8 answers
Kiley
Student
Independence, Missouri
1
Question
Asked
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Why do you need to go to college to get a better job?
I have no idea, that’s why I’m asking.
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8 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1913
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Kiley !
It is a very interesting question that you have asked. I would like to shed some light on what you may be wondering about.
Going to college is a multi-faceted experience. It is not for the one sole purpose to get a "good" job. That is something that is always said, communicated and told to people throughout the years. The reality is different.
College is there for education, a person's development and personal growth in the way of communication, socialization and intellectual and creative pursuits as well as technical, skills and information advancement. It provides a person with a wealth of experiences that cannot be compared to other ways. Although millions of people have obtained very large wealth, fame and honor without a college degree, it's not just about the money. Advanced formal education at college will introduce you to your critical thinking skills, time management skills, organization, creating your own philosophy on the many things in life, sharpen your written and oral communication skills and each person's experience is different. So it can't just be going to college is for the purpose of getting a good job.
There are some people who greatly look forward to going to college with much enthusiasm and than again, there are people who believe early on that they would not navigate the college life well and would want to take a different route. It's all an individual decision one has to make being true to oneself. College prepares you for a career, that is true. Once you graduate, it is a matter of applying for jobs, staying in contact with your professional connections, applying for many opportunities and waiting till you get a job interview, but being prepared how to sell yourself in an interview. College can give you those skills. But learning doesn't stop there. After college, many people take on-going trainings, certification courses, and even when you get a job you will most likely attend conferences, trainings, workshops, etc. Life is a learning experience. Or, you can say, learning is a lifelong experience.
Some of the vocational schools have programs that are shorter in length than a four year college degree and provide excellent teaching and experience for students who cannot attend college. This is where I see the training going towards getting a "good job" because it is more focused on one skill or trade and usually, depending, a few months and some are a few weeks in attendance length.
Further look into what you define as a "good job". You will be at a job for several hours a day and part of what makes working "good" has a lot to do with your work relationships, how equipped the workplace is, how safe and supportive it is. A good job does not always mean a six figure salary. You won't know how much you can make until an employer interviews you, offers you the job and it's up to you to accept or not accept the offer.
If you are feeling that college is not the thing for you, by all means, ask more specific questions as we are happy to help in whatever you choose to do ! Best wishes to you in all you do !
It is a very interesting question that you have asked. I would like to shed some light on what you may be wondering about.
Going to college is a multi-faceted experience. It is not for the one sole purpose to get a "good" job. That is something that is always said, communicated and told to people throughout the years. The reality is different.
College is there for education, a person's development and personal growth in the way of communication, socialization and intellectual and creative pursuits as well as technical, skills and information advancement. It provides a person with a wealth of experiences that cannot be compared to other ways. Although millions of people have obtained very large wealth, fame and honor without a college degree, it's not just about the money. Advanced formal education at college will introduce you to your critical thinking skills, time management skills, organization, creating your own philosophy on the many things in life, sharpen your written and oral communication skills and each person's experience is different. So it can't just be going to college is for the purpose of getting a good job.
There are some people who greatly look forward to going to college with much enthusiasm and than again, there are people who believe early on that they would not navigate the college life well and would want to take a different route. It's all an individual decision one has to make being true to oneself. College prepares you for a career, that is true. Once you graduate, it is a matter of applying for jobs, staying in contact with your professional connections, applying for many opportunities and waiting till you get a job interview, but being prepared how to sell yourself in an interview. College can give you those skills. But learning doesn't stop there. After college, many people take on-going trainings, certification courses, and even when you get a job you will most likely attend conferences, trainings, workshops, etc. Life is a learning experience. Or, you can say, learning is a lifelong experience.
Some of the vocational schools have programs that are shorter in length than a four year college degree and provide excellent teaching and experience for students who cannot attend college. This is where I see the training going towards getting a "good job" because it is more focused on one skill or trade and usually, depending, a few months and some are a few weeks in attendance length.
Further look into what you define as a "good job". You will be at a job for several hours a day and part of what makes working "good" has a lot to do with your work relationships, how equipped the workplace is, how safe and supportive it is. A good job does not always mean a six figure salary. You won't know how much you can make until an employer interviews you, offers you the job and it's up to you to accept or not accept the offer.
If you are feeling that college is not the thing for you, by all means, ask more specific questions as we are happy to help in whatever you choose to do ! Best wishes to you in all you do !
