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When it comes to branching and moving into a career did you have to obtain another degree or was your certificate in Office Administration good enough for employers?
Hello! My name is Rick #business , I'm 23 and attending David L. Corrasco Job Corps in El Paso, Texas and I'm pursuing a career in Office Administration and I ask this because I think it's important to view this certificate as either a step or if it's more than perfectly fine to keep this as my primary leverage tool and what I'd bring up to interviews and such.
#careerpath #OfficeAdministration #EducationLevel
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Brandon’s Answer
With degrees it tends to depend on the people who are willing to hire you. Depending on what they value, they may hire you for the job if they see that you have enough experience and expertise in the field so that you are able to contribute immediately. While degrees CAN help with landing you a job, I would say the experience is just as, if not, more important. An example would be having someone with a bachelors with no experience versus someone with an associate degree with plenty of experience. While the bachelors degree individual does have better qualifications, the associate degree individual has the experience to get started immediately. Having the knowledge that can relate to one job to another is always a plus and something that hiring teams tend to look for.
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Dorcas’s Answer
Hi Rick, in terms of career change, you may not need to have the academic qualifications before entering that career. For example, I know of individuals who have academic qualifications in Finance (or an unrelated field), but have since ventured into HR, tech roles along their careers. The education qualification is only 1 step of the qualification process from the pool of people applying for the role.
I echo Michael and Brandon's sentiments around ambitions and experience. What I found is the importance of skillsets and attitude that is applicable in any role or industry you're going into. For example, your manager assigns you a task to complete which you might not be familiar with. What were the steps you took to complete the task? How do you work with people to resolve a problem? This example showcases problem solving skills.
Industry-specific knowledge can be picked up on the job but skillsets are something you take with you wherever you go. That is your value which differentiates you from the rest. Verbal and written communications are a skillset in itself too!
If you decide to further your education, there's part-time and full-time courses to choose from depending on your time and budget.
I started working after getting a Diploma as I wasn't sure which field of study I wanted to get a degree in. After working for a year, I realised I needed a degree if I want to progress in my knowledge and career. I then studied for my degree part-time while working full-time as it allowed flexibility to my time and budget.
Hope this helps!
I echo Michael and Brandon's sentiments around ambitions and experience. What I found is the importance of skillsets and attitude that is applicable in any role or industry you're going into. For example, your manager assigns you a task to complete which you might not be familiar with. What were the steps you took to complete the task? How do you work with people to resolve a problem? This example showcases problem solving skills.
Industry-specific knowledge can be picked up on the job but skillsets are something you take with you wherever you go. That is your value which differentiates you from the rest. Verbal and written communications are a skillset in itself too!
If you decide to further your education, there's part-time and full-time courses to choose from depending on your time and budget.
I started working after getting a Diploma as I wasn't sure which field of study I wanted to get a degree in. After working for a year, I realised I needed a degree if I want to progress in my knowledge and career. I then studied for my degree part-time while working full-time as it allowed flexibility to my time and budget.
Hope this helps!
Updated
Kerry’s Answer
I have to say I know a guy with a pharmacy degree who became a very successful VP of sales. I know an archeologist who had a career as an officer in the Army commanding tanks and who now has his own rabbit meat business. I know a structural design architect who works as a software business analyst. My point is the degree isn't as important down the road as your passion, work experience and drive. Many, many people find an alternate path after they graduate college as they find they are no longer interested in the subject of their degree. Getting a degree is more about the process and structure as well as completing what you started. It takes a lot of work to hunker down and do the work necessary to graduate. It takes dedication to see that path to the end and get that piece of paper. Be proud of what you accomplished, but don't think that if you change your mind you need to go back to school (unless you decide to be a doctor, nurse, lawyer, etc).
Get well versed in your new career of choice... get mentored. Be informed on what it takes to do the job and do the job well. The degree will be a checkbox on a resume or application. What your degree is in may be an interesting point of conversation in an interview, one that you can take advantage of and build a rapport. I personally would not want to work for someone who judged others by decisions made in your 20's on what to study.
Get well versed in your new career of choice... get mentored. Be informed on what it takes to do the job and do the job well. The degree will be a checkbox on a resume or application. What your degree is in may be an interesting point of conversation in an interview, one that you can take advantage of and build a rapport. I personally would not want to work for someone who judged others by decisions made in your 20's on what to study.