When we’re younger, some of us can be a little narrow-minded in how we see the concepts of education and the world of work. We might have grown up believing that, at some point in our lives, education ends, and then our working life begins. However, that’s not always, or even often, the case. We’re always learning as long as we’re pushing forward in our careers, one way or another, and furthering your formal education can play a part in that. Here, We’re going to look at ways that you can continue to press your education and why it can be so vital to your career.
The knowledge that you build can be vital
More than just a degree, education can equip you with the practical and necessary skills for your work. For instance, a degree in a business management or administration-related field can help you get a good idea of how to deal with finances, management, and other practical aspects of running a business. Even if your field of study is not geared towards the job that you have taken, there’s nothing to stop you from applying the knowledge that you’ve learned in your education to the benefit of your work. It can help you be a more forward-thinking team member who can apply more than just the expected minimum.
It can help you transition careers
If you’re sick of the lack of progression or the sub-par compensation and benefits at your current place, then you may well be looking to revitalize your career, and further education can help you do that. Managing a career pivot and moving into a different field is not always easy, especially as you continue to build an experience that may not be relevant to the field that you want to work in. Seeking education and training outside of your current field of work can help you build some experience that is relevant to the role that you want to move into, and can help make your current work experience more relevant, as well.
People with higher educations tend to get paid better
Although it’s far from a one-to-one comparison, and there are plenty of people with degrees who are working in the same kind of jobs as those with a high school education, one of the biggest predictors of income is the level of education that an individual has. There is at least a very strong correlation and it only makes sense. