firing employees with no college degrees, regardless of their experiences.?Furthermore, degrees are also believed to provide both professional credibility and reason for career progression; the more specialized degree, the higher chances of the post, status, and package.?
In short, the requirement of a degree depends upon both personal interests and industry sector; in some situations, the future generation may need it as an entry pass for a job, but with changing times and work-from-home culture, skills are much more in demand than college degrees.
Degree vs Skills - What grooms your personality?
Going to pursue a degree? Keep in mind the expense and commitment first.
Yet, there is no doubt that learning under the direct supervision of a teacher has its immense benefits. Also, one of the amazing things we owe to our college or university is the environment that allows us to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and broaden our engagement. It also enables us to learn through a number of teachers, students, disciplines, and departments.?Extra-curricular activities help build confidence while leadership and exchange programs enable us to interact with the rest of the world.
On the other hand, opting to learn focused skills has its own benefits like saving costs on an expensive degree, choosing exactly what and how you want to learn (duration, precise level of expertise, etc.) and where (medium) you want to do it. The convenience is amazing!
Degree vs Skills? Which side of the debate are you on?
Degrees are not just stamped passports for getting a career or job; formal education positively affects all aspects of life; social, family, recreational, ethical, and so much more. It also becomes the foundation for starting an occupational journey.
However, while skills play a vital role in escalating degree-based learning to an improved level, they also empower people to accomplish excellence in a great number of fields without a degree.
In today’s competitive world the responsibilities of parents, teachers, and schools have increased manifolds. They need to understand that every child and student is differently abled. Some of them may excel at formal education and the others might be gifted with some unique talents that need a different channel and direction to refine. Skill-based education and training might be their answer. A great number of the top tech entrepreneurs (who are also college drop-outs) are shining examples of this belief.
So, what is more important to you for a dream job, Degree or Skills?
Join the debate and share your thoughts in the comments box.?
Adult Employment and Career Development. Employment Support & Futures Specialist and Researcher, Careers Guidance Professional
2 年A debate that now rages, and one I've had a long-term interest in. There are a good number of occupations that are more than right in demanding degree level knowledge, but there are also many that do not, and in some cases the degree's concerned have not kept pace with events. We are part way into what will become a longer-term labour shortage, it follows companies are going to do what they can to attract the talent they need, and if that means dropping academic requirements, then so be it. So far, it seems to be working.
LinkedIn Top Higher Education Voice, publisher of International Employability Insight (IEI) & founder of Asia Careers Group SDN BHD
2 年#university’s success is inextricably linked to their ability to create purple squirrels. Yes, universities ability to digitise & make good on their social & environment contracts much espoused in the #highereducation presswill be important, ability to deliver on their economic contract will guarantee their #future. Th best explanation of purple squirrels is from Rajeev Mandloi, “#recruiters have coined the term “purple squirrels” to describe sought-after candidates with the perfect, but often impossible, combination of #skills for a given #job. Recent research suggests that #jobs are becoming more “#hybrid” in nature. As #technology rapidly evolves, new roles are becoming increasingly complex, & call for a broader range of #skillsets than what were traditionally required for them. In general, cultivating #agility & a professional #growthmindset is crucial to prepare yourself for the #jobs that have not yet emerged. In this dynamic landscape, it is critical that you take the reins of your #futurecareer & adequately prepare yourself for the job market that might be.” Like it it not the future of universities is their ability to create purple purple squirrels! Asia Careers Group SDN BHD - Investing in International Futures