Idillio Cilfone
NOC Manager
9
Answers
Sea Girt, New Jersey
Updated
Idillio’s Answer
A college education provides a high-quality immersion into academic subjects and a comprehensive life experience. It broadens your perspective, enhances your understanding of the world, and adds depth to your analysis, knowledge, and attitudes. It helps unearth your hidden potentials and encourages you to explore more. College education paves the way for superior job prospects and career opportunities, shaping your future to new heights and beyond, depending on your aspirations. It's crucial to align your college education with your talents, skills, and interests to pursue what truly resonates with you.
be inquisitive
understand the field that pick your interest the most
work hard
apply what you learn in any opportunity you might want to pursue
Idillio recommends the following next steps:
Brian Jones
Instructional design
2
Answers
Wilmington, North Carolina
Updated
Brian’s Answer
You don’t need to go to college to get a better job. Need to go to college to become an educated person, and often educated people are more suitable for better jobs. I resist the temptation to think of college as a direct step toward employment although the connection is there. College is about self development, learning, and most importantly, perhaps learning how to teach yourself things. You can get a great job without college, whether that be in trades, or creative, or other meaningful work. However, if you want to be a traditional professional, such as a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or architect, those require specialized education. Specialized education is also available for many of the trades such as electricians, plumbers, construction engineers, and others that do not necessarily occur in a four-year college. College is for higher learning, first, higher earning hopefully follows. The emerging green economy will create numerous interesting careers, There is a clear college/ engineering track, and a clear labor / trades track with a lot of potential in each. Think carefully about what kind of work you enjoy and find Interesting, and then look at how college figures into it.
Setra Sundahta
Music Production/Sound Editing
3
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Setra’s Answer
Hi Kiley, you actually don't need to go to college to get a great job. What you do need is initiative and an education. Whether you educate yourself through college or on your own depends on your ability to focus and your thirst for knowledge.
I didn't go to college and only attended highschool halfway through the 10th grade. However, I constantly educated myself through reading, asking questions and listening. I'm self-employed now and own multiple homes throughout the United States. However, when I was in the corporate world, I always went after positions that required a college degree. I never lied about not having a degree. What I said was, "I didn't go to college, but I believe I'm better educated than most people who did."
I always got the job because of the professional way in which I presented myself, the research that I did on the company I was applying to, and my self-confidence in my ability to do the job well. Potential employers don't want to feel that you are just out there looking for a job - any job - they want to feel that you want to work for their company in particular and that you believe you will be an asset to their company.
If your reason for not wanting to go to college is because you think it's a waste of time and you'd rather be listening to music, playing video games or hanging with friends, I'd suggest you go to college. However, if your reason for not going to college is because you already have a clear idea of the path you want to take, you love and are constantly learning new things and are chomping at the bit to get out into the world and start making things happen, I say go for it. Try interning at a company that interests you. Bounce around even until you find the right fit. You can always change your mind and go to college at some point down the road.
Best of luck to you, whatever you decide!
I didn't go to college and only attended highschool halfway through the 10th grade. However, I constantly educated myself through reading, asking questions and listening. I'm self-employed now and own multiple homes throughout the United States. However, when I was in the corporate world, I always went after positions that required a college degree. I never lied about not having a degree. What I said was, "I didn't go to college, but I believe I'm better educated than most people who did."
I always got the job because of the professional way in which I presented myself, the research that I did on the company I was applying to, and my self-confidence in my ability to do the job well. Potential employers don't want to feel that you are just out there looking for a job - any job - they want to feel that you want to work for their company in particular and that you believe you will be an asset to their company.
If your reason for not wanting to go to college is because you think it's a waste of time and you'd rather be listening to music, playing video games or hanging with friends, I'd suggest you go to college. However, if your reason for not going to college is because you already have a clear idea of the path you want to take, you love and are constantly learning new things and are chomping at the bit to get out into the world and start making things happen, I say go for it. Try interning at a company that interests you. Bounce around even until you find the right fit. You can always change your mind and go to college at some point down the road.
Best of luck to you, whatever you decide!
Kyle May
Commercial Photography/Videography
10
Answers
Columbia Station, Ohio
Updated
Kyle’s Answer
I went to college and got a degree. Now let me tell you why I don't think you need a college degree.
Before graduation and at the start of my senior year, I was offered the job I was attending college to get.
I could either finish school and come out with a degree and no job, or take the job and not get the degree.
I took the job and never looked back. Years later, in my mid-40's, I finished my degree and began a new career,
but I had more than one satisfying career before I returned to finish my degree.
Here's the point. We were all trained to believe that you can get farther in life with a degree and when I was a kid in the 70's,
there might have been a kernel of truth to that. Now college is cost prohibitive and I think the return isn't worth the money spent.
Here's are the two basic things college teaches you:
1) How to learn. As you progress through course after course, you develop your own way of learning concepts and ideas in a successful way.
2) How to finish a project without being forced to do it. Elementary school and for the most part, high school is mandatory. College is not. Finishing a project or completing a degree when you don't have to, shows a level of maturity, an ability to learn, and reveals to the student that they can do almost anything if they try hard enough.
Many, many people end up in careers post-college that have nothing to do with their degree. You've probably heard the term, "transferable skills". Although your exact knowledge or degree may be for one specific career, your ability to think can be applied to many.
So don't think that a successful life has only one path.
Maybe you like to problem solve. Maybe you like to work with your hands. Are you a creative? There are so many opportunities outside of working in an office and a ton of opportunities in trade schools which offer great careers without the mind numbing debt from financing a 4yr college degree. Consider more than one option for post high school learning to see what might appeal to you. Don't get pushed into a ton of debt because you think you need a college degree to have a good life. It is simply not true!
