Author: shagencareers

At the beginning of this project, I was not sure if I would be able to answer my inquiry question (What is more beneficial: A college degree or work experience?). The study seemed way too broad and subjective. However, I realized this project was not just about going to college or working 40 hours a week after High School. This project was about what you as a dreamer can do to find your purpose in life.

Results and Takeaways

I found that work ethic is extremely important. Clint Wright explained “Having a degree in Economics didn’t get me to the position I have now. Putting my head down and working hard for 10 years has put me where I am.” Many job applicants feel entitled due to their college degree, but Wright said his company would rather hire someone who has worked a steady job day after day, learned the struggles of being held accountable and had to provide for themselves.
It is extremely important to understand your career type. Bruce Jensen is a hands-on learner. Looking back he said “a degree would have helped” but overall 30 years later he is happy with his decision to dive straight into the workforce. There are also many introductory courses offered for different careers. The book Exploring and Understanding Careers in Criminal Justice by Raymond Rainville and Mathew Sheridan discuss the various college classes offered in the criminal justice careers. This way students can test the waters; understand if this field is one they want to pursue.

The Final Note

My favorite part about this project was being able to relate it to my own job at Chick-Fil-A. My friends call me annoying because I talk about my job so much. Some say I’m too passionate about my job and I take it way too seriously. I disagree. I love my job, not because I get free waffle fries but because I am a part of something so much bigger than any of us. When I walk into Chick-Fil-A at 3:55 pm on Tuesdays my managers chant my name and fellow team members stop what they’re doing to greet me with genuine smiles. This is not because they like my friendly personality. It is because I work hard every shift to make my company proud. You could have all the knowledge in the world but you have to be willing to apply it. I implore you to make your own career formula. Plug in your numbers and weigh your options. Find your purpose in life and when you do give your whole heart and soul to it.

** To see my full TEDx Talk click here**

The past few weeks I have focused on conducting interviews with professionals in my top three fields of focus. I also did research on the factor of debt in a college equation. The results have been insightful. I have been able to resolve some of the most prominent questions in my mind.

My Focus

After surveying High School Students at Jefferson Academy I found that the top three career fields most considered by students are business (marketing, finance, economics, etc.), engineering, and criminal justice. Business was the top choice. It was selected by 41% of the students. Engineering came in second and was selected by 21% of students. Criminal justice came in third with 18%. Therefore, I conducted interviews with professionals in the top two fields. In the business industry, I spoke with Bruce Jensen. He is a former business owner of a consulting company in the oil and gas business. He dropped out of college to acquire work experience. I also spoke with Clinton Wright. His official title is General Manager for Pauley Construction. Wright obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Below are the questions with responses for my interview with Bruce Jensen:

