Education maketh a man as the old adage goes.

Our
world has evolved so much from centuries gone by.
If it can be said that we each have access to a
melting pot of opportunities, it is also true that we
are all athletes in the race for success. Suddenly,
characteristic traits which were all important once
upon a time, have taken a backseat.

Today it is a different kind of parameter that wins

you respect and in most cases even a job. The
abbreviations after your name have a big hand in
determining your career.

So why is getting a post graduate degree attracting

so much of mileage of late? Well, for starters, it
is believed that a person who is studying for such a
degree has a genuine passion and love for his
subject.

Secondly, with the spurge in the number of

universities and institutions offering post graduate
degrees, a student who gets his degree from a
renowned place is thought to be made of better
stuff than his peers. The general perception is that
if he has managed to secure a seat amidst stiff
competition, then he is a declared winner for life.
Thirdly, a post graduate degree is often spoken of as
being a necessity to secure a job, as well as to
help one get ahead faster, in one’s career. Not
surprising then, that hundreds of students globally,
fill out application forms by the dozen, attend
tutoring classes, and spend sleepless nights till they
get a letter confirming their selection for the post
graduate degree.

While this has been a force in encouraging people to

study further, it has also lead to a decline in the
value of a post graduate degree. Everybody has
one, so how does that make you any different?
This is especially true of an MBA degree.

So how did our parents and grandparents write their

success stories then? Well, those times were
different. In those days, getting a job meant that
a person worked his way up from the very bottom.

Managers were made usually by the age of 50, as

compared to today’s managers who are as young as
25. Job loyalty used to be at an all time peak as
well. It was not uncommon for people to work all
their lives with one firm, putting in extra hours
with utmost devotion and without complaint.
Today any extra work is accounted for in a salary
slip. The subtle evolution at the workplace too has
not gone unnoticed. Along side middle aged
employees, features a new breed of young, broad
minded, eager eyed managers making presentations
in well cut suits and leather briefcases.

This also leads to an increase in complexes among

middle aged employees who may not have the same
degree. After all, it is difficult to report to
somebody who is much younger than you and still
green around the ears. So who actually gets the
promotion faster- an employee with only work
experience to fall back on or an employee with a
postgraduate degree?

. The other school of thought believes that having a

post graduate degree helps you think differently,
learn faster, communicate better as well as hone
group handling skills.

. While having a post graduate degree signifies that

your understanding of the subject is higher, work.
Hiring such people makes it easier for a work team
to gel together as well.
It relatively cuts down ego clashes and complexes that
arise because employees can relate better to each
other. The important point to note is that since
getting a post graduate degree is fast losing its
exclusivity, it is vital that post graduates keep
updating themselves by attending courses in the
area of their choice, seminars, workshops and the
like.

If attaining a managerial position is important to you,

it is also important to possess the knowledge,
acumen and skills that come along with the job.
After all, it is never too late for anybody to
become a student again, and job related skill
development might just tip the scales in your
favour. So say yes to doing an odd job or so, or
even attending a seminar that is being held in your
city.

Every bit of extra effort and knowledge that you

gather, eventually adds up to your personality and
confidence. Life itself is a school, peppered with
lessons, crash courses and surprise exams. So, let
every minute be your teacher.
Job Experience or education degree? What values
more? It is a discussion that has been going on for
quite some time now. And no definite conclusion has
still been drawn for the simple reason that it’s
subjective and it really depends on individuals. Of
course, the value of a
college education degree cannot be paralleled to
that of a job experience. Still the global job
market can boast of innumerable examples of
individuals who are at the peak of success without
attaining a graduate or master’s degree or higher
education for that matter.

For many it becomes difficult to continue school

because of soaring costs of education & if one
thinks that it is more important for him to earn
money rather than going for a full-time degree
course. Previously a high school diploma was
considered enough to assure an entry-level job
where the profile is handling basic tasks. Besides,
they are given on-the-job training to hone their
skills. At the same time, they had enough number
of years to count as their job experience. As a
result, people hardly changed job and preferred to
stay with that company in their entire career.
These traditions, however, are no longer practiced
because today’s job market provides individuals with
better opportunity. An individual changes jobs, as
soon as they are offered a better growth
opportunity and a few extra thousands are added in
the pay package. Hence, it will not be wrong to say
an individual changes around nine to ten jobs in his
entire career. Considering this, employers nowadays
hesitate to spend on internal training and hires
individuals who does not need to undergo
development programs and most preferably has
higher education degree to his credit. Hence, we
can say that there are many reasons why a college
degree has fair advantage when it comes to career
growth in the long run.

