The mother wrote to me: "My son is graduating this year with a bachelor's degree, but he insists on staying at school to get a master's degree. My husband believes the higher the degree, the better.".
She wondered, "I don't know if a higher degree will help my child get a better job. Could you give me some advice?" I replied that since I didn't know what field she was studying, I couldn't be specific. The view that the higher the degree, the better isn't always true.
While some professions require specialized degrees, most entry-level jobs today don't. The difference between a bachelor's and a master's degree lies in the area of specialization. Bachelor's degree graduates generally have general knowledge, while master's degree graduates are specialists with expertise in a particular area. Most companies prefer hiring bachelor's degree holders over master's degree holders unless they need those specific skills. Of course, if your child wants to be a professor at a university, they will need a doctorate.
I've also received many emails from parents whose children are graduating from university but haven't been able to find jobs or are still unemployed. They worry about whether the current education market is worth the money and time. I'd like to raise a few issues.
Most parents want their children to go to college and get a degree. However, college isn't for everyone. Some will do well, but others may not and waste their time there. Nowadays, a degree doesn't guarantee anything, but many parents still want their children to go to college because it's a source of family pride and a part of a culture that has existed for centuries. Higher education is a major investment for both students and their families. It can be the best or worst deal depending on the outcome.
The problem is that many students entering university lack a career plan, leaving them unsure of what to do after graduation. For some, the degree is the goal, not something to follow, and many will regret this decision. But by then, it's too late.
Essentially, many parents send their children on a journey without a map, without a destination, and without a purpose, but full of hope. While earning a degree is a moment of pride for the whole family, many graduates leave school without the opportunity to find a good job. Today, a degree doesn't guarantee anything as long as students haven't chosen the right field of study and acquired the right knowledge and skills.
The problem is that while parents are like that, many universities don't even offer career planning activities, leaving students to choose whatever they want to study. And students often choose the easiest subjects. Schools want to fill every class regardless of the subject, and they know that families are willing to pay.
Companies seeking talent are increasingly less focused on four-year college degrees. Google, Ernst and Young, Apple, and IBM are among those no longer requiring traditional college education for high-paying positions. IBM CEO Ginni Rometty stated at the 2019 World Economic Forum that “the most important issue of the fourth industrial revolution is the skills crisis.” She said that the most in-demand jobs will no longer require a four-year degree but rather other skills. IBM has successfully hired many graduates from community colleges with two-year certificates, mass-open online courses (MOOCs), and vocational schools like coding schools. And they have all done well. Focusing solely on degree-holding labor means you are missing out on millions of skilled people around the world.
Skills needed to survive and thrive in the 4.0 era.
“The problem is that many universities are too slow to change and their students are taught useless and outdated material, to the point that we have to provide additional training,” she said. “Hiring proactive people who learn from MOOCs and online courses, possessing the most up-to-date skills, is a better solution for any company today.”.
“Many of the people we hire couldn’t afford university because of the high costs, so they choose to study online. They have the motivation, determination, and skills. These are the best workers we need,” a senior manager told an audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos. This trend is continuing. The question is whether people are aware of this golden opportunity.
Everywhere, millions of students are graduating from university and heading into the workforce, but unfortunately, some aren't working in jobs related to their studies, and many are unable to find employment. After years of studying with high expectations, it's a shocking experience for them, and with their future now uncertain, their time in university is wasted. There's a mismatch between what the market demands and what many schools are teaching. Debates about improving the education system continue for years without any concrete action. Students continue to graduate with worthless degrees while millions of jobs remain unfilled in every country. Without the right action, many may remain unemployed for life.
Today, at the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution, both students and their families must be well-informed about which professions are and will be in high demand, and what qualifications, qualities, or skills they should cultivate now to maximize their job opportunities.
My advice to students is not to passively wait for help from parents or school, but to proactively plan their future based on serious consideration of long-term careers, instead of just passing exams and moving on to a university degree without learning anything practical, only to be utterly disappointed when they can't find a job. I often tell my students: getting a job is easy, but keeping it, continuously growing with it, and enjoying what you do in life is what's truly important.
Why do so many people still focus on obtaining a degree instead of acquiring the skills the job market needs? Why do schools still award degrees in fields where their graduates will struggle to find jobs? Why do families send their children on an educational journey without a clear plan or destination? Until these questions are answered, little will change.
(Source: VnExpress.net)
Author: Pham Phan - Date written: August 28, 2020
Category: College 9+, News - Events
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