1. What kind of business did you own?
   1. A consulting business for oil and gas. We did consulting for construction projects
2. When considering new employees, what is more valuable on an applicants resume: a bachelor’s degree in business or 5 years of work experience?
   1. Both equal. The balance of it depends on individual and background. Both are good.
3. Upon entering this field what credentials did you have: a degree, work experience, or both? Did it help or work against you
   1. Work experience and no college degree; it helped because I had background knowledge of construction and a basic understanding of the work I was doing. A degree would have helped but the experience gave foundation. At a younger age I was a complete hands-on learner but as I grew up I began learning differently.
4. How do you feel social norms as far as going to college have changed over the past ten years?
   1. I wouldn’t say there has been a social change, however, there is a big financial shift. A financial issue. Before you could work full-time in the summer and have enough money to pay for college. However, now that’s not the case. You have to work full-time and take fewer classes to pay. Therefore, before, more people could go to college however now it’s out of line with cost, especially if you want an extended degree (Masters etc.)
5. How did you progress in this field with work experience or degree?
   1. When you start your business I used my knowledge and experience. Knowing how to apply that was really useful. In order to grow as a company, you have to have a social game. Your name is spread through word of mouth and reputation (what you accomplished after working with different companies, what you did, and doing it right).
6. What types of work experience are the most impressive? Which are the most beneficial to the knowledge of the business field?
   1. Internships give insight into what someone will be going into and doing. Hands-on work helps that too. Hard to find a part-time job in this field. Everything is mostly full-time jobs so finding a part-time position would be difficult and might not offer the same perspective. Volunteering doesn’t appear often in this field. In my experience of working full-time, I was able to gain knowledge of pad construction and site construction. This also helped me understand how to read and understand prints.
7. Transferring fields: Did it work?
   1. Oil and Gas slowed down so I transferred to Pauley Construction. I had done some work like this before so already had a little bit of experience. Having past work experience helped me perform better in the new job. I had a headstart. In the business field, you have to understand how to make decisions. You need to have a developed thought process. As I progressed in the business field I learned to look at things more in depth before making a decision and taking the time to fully understand my options. This was really useful when exploring a leadership position in telecommunications.
8. The average bachelor’s degree college graduate is 39,000 dollars in debt. Do you think the factor of debt plays a role when one is deciding to go to college?
   1. Has a lot to do with it. When you go to college you want to get a degree in which when you will get out of college you will make a decent amount of money to pay off the debt. If it’s a basic degree is it really worth it? Or is it better to go straight into the workforce to get experience and work your way up? Almost need a specialized degree in order to make it big right out of college. It shouldn’t be that way. You should be able to find a basic knowledge without worrying about the cost. It plays a part in people not going to school.
9. How does work ethic play a role in promotions?
   1. Plays a lot in my opinion. Everyone says the new generation is lax with new technology. However, any individual that shows up every day, on time and is ready to learn, has a desire to learn and move up will go far. If you think you are entitled because you have a degree then you should know that’s not how it works. Hard work, diligence, being there and involved are all key characteristics. In either path, this is a huge factor. No company would exist or make a profit without work ethic. If you don’t have it your company will fail.
10. What is your  Personal opinion?
    1. I went to college but didn’t finish. Personally, I think work experience is more important. I have seen a lot of younger people get out of college and be given a higher business position due to their degree however the decisions they make don’t apply to what needs to be done because they don’t have the hands-on experience. I do agree that some higher levels of jobs, like engineering, need a degree to understand the structure and basic knowledge. And Having extensive knowledge is great. Honestly, I think a balance of both is best. People out of college are smart and have the knowledge however they need to know how to apply it with work experience. It depends on the individual as well. You need to have street smarts and book smarts. Overall, I think a person can get the same knowledge from both routes. Need common sense to apply everything you’ve learned. I have worked for smart and sharp engineers that have education and experience whereas the younger ones have the knowledge but don’t realize that the real world is not on paper. Needs a balance of both. College might be a quicker route to basic background knowledge of completed in 4 years. To get full basic work experience knowledge it would take closer to 5-6 years.

Jensen’s answers were helpful. They reinforced ideas about the balance of work experience and a degree. He also offered strong perspectives on entitlement, work ethic, and hands-on learning. However, my interview with Wright was the one that got the wheels in my brain turning. His fresh ideas were vital to my study and are as follows.

1. What is your official job title?
   1. My official job title is General Manager

2. What are your credentials (College degree, work experience, etc.)? What type of degree do you have?
   1. Credentials: College degree, 4 yr college athlete, 10 yrs of experience working in telecommunications. I oversee about 200 employees across 2 states.  I have a B.A. in Economics.

3. How has your degree helped and/or hindered you in your career field? If possible provide at least one specific example.
   1. It has definitely helped me in my career field. More so when I moved out of a field labor role and into a managerial role. Economics is basically math. More specifically understanding interest rates, profit margin, production, etc. I look at a large amount of information on a daily basis. It’s typically all numbers. Having a background in Economics definitely helps process this information quickly and correctly.

4. What is your personal opinion on the debate of work experience versus a college degree?
   1. My opinion is that work experience outweighs a college degree in certain industries. Unless you are going to school for something very specialized (medicine, engineering, etc) you can get where you want based off of hard work. Having a degree in Economics didn’t get me to the position I have now. Putting my head down and working hard for 10 years has put me where I am. Unfortunately, in today’s society, there is a serious sense of entitlement from people coming out of college. I interview people frequently that think we have to hire them or we owe them something simply because they have a degree. They also have little to no actual life skills and don’t know how to function in the real world. I would much rather hire someone who has worked a steady job day after day and learned the struggles of being held accountable and having to provide for themselves/their families. That being said, there are some industries that won’t hire you unless you have a degree or you can’t get past a certain job title without one. Obviously, it would be more beneficial to have a degree over experience in this example. We don’t follow that train of thought at Pauley and as long as I’m around we never will. Some people don’t have the resources to attend college and that shouldn’t be held against them. Some of the smartest and most successful people I know didn’t attend college.

 

I would like to point out that being a college athlete probably set me up for success more than any degree. It taught me an abundance of life skills that aren’t taught in school and recent grads never seem to have. I learned I was going to be held accountable at a very young age. I developed time management skills to get everything required of me completed. I had to learn to work with others (even if I didn’t like them). I developed thick skin and the ability to take criticism when I failed. These skills probably did more for me in the long run than anything I learned in class.