Employment Benefits
A college graduate is a highly attractive candidate
for recruiters. As a holder of a graduate degree,
you are at an advantage to choose from a variety
of job offers. You do not have to go for an entry-
level job but can join in the middle management at
the very first time. No doubts you will earn much
more than those without proper degrees. On the
other hand, people with job experience without
college degree does not have comprehensive
knowledge to handle the business.

Meet Tougher Job Requirements

A college graduate comparatively has better

interpersonal & more critical skills to his credit.
During their years of college education, they learn
& assess the various strategies and factors driving
today’s market. They are better exposed to the
ever-changing market and can analyze problems &
take smart decisions that ultimately results in the
profitability of the company.

Career Training Provided

A college graduate is provided all the necessary
career training, they possess specific skills and are
learned to perform jobs with detail and understand
client mentality at the same time. Some institutes
also provides internship to the students at other
companies, thereby helping them acquire practical
knowledge and greater exposure. Therefore,
employers always prefer to recruit holders of
bachelor degree.

Increased Income

Investment in higher education is always rewarding.

Whatever you spend on your degree course, will
return to you as your attractive pay package. You
spend hefty amount to pursue college education but
you are assured of higher earnings that is much
more than your colleagues who doesn’t possess
graduate degree.

Economic Benefit to the Nation

It is rightly said that a nation cannot progress if its
citizens lag behind in education. No doubt a nation
earns and progresses if the number of college
graduates increases every year. Because of higher
education, a nation’s tax revenue increases, greater
manpower results in greater productivity which
results in the advancement of the country as a
whole.

Social Value of College Education

It has been found that higher education is highly

related to good citizenship and family values.
Graduates have more sense about the right
upbringing of their child, the elements that can
progress or harm the society, etc. In a way, their
practicality helps in the progress of the society and
the country in the long run.
As it is clear above that a college educations proves
more beneficial for a person, it becomes imperative
that more number of people participate in higher
education and fill the gap that arises due to the
non-participation in college education. Increased
college education will not only help the student to
mark an edge, but also benefit the society and the
country as a whole.

However, it would be wrong to say that only holders

of college and higher education can be successful in
their careers. Today a number of institutions
offer online degree courses for all professions.
Most of the courses are accredited and provides
the same education quality that one gets in a full
time collagNo matter how much you think about it,
getting an education is also a way of gaining
experience in whatever you choose to make your
life's work. All of the professions do require some

read more

2of 20

by Barry Marcus
Higher education is a key to success both within and
outside of the corporate world. Some qualifications
are highly sought after and rewarded. A
professional degree is particularly

read more

3of 20

by Koren Ribken

You have worked hard to prepare and type your

resume. You write a cover letter that will jump out
and grab the employers attention. You have the
experience, the drive and this job

read more

4of 20

by Jessica Rangel

This is quite an interesting debate to have regarding

work experience and education since the two are
connected to each other, but when you see it from
an objective point of view,

read more

5of 20

by Carmen Polvere
Higher Education!

Get a degree! Then go to work. If working, find a way

to get a degree.

Higher Education vs. Experience? The years will pass.

Ten years in a field will mean basically

read more

6of 20

by Greg Norris

Certainly, there are many careers where experience

carries more weight than a college degree.Certain
service field's time and experience doing the craft
will weigh more than proving

read more

7of 20

by Adele Gregory

Experience and education are equally valid ways of

advancing your career. But if asked which is the
faster to way to get ahead. I would say that
education has the advantage.
Opportunities

read more
8of 20

by Ryan Gray

From the time I started searching for my first job, I

believed that experience was the key to success. It
didn't matter what the job was, how much it paid
or where it was located,

read more

9of 20

by Leonard J Sherrott

It is often said that life experience is the best

education. There is limited merit in that argument ,
but how long do you want to take to learn? More
importantly, how far do you hope

read more

10of 20

by John Allen

Today with more than 65% of high school graduates

enrolling in college and almost a full third of all
high school graduates going on to graduate from
college education (2007 TIME ALMANAC)is

read more
11of 20

by Betsey Foy

Both education and experience are considered by

employers, yet I believe that education leads in
which is more important. As a person who is seeking
employment, it is best to have

read more

12of 20

by Saralyn Colon

In corporate America, education speaks higher of you

than education. This is unfortunate, because in
many situations people well qualified for a position
will be turned down. From

read more

13of 20

by Barbara Kasey Smith

My work experience started many years ago, right out

of high school, in the government spectrum as a
clerk typist. Since I only had a high school
education at the time, clerk typist

read more
14of 20

by Gillian Laurence

It appears to be an easy question, but really it is

very complex. You could easily assume that
experience would get you ahead faster, but it
really depends on what field you are looking

