CAREER DEVELOPMENT: Do You Need College to Succeed?

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As the cost of a college education spirals and loans becoming more difficult to get, maybe it's time for you to reconsider if you really need college to succeed? Try the following exercise to help you make some career decisions.

Write a list of what you want in your life – this can include everything from a lot of free time to financial security. Next make a list of what you are good at doing and what you really like to do. Then compare the two lists and see if the comparison sparks ideas about possible occupations. Finally, talk to someone who is presently employed in the jobs that look interesting to you. Find out the good, the bad and the ugly of those careers. Find out if the job will be required for several years and does the job meet your expectations. If the desired job requires a college degree, fine; if the job requires some specific training, fine, at least you will be informed.

A good career plan requires a focused approach to finding what you want and an unwavering commitment to secure your own personal future through continuous learning.

In addition to determining what path you will take to enter or stay employed, you must realize America is now faced with the reality of global competition. You are not just in competition with other Americans seeking a job in your preferred career; but with others from around the globe.

The burdens, complexity and high expectations placed upon the current workforce and those who will enter the workplace are becoming very intense, demanding… and rewarding. The age of the “knowledge worker” is here! Basic work skills are much more than basic!

Don’t confuse the term knowledge worker with college degree. Knowledge worker denotes the ability to apply knowledge to effect outcomes and produce deliverables. A college degree is the completion of obtaining a certain level of knowledge which may or may not have any impact on the individual or others with regard to a career.

Whether a college graduate or a non-degreed individual, the expectations placed upon the current workforce, and those who will enter the workplace, are indeed becoming very high.

Here is the much-cited list complied by the US department of Labor and the American Society for Training and Development of the “basic skill groups” that employers today believe are important for both current and future individuals who occupy positions at virtually any level within the workplace.

• Knowing how to learn throughout life

• Reading, writing and computation skills

• Listening and oral/written communication skills

• Creative thinking and problem solving skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Negotiation and team work skills

• Self-esteem, self-motivation, goal setting and personal career development skills

It is interesting that these skills are considered “basic” and yet over half of the current workforce has had little or no training for this group of skills. Other than reading, writing, computation and oral communications the above skills list represents a switch to skills requiring strong personal attributes and attitudes. These have not been normally associated with traditional vocational, academic curriculum nor the industrial workplace.

These skills can represent a challenge to those who find themselves in a catch-up mode and already in the workforce. Once again, we must be reminded that the rest of the world is using this same list to prepare its current and future workforce. The information age has made this approach to work both necessary and possible. The knowledge age now makes these skills, attitudes and attributes a requirement!

In today’s global market, and with the proliferation and availability of information worldwide, it is very hard to predict from where your next competitor will come. The good thing is that it works both ways. Your organization, or you as an individual, can plan and shape your future by focusing your energy on developing the ability to thrive on change, and drive change to your own personal benefit.

As an individual you must constantly acquire “solid factual information” and gain “relevant knowledge.” Factual information (not rumors or news sound bites) and relevant knowledge (knowledge useful to you and others) translate into power and strength in the workplace. Information and knowledge informs us and creates conditions that effectively support our future success.

A Very Important Point: To beat the competition, (local or global) and stay employed, you must become an engaged, resilient and knowledgeable individual who adds value, drives outcomes, and completes objectives… college degree or no college degree!

Faster than most imagined, the confluence of social, economic, but most of all technological forces, have brought a new twist to the world of work. Small businesses create two-thirds of new private sector jobs, employ more than half of all workers, and account for more than half of the output of our economy. Small business offers some of your best career opportunities. This is yet another reason for you to become serious about gaining as much “usable/relevant training” as possible.

There are many family wage jobs in the market that do not require a college degree. Some of these careers may be appealing to you and will not require the expense of a degree. However, most well paying careers will require some skill specific training.

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About Ingbretsen Consulting LLC:
Coach and author Roger Ingbretsen is a certified executive coach and organizational developer, providing organizational and career guidance to professionals, managers, supervisors and all individuals looking for "real world" career development and business information. His entrepreneurial approach will help you learn how to plan, lead and succeed in your career. Roger is the creator of the “Leadership Development Coaching Experience©” and author of the personal development reference eBooks, “Plan Your Career Now: The Survival Guide for the American Workplace” and “Master Your Career: Proven Strategies for Career Success©.” To know more and claim dozens of Rogers free articles go to www.ingbretsen.com or call 509 999 7008.

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