Wright’s specific answers show he has probably considered the same debate of college degree versus work experience. Wright explains that his college benefits were not from the classes he took, his major, or the papers he wrote. His true reward of college was the social skills he learned during his participation on the football team. This was a factor I did not consider before the interview. His talk about work ethic is also very interesting. It shows the view on the millennial generation and shows that a degree does not signify entitlement.

Variable “$”

The study of a college degree versus work experience is comparable to a mathematical formula. Many variables are present and when you plug in certain numbers there is one result. I have examined variables such as work ethic, type of career, specialization, and learning types. However, the variable that seems to act like the elephant in the room is money. More specifically, the cost of going to college and the debt present post-education. It is important to find and consider statistics when evaluating the overall role of college debt when making pathway decision. The average debt per student is on the rise at 2,000 dollars each year since 2011. Therefore this factor if the equation is not disappearing anytime soon. Bruce Jensen stated the cost of college is getting “out of line” when compared to past years. However, the striking numbers do not stop here. 1.48 trillion is the total student loan debt in the United States. The average debt of loans per student is 39,400. A recent study found it takes an average of 21 years for one person to pay off all college debt. There is room for a shift in these numbers of course. Some job positions have great salaries and allow students to pay off their debt in less than 10 years. Other positions take up to 35 years to pay off debt. When the numbers are laid out it is obvious one must take money into account when considering college. Unlike the other variables of this career equation, money is a factor that makes or breaks dreams for many students. The cost of schooling is scary for many and conquered by few. For this reason, work ethic and work experience might be a person’s best bet to achieve their dreams. The military is another great opportunity to bypass some cost of education.

Now that I have established some foundational information about the college degree versus work experience debate I can begin to specialize in certain career fields. In the time since my last blog post, I have found that the list of career fields and categories is infinite. Therefore, I decided that in order to maintain specificity I will be keeping my search local to Jefferson Academy. I have also conducted research on career fields that strictly require education. I have also found the different forms of work experience that I will be analyzing.

What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up?

If I were to explore every career field, this study would take a lifetime. As a result, I chose to take a poll. I created a survey for highschooler at Jefferson Academy to choose their top two career fields they wish to pursue. The list includes:

• Agriculture
• Architecture
• Business (Finance, Management, etc.)
• Criminal Justice
• Communications
• Computers and Technology
• Construction
• Education and Social Services
• Engineering
• Fine Arts/Liberal Arts
• Health Care and Allied Health
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Journalism
• Law
• Political Sciences
• Psychology
• Science
• Trades and transportation

The survey has been out for two days and so far I have received twenty-four responses. The results are portrayed in the following bar graph:

Overall this data is just the beginning of the numbers I need to make a final decision on what specific fields to analyze. However, if these patterns continue in this form then I will be specifically evaluating the benefits of a degree and experience in psychology, engineering. Business studies, and criminal justice. By the end of my study, many students will understand all of the opportunities available to them.

Education-Based Jobs

A main factor that must be considered in the debate is the fact that certain occupations require a college degree and education. The three main fields in the demanding category are law, medicine, and education.

Law

To be a lawyer or even a lawyer’s assistant, one must have some type of college and law school education. A lawyer’s job is one with high stakes and requires extensive knowledge in an individual. However, considering the fact that the average cost of law school is $39,000 per year. This education is one that is post-undergraduate meaning the overall cost for eight years of education is astronomical. Consequently, students are in immense debt and some are never able to fulfill their career potential since they cannot afford the college requirements. Hopefully, in the future, we will see more alternatives in the law field.

Medicine

Doctors literally take lives into their own hands. Due to this fact, it is extremely important that anyone in the medical field is highly educated and experienced. Since the occupation is risky the only experience based alternative to a college education is the military. A combat medic undergoes extensive training and when they leave the military they can use their experience to obtain a job in a variety of medical positions including a physician, EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), nurse, etc.)

Education

Education another career that requires education. There are no alternatives to obtaining a teacher’s degree through education. This is a valid requirement considering these people are responsible for educating others. The only slightly less rigorous path to becoming a teacher is by completing teacher preparation and certification training in courses outside of college and/or online. For instance, one program is a two-year preparation course and leads to a master’s degree.

