Friday, March 10, 2006
Education and Employment
It saddens me to read on the news that there are a significant number of graduates who are unemployed. These graduates are questioning the value of going to universities and doubt that they might have wasted their times. One the other hand, I have heard also heard that many final year students studying in universities are invited by businesses and corporations to attend talks and seminars with the hope that these soon to be graduates will join these corporations. The key difference is that graduates in demand are those who studied the right subjects matching the needs of the employment market.
Over the years, it has been shown that having a university degree raises the hope of landing a comfortable and prestigious job. While there is a tendency to be so, it is not necessary always the case. This is particularly so if the subject of the undergraduate study is not in demand in the market. The wrong choice of degree can be very costly. In many instances, having a university degree would have been useless if it is not complimented with years of work experience. This is particularly so for the many non-professional degrees such as arts, politics or public relations.
I do not think a university degree is a waste of time. Irrespective of the subject matter study, the university education generally provides a platform for personal development, in training an individual's analytical and decision-making skills. These skills can come in handy in later part of life, irrespective of one's area of work.
In raising the marketability of a new graduate, it may be necessary for the student to do some part-time work relevant to their field of study while undergoing the study. A pure excellent academic result in their area of study is not a guarantee for gaining employment. Real world experience is still essential. Therefore, after finishing their first degree it may be wise for students to work for a while in any area before considering more study.
Graduates who face prolong period of unemployment may need to swallow their pride and get a lower paid job that does not require their university qualifications. They then need to work hard to be seen as effective and gain the confidence of their employers. Then with the degree comes in handy; the chance of climbing up the corporate ladder can still be very good.
After all, having a degree is only the basic. Learning is a life long process and continuing learning and improvement is still the key factor in furthering job prospects.
Over the years, it has been shown that having a university degree raises the hope of landing a comfortable and prestigious job. While there is a tendency to be so, it is not necessary always the case. This is particularly so if the subject of the undergraduate study is not in demand in the market. The wrong choice of degree can be very costly. In many instances, having a university degree would have been useless if it is not complimented with years of work experience. This is particularly so for the many non-professional degrees such as arts, politics or public relations.
I do not think a university degree is a waste of time. Irrespective of the subject matter study, the university education generally provides a platform for personal development, in training an individual's analytical and decision-making skills. These skills can come in handy in later part of life, irrespective of one's area of work.
In raising the marketability of a new graduate, it may be necessary for the student to do some part-time work relevant to their field of study while undergoing the study. A pure excellent academic result in their area of study is not a guarantee for gaining employment. Real world experience is still essential. Therefore, after finishing their first degree it may be wise for students to work for a while in any area before considering more study.
Graduates who face prolong period of unemployment may need to swallow their pride and get a lower paid job that does not require their university qualifications. They then need to work hard to be seen as effective and gain the confidence of their employers. Then with the degree comes in handy; the chance of climbing up the corporate ladder can still be very good.
After all, having a degree is only the basic. Learning is a life long process and continuing learning and improvement is still the key factor in furthering job prospects.