read more

15of 20

by Julie Bruce

I almost think this title should be given a third option

and that is "who you know." Often it is not a
matter of higher education or work experience but
rather that you are a relative

read more

16of 20

by Mark Murphy

Up to around 30 ago a person could go pretty far

without anything more than a high school education.
An intelligent, dedicated worker could get an entry
level position and work themselves

read more
17of 20

by Ben Naude

Obviously I'd much rather say you need a combination

of both because although I am in the pro-higher
education camp, I do not for one moment
underestimate the immense importance of

read more

18of 20

by Joseph Whalen

The sad fact of the matter is, companies are far

more inclined to look at your education as a
representation of your qualifications than your work
experience. While this is certainly

read more

19of 20

by Debby Richardson

In today's society it's the educational values that a

person possesses and not the work experience that
companies and firms look at. This mind set is out
of personal experience. I

read more
20of 20

by Marla Jones

In the past experience use to trump education, but I

believe in the 21st century education trumps
experience. I also believe education does not
necessarily mean a 4 year degree at

read more
Experience

1of 21

by Anthony Megna

What is more beneficial for the worker, a higher

education or work experience? This is an age-old
question that always seems to be asked by people.
So what is the answer?

read more

2of 21

by Carmel Brulez

It is easy for me to say that work experience counts

for more than qualifications. For a start, we just
recently had a case in the national newspapers in
the Uk of a young woman
read more

3of 21

by Nick Bianco

Experience will win over education every time. Work

experience will provide an education in itself, while
even the best education will never amount to one
day of experience. Granted

read more

4of 21

by Ted Sherman

I somewhat reluctantly have to vote on the side of

experience. Now long retired, I can remember back
to the years when I was on a university faculty and
considered it the career of

read more

5of 21

by Lisa Kooper

Education has its benefits in teaching and reinforcing

good work habits, such as organization, meeting
deadlines and processing information. However,
education is a weak substitute
read more

6of 21

by Traci McCaiughey

As a recent recipient of an MBA, it is clear that in

the working world, your educational experience does
not get you closer to a managerial position than the
work experience that you

read more

7of 21

by Emily McDowell

I am a young adult with many friends who have

graduated from college and graduate school in the
last few years. Unfortunately, almost all of them
are struggling with not being able

read more

8of 21

by Ivan Anthony

If you sit in a chair in a classroom for endless hours

listening intently, trying to understand what you're
being told, and retain it in your memory, are you
gaining knowledge or considering
read more

9of 21

by Stacia Elizabeth Whitbeck

Nothing can take the place of experience, not even

the most cleverly written instruction manual with
easy to follow directions. Knowing about something
and having experienced it are

read more

10of 21

by Kenneth Hofmann

Work experience will help you more than education.

When two job candidate go for the same position
the human resource person or recruiter will go with
the person that has more experience

read more

11of 21

by Danette M. Scott

Will higher education or work experience get you

ahead faster in your career? Degree holders may
find the doors of opportunity slammed in their
faces by employers who are seeking experienced
read more

12of 21

by David Brown

Higher education is definitely nice to have, yet, this

author is finding it personally hard to believe that
higher education is the answer to our prayers of
getting on the fast track

read more

13of 21

by Mina Sofia

Experience is the art to master your skills, skills

acquired during many years of higher education.
What's the point to get a talent, a gift, if you are
not willing to put them out

read more

14of 21

by Lanette Tooley

Everyday, several times a day, I hear people talking

about the high cost a college education. Parents
agonize over how they are going to pay for their
children's college education
read more

15of 21

by Stephen Culley

Let me start off by giving you a bit of background to

my own experiences with this subject.

I left secondary school in June 2005 and I

immediately headed for college thinking that it

read more

16of 21

by Mat Hudson

It is rare to find a parent or, or some responsible for

the career development, that will extol the virtues
of career experience over a degree. There are
several careers; including

read more

17of 21

by Ian Loft

I can say with absolute confidence that experience is

far more valuable than a certificate or diploma
that tells the world you passed a series of tough
academic examinations. Starting
read more

18of 21

by Kris Lee

Without doubt, having a higher level of education and

a better diploma or degree tends to give a person a
headstart when it comes to being shortlisted for
interviews and securing that

read more

19of 21

by Bill Whitney

This is the kind of a debate that if you really sit

down and think about it doesn't make a whole lot of
sense. I mean it doesn't matter if you have three
doctorates, if you have no

read more

20of 21

by Jeffrey Mcpeanne

It will be easier to say both higher education and

experience, but experience is what the majority of
employers want. Just observe many of the job or
career ads they all emphasize