Will Education Get You Where You Want To Go?

Does an education really buy you anything in the job market?

Most people have pretty firm opinions on this and believe

that degrees are vital to landing good jobs. But is this

true?

Let's look at the idea that "Yes, you must have a good

education to get a good job." That's one possibility. If

you're in education yourself you can make an excellent case

for needing degrees to get a job in education. That is

definitely what most people do. Most job requirements for

teachers, professors and administrators require anything

from a four year college degree to a doctorate in the field

in which you will teach or work. But do all jobs in

education require a degree? No.

When people are outstanding in their field, they are often

invited in as guest faculty, no matter what their

qualifications. Can you imagine learning about relativity

from Einstein? He had no advanced degrees. Or what about

learning business and computers from Bill Gates? He has no

degree and he is worth billions. The same is true of Steve

Jobs. No degree there, either, and he didn't do so badly.

According to

http://www.thisismychance.com/m_shockingfacts.htm, "at

least 108 members of The Forbes 400 Wealthiest Americans

never graduated from college. Their average net worth: $4.3

billion each!" Hmm. No degree? That's not what we were told

would lead to success. It seems pretty clear that a degree

is not required for wealth or success. In fact, this site

gives a very long list of successful and famous people who

have no degree at all. Their list includes such luminaries

as Walter Cronkite, Steven Spielberg, Ted Turner and John

Glenn. Debra Fields of Mrs. Fields Cookies and Rosie

O'Donnell are two of only three women listed, but there are

undoubtedly others.

A degree does not even guarantee an entry-level job in

your chosen field. Ask anyone in California or Colorado

with a master's in counseling or a massage therapy license.

Nothing can really guarantee wealth or success.

Entrepreneurs in many lines of business who do not have

formal education have been recruited to bring their

expertise and knowledge to related businesses, programs and

schools. Some people even "invent" their career due to

their ability to perceive the world in a unique way.

Getting a degree could be fun. You could learn things you

won't take the time to learn any other way. You may meet

people who will be influential in your career and make

friends with similar interests. But your degree does not

guarantee your success. It doesn't even guarantee a job in

your field. And that's okay. As they say, "Success is a

journey, not a destination."