The ultimate target of good education is to ensure a good job. This is instilled into us from the early stages of our lives. We know that without a good education it will be difficult, if not impossible, to move forward in life. Those responsible to guide and mentor us in all our formative years teach us to study hard and succeed in academics so that when we grow up we are able to land prestigious and well-paying jobs.
When Does The Job Hunt Begin?
What is the level of education that one needs to acquire before seeking a job? Should it be after graduating from high school or is a college degree essential before seeking employment?
Looking at some of the statistics that are pertinent to the issue, we find that less than 43 percent of students complete high school – out of which only about half enroll in college. This data pertains to the year 2003 and 2004 as reported by the National Center for Education.
Many Jobseekers Do Not Possess a College Degree
Considering the data above, it becomes apparent that a big portion of job hunters do not have a college degree. Therefore, the fact is that a good job can be had without a college degree.
When a candidate has the knowledge, skills and the right attitude and drive to excel, there is no dearth of opportunities to land good jobs.
What Is A Good Job?
Usually, the answer most people would give is that a good job is one that carries a fat salary and moves you high into the social bracket. However, this is not the right answer for describing a “good job”. In reality, a good job is one that you find pleasure and delight in going to each working day of your life.
Applying these standards, numerous jobseekers may be holding “good jobs”. The inevitable result is dissatisfied individuals who harbor a deep sense of disillusionment, even if they are able to get good salaries.
In reality, job satisfaction comes from doing a job that is in line with your passion in life, something you seriously believe in – and not the salary that it gets you. Therefore, the main criteria in selecting a job should be looking at what you enjoy doing and what you make in terms of money, rather than going for something that pays well and trying to force yourself into liking it.
The Advantage of College Education
The decision to go through college is a personal one – and honestly speaking, college education does open up avenues of high-end, knowledge-based employment, and is certainly desirable for anyone seeking to be intellectually empowered.
The real point here is that even without a college degree, there are plenty of jobs available that can allow a person to pursue a very fulfilling and satisfying career.
Deciding What You Want To Do
With so much competition and a plethora of jobs on the scene, it becomes very difficult to decide which way to go if you have not devoted time from your early years towards selecting the career you would like to pursue.
If you find this difficult, then you should complete a career assessment to determine what careers would fit with your personal characteristics and motivations. An employment counselor can also be of great help.
By: Tony Jacowski
Posts Tagged ‘Salary’
Getting A Job Without A College Degree
January 24th, 2010University- Is It Worth It?
December 22nd, 2009At a time of year when many are about to finally depart school either for a 47 year stint in the workplace or a few years at university followed by a slightly shorter stretch in the workplace. To many people university will be the normal progression from school, it might seem that its the only option, while for others choosing to go to university which mean going against the grain. However, how many people before choosing to go start a course logically weigh up whether university is really the leg-up in life its made out to be.
The conundrum for most will emerge in the finances involved in studying and subsequently when you leave to join the workforce. Well, the nightmare which faces students is debt and on average British students leave with 20,000 of it. 20,000 is a large amount of money, it could be a deposit on a house, so is really university really worth it.
Imagine the path of university was not chosen, you could immediately wide away all this debt. Instead, one could start work, even if it was not in such a well paid position. In the 3, possibly 4, even 5 (if a gap year is included), its not unimaginable that 75,000 could be earnt, granted that not all of it will be saved. Not only this, within the time students will be watching Countdown it will be possible that you will have already climbed a few rung on the employment ladder and gained valuable skills that are not taught in a classroom. Will you have reached the same level as a graduate? That really depends on your abilities and your employer’s to recognize them. » Read more: University- Is It Worth It?
Are You Prepared For Your First Real Job?
December 5th, 2009Most people can remember their first job. But while it may be very far from being the pinnacle of your whole career, it is still a defining moment in your life; and there is a lot to think about as well. Preparing yourself to start your first job can take some time, depending on what you will be doing and where the job is located.
For example, some people may get a job working in a big city. If you live some distance away then you will need to arrange travel permits in order to make it quicker and easier for travelling to and from work each day.
Some companies provide an interest free loan to cover the cost of a travel pass. You may still need to buy a short term one to tide you over until you can get the loan though, so be sure you know what the situation is before you start.
Another thing you will probably need to think about is clothing. Some jobs require a uniform that is normally supplied to you, but that won’t be the case if your position is based in an office. If you have come fresh from university, smart office clothing isn’t likely to be a big feature in your wardrobe and that means you will need to think about buying some appropriate clothes to wear each day.
Therefore, once you have found out you have been offered that specific job it will pay dividends to jot down what you need to do before you show up on the first day. If you allow plenty of time to do this then you won’t get caught out in a last minute panic either.
It is well worth taking a look at your finances too. University life is very different from your working life, and it makes sense to make that transition as smooth and pain free as possible. Make sure you know which account your new salary will go into, and have all the details to hand to give to your new employer.
Now is also a good time to think about setting up a savings account for the future. If you put away a small sum of money from each pay cheque you will set up a habit that will stay with you for life. Some people can find that starting a new job can be an expensive time. However, you can prepare for this by taking out a graduate loan to tide you over if needed. This can make the transition much easier to cope with, especially if you do have a lot of expenses to cover.
In the end you will look back on this time with fondness. But while you are going through it you should make sure you are as prepared as possible.
By: Adam Singleton
