Today, the avenues of education are greater than ever before. There are a myriad of career choices available, from the arts, to commerce, to the sciences, and even some which offer a concoction of all three. Then there are those, who are self-employed. Those who either create their own small and medium sized enterprises, or who market their own skills in such a manner than they become Brands unto themselves. Opinion leaders, vocal speakers, motivators, photographers, freelancers, and so much more.
In such a situation, what should you go for? And more importantly, isn’t it better to just get a job and progress in the career of your choice, than to get a higher degree and begin as a novice?
Well, it all depends on where you are coming from.
For example, someone who prefers the holistic experience of studying, and who wants to start with a better pay at a better position (hopefully) would mostly go for higher education. After all, learning never stops, and education is one thing which never goes to waste. However, a person who starts working will have firm contacts within the industry, an idea of the ground level reality, and how things actually work – and how they differ from what was taught in the classroom. It can be a challenging environment, but in some ways, it can also provide you with the essential skills to function in the workplace, which the classroom can often fail in providing. Plus, an apprenticeship or internship can help you find out whether the career is actually for you or not. If you aren’t happy with it, you can always change tracks. It is always better to find out such things at the start of your professional life, and hopefully avoid a mid-life crisis.
On the flipside, education provides a sound foundation for your future career. Plus, higher degrees more often than not lead you to better starting positions in organizations, and you my get to skip the grunt work, which is often given to beginners. Also, while studying, you will also form a network of contacts, which will be instrumental in helping you get the job of your choice, in the industry and organization of your choice. The skills you develop while studying will hold you in good stead throughout your life, and you will also learn a lot from your peers and professors, each of whom will probably be coming from diverse backgrounds to learn. While studying, you will get to participate in extra-curricular activities and form a further network of contacts, which can also help you if you ever go down the route of entrepreneurship.
Of course, you may not be financially secure enough to go for further education, making the entire discussion a moot point. But if one has to choose between the two, and if there are good options available, studying is always the better choice, because it will give you the discipline and solid foundation on which you can base not only your future career, but also your life upon.