Lastly, let me leave you with my story. I was happy and making a good living as a plumber/heating-cooling technician until I received a devastating back injury. I did finish my college degree at this point. I originally went to college to get a degree in photojournalism as I'd had a lifelong love of photography, (and was exceptionally good at it!). After graduation with a degree, I actually became a buyer and spent a lot of time traveling, but much more time in one office building after another - in a giant cube farms. Although I had a six figure income, I was so unhappy and stressed out all of the time that my wife begged me to quit. I finally took her advice and walked away from the money and stress to start my own photography business. Even though I make half of what I made as a buyer, I am so much happier and have a much better life. Most of the skills I use everyday in my business I learned before ever going to college. I am a self-starter and learn quickly. I spent $400 to learn Photoshop in a course taught by a local camera club and I've never looked back. Now my images are used worldwide in advertising and even you have seen them on Amazon, or any one of the numerous websites that sell product. My videos have been used on the television shopping channels all over the US. The point is, find out which path is right for you - the path that helps you accomplish the goals that lead to a happy life for you. If that's college, then go for it! If it's a trade school or another avenue of learning - full speed ahead. I wish for you the best life possible.
Before graduation and at the start of my senior year, I was offered the job I was attending college to get.
I could either finish school and come out with a degree and no job, or take the job and not get the degree.
I took the job and never looked back. Years later, in my mid-40's, I finished my degree and began a new career,
but I had more than one satisfying career before I returned to finish my degree.
Here's the point. We were all trained to believe that you can get farther in life with a degree and when I was a kid in the 70's,
there might have been a kernel of truth to that. Now college is cost prohibitive and I think the return isn't worth the money spent.
Here's are the two basic things college teaches you:
1) How to learn. As you progress through course after course, you develop your own way of learning concepts and ideas in a successful way.
2) How to finish a project without being forced to do it. Elementary school and for the most part, high school is mandatory. College is not. Finishing a project or completing a degree when you don't have to, shows a level of maturity, an ability to learn, and reveals to the student that they can do almost anything if they try hard enough.
Many, many people end up in careers post-college that have nothing to do with their degree. You've probably heard the term, "transferable skills". Although your exact knowledge or degree may be for one specific career, your ability to think can be applied to many.
So don't think that a successful life has only one path.
Maybe you like to problem solve. Maybe you like to work with your hands. Are you a creative? There are so many opportunities outside of working in an office and a ton of opportunities in trade schools which offer great careers without the mind numbing debt from financing a 4yr college degree. Consider more than one option for post high school learning to see what might appeal to you. Don't get pushed into a ton of debt because you think you need a college degree to have a good life. It is simply not true!
Lastly, let me leave you with my story. I was happy and making a good living as a plumber/heating-cooling technician until I received a devastating back injury. I did finish my college degree at this point. I originally went to college to get a degree in photojournalism as I'd had a lifelong love of photography, (and was exceptionally good at it!). After graduation with a degree, I actually became a buyer and spent a lot of time traveling, but much more time in one office building after another - in a giant cube farms. Although I had a six figure income, I was so unhappy and stressed out all of the time that my wife begged me to quit. I finally took her advice and walked away from the money and stress to start my own photography business. Even though I make half of what I made as a buyer, I am so much happier and have a much better life. Most of the skills I use everyday in my business I learned before ever going to college. I am a self-starter and learn quickly. I spent $400 to learn Photoshop in a course taught by a local camera club and I've never looked back. Now my images are used worldwide in advertising and even you have seen them on Amazon, or any one of the numerous websites that sell product. My videos have been used on the television shopping channels all over the US. The point is, find out which path is right for you - the path that helps you accomplish the goals that lead to a happy life for you. If that's college, then go for it! If it's a trade school or another avenue of learning - full speed ahead. I wish for you the best life possible.
Kasey Edwards
Certified dental assistant
21
Answers
Dillon, South Carolina
Updated
Kasey’s Answer
Hello,
Typically college prepares you for your career path. It can get your certified or licensed in whatever find you choice. Most big careers do require a degree such as a bachelor’s, masters, etc… College also helps build your character as well.
I wish you the best on your future endeavors!
Typically college prepares you for your career path. It can get your certified or licensed in whatever find you choice. Most big careers do require a degree such as a bachelor’s, masters, etc… College also helps build your character as well.
I wish you the best on your future endeavors!
Hunter Robertson
3
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Hunter’s Answer
It's not always necessary to attend college to secure a 'better' job. Some jobs or specific industries may require further education, but that doesn't mean you have to go to a traditional four-year university. If you're keen on pursuing a trade, there are various trade schools available. Take my niece, for instance, she's chosen welding as her career path, which is a fantastic industry and career option. So, instead of enrolling in a four-year university, she's undertaking an apprenticeship to master this skill.
Josh Ruggles
Audit
2
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Josh’s Answer
Hello Kiley, that's a fantastic question! You certainly don't need a college degree to land a great job. However, attending college can demonstrate to potential employers that you're committed, capable of teamwork, and always eager to learn! These are qualities that employers really value, and often, college can be an excellent way to develop them!