Types of Experience

One of the main ways to obtain establish rapport in the workforce is starting at the bottom of the chain of command. For example, I work at Chick-Fil-A in Thornton, Colorado. Currently, my official title is simply “team member”. However, after one year of employment, I was offered higher-level positions such as trainer (a position of training new team members with a $0.50 hourly pay increase) and part-time shift leader (manager position that includes leadership requirements with a starting pay of $12 per hour). These positions are under the full-time shift leader position which is a management position requiring extensive hours and leadership qualities. The starting pay here is $15 per hour. Above this position is store director which requires full hours and includes increasing pay with bonuses. After that, a person is able to apply to be a store operator which is a challenging process and highly competitive position. However, all of these occupations are obtainable without a college education. The only necessary element is work experience. It is evident that in the time one gets a college degree, another could be working their way through a company’s chain of command. Therefore, part-time and full-time work is an excellent way to gain experience.

Work experience can be obtained in other ways as well. Volunteer opportunities and internships are readily available in every city. These positions give people to opportunity to test their interests and find the topics they are passionate about.

Looking to the Future

In the next few weeks, I will be diving deeper into my specific research. Based on my survey results I will interview people in each career field. I will also be making a chart of the benefits and disadvantages of each pathway regarding long-term benefits.

 

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been gathering information on work experience and college degrees. The broad information helps me gather all background knowledge. With these facts, I can get a basis for the nature of the debate and answer some learning goals. To put the subject into perspective a recent study from knod Global Learning Network compares the numbers of hours dedicated to a degree. 1,800 hours is the average time a student spends in college classes for a 120-credit bachelor’s degree. By comparison in the 1,800 hours, an individual could work eight hours a day for almost a year, create nearly three mobile apps, and read the entire 42 works of Shakespeare twice. The intriguing data reveals the true numbers behind both routes. Overall my research has been evaluating the factors that can determine what employers look for in employees. I have found information on company policy and reputation. I have also found research on the cost of college and the jobs that do not require a degree

Experience Versus Education

Company Policy

Some companies may allow you to substitute experience for a college education, but others have a tougher policy, requiring a college degree, no exceptions. Therefore, a person with immense experience and a first-hand knowledge of the company may apply for an internal position, but another person who has recently graduated from college with no experience may get the job. Additionally, specific industries, like education and healthcare, require education to qualify for necessary certification.

The Resume

The details of one’s college degree build a reputation. For instance the article “Experience Or Education” explains a degree from a higher level school that specializes in the selected field will produce many opportunities due to the prestigious reputation; a college degree in a lower level school has little reputation and will have a much lesser advantage. Obtaining a degree while maintaining a full-time job shows the individual is a hard worker. The well-developed reputation means one is dedicated and understands sacrifice. These strong qualities is a reputation that can be used to one’s advantage in a job interview.

As far as experience goes, reputation is also a factor: those who clock 40 hours a week for 15 years have not exceeded any expectation. Instead, employers are looking for people who stepped out of the norm and contributed to breaking limits in the company. Another advantageous factor is evidence of innovation, promotion and bringing in new business. Awards can also attract respect from employers. Therefore, exceeding the limits and building a reputation is valued in education and experience fields.

The Money

In 2017 the Department of Labor found employees with a college degree earned a median of $1,173 on a weekly basis, while those with only a high school diploma made a median of about $712. They also reported that the unemployment rate is 2.5% for workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher. However, the rate is 4.6% regarding those with no higher level education than high school.

These numbers clearly show the money benefits of a college degree. However, they do not take into account the cost of getting there. College debt is rising with each passing year. As a result, college graduates are struggling to pay their daunting student loans. Therefore college may not be the most affordable path for certain people. Students must consider a college’s reputation, financial aid, and long-term benefits before committing.

Is the Money Worth the Outcome?

In the past few years, many have noticed that the cost of college may not be worth the outcome. The years of immense debt make young minds think of alternatives. As a result, the in-depth article has found many students have begun investing their student funds to grow more money rather than pouring out the account into a college education.

The alternatives

Many people have not explored the career field that does not require a college degree. Contrary to popular belief, there are many of these careers out there. However, fresh students have their mind focused on the status quote and feel pressured to go to college. In reality, according to the article “Financial Careers Without A College Degree”, career positions such as enrolled agent, financial advisor, loan officer, insurance underwriter, accounting, and many construction positions do not require a college degree. Entrepreneurs are another category that many can thrive in without a college education. For example, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs both dropped out of college without completing a degree. Their companies have been mentioned around the world. Their reputations are strong and their work ethic is incredible. Work ethic is a factor I will be examining in my next post.

The Next Step

This week I began finding some specific descriptions of education versus work experience. I want to continue background research in the next few weeks, but I am also going to start a specific analysis. For instance, I talked to one college student who said that her mother had gone to a four-year university and obtained a degree in computer sciences. She worked in a computer company for a while but the company began to decline as well as the job position. As a result, the woman had to switch jobs. However, changing jobs was not very difficult for the woman. Because of her broad degree in computers, she was able to find another great job fast with better pay and insurance. In total, the woman is a great example of the benefits of a college degree. She had to switch jobs but her degree gave her room to move and a solid background for a new job.

On the other hand, I spoke briefly with a superintendent at Pauley Construction in Brighton, Colorado. The large company specializes in underground utilities. He said they hire laborers typically at $17 an hour. These are people with little to no experience in the construction field. However, if someone has anywhere from 5-10 years of experience in the construction field their pay instantly increase. These starting wages range from $20-$24 per hour. Also, workers with experience operating heavy equipment will start at even higher wages and could be offered a salary based position.

These two fields are very different yet have excellent examples of work experience versus a college degree. Over the next few weeks, I will begin interviews and in-depth research on specific work areas including business, technology, construction, etc. I will also touch on the education-based fields such as teaching and medicine.

 

Thanks for joining me!

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney

What is the purpose?

Every high school senior has been asked the same question at least forty times: “Where are you going to college?” The idea of post-secondary education is shoved down our throats. However, some students believe they are not good enough for college. Their conclusions are drawn from their SAT scores, GPA, and lack of college funds. They limit themselves and accept failure. By researching specific case studies and statistics this study will analyze if a college degree is more valuable than work experience. Answering this question can open up possibilities to every aspiring student.

High school students, specifically juniors and seniors are the main audience. This project can help them decide their future and find a path that fits their circumstances. The study will also help them break their limits and open their minds to all opportunities. Additionally, the information can help high school administration and teachers aid the students in planning their life after high school. These influential figures can understand that contrary to popular belief college may not be the best fit for some students.

What does the study mean?

To put the subject into perspective a recent study compares the numbers of hours dedicated to a degree. 1,800 hours is the average time a student spends in college classes for a 120-credit bachelor’s degree. By comparison in this 1,800 hours, an individual could work 8 hours a day for almost a year, create nearly three mobile apps, and read the entire 42 works of Shakespeare twice. This data reveals the true numbers behind both routes.

What are the details?

The word beneficial will be measured as the career route that makes the person the most appealing to employers. I need to look at promotions, changing occupations (staying in the same field but shifting positions and specializations), and getting hired quickly. In other words, I need to research the long-term career benefits.

To fairly evaluate careers I will organize them into a few broad categories. This is due to the fact that certain occupations require a degree and experience for employment. For example, the medical field requires a medical degree and a residency to specialize in a specific area of doctoring. I can separate jobs like doctoring that require education from jobs that lie in a gray area between background requirements. These various fields include business, technology, hard labor, etc. I want to lightly touch on the jobs that have set standards and focus more on the jobs with room for change. Researching this will help me focus my search to general fields in order to give a versatile response.

I also need to identify the types of experience offered. This can range from internships to volunteer positions to part-time jobs.

A portion of my research will come from first-hand interviews. I will consult with college dropouts as well as graduates. I can interview the older generation and the younger ones to compare the history of this debate. By finding these patterns I can also predict the future of these statistics. If needed I can also consult with those working in management positions to understand what they look for in employees. These numbers will help me configure the patterns of past and future growth in the two subjects: work experience vs degrees. This will help my project because I can understand the social norms of society and the pressure people feel to go into the workforce.

Employers look for other factors than experience and degrees. These skills and qualifications can be researched by looking at surveys or even conducting my own surveys amongst different companies in the same field of work. Work ethic introduces the possibility of a person having low scores on paper but a strong dedication to getting the job done.  Work ethic opens doors for those who cannot show their talents in the workforce on paper.

Why is this relevant?

I have been exposed to many people in my life who have much diversity in this debate. I have family members who have gone to college for four-five years to obtain a business degree. Others were drafted into the military. Others skipped all post-secondary education and went into entertainment. I have seen all aspects of the situation and watched everyone I know be faced with a daunting decision. Some have made the best decision in their entire life. Others have sold themselves short based off of a social norm. My passion for this subject runs deep. I am excited to head a new generation of possibilities.

Looking to the future:

Over the next two weeks, I will collect the necessary numbers and statistics I need to educate myself on the background of this subject. I will be reading some opinion articles. As I dive deeper into my research I will be also be arranging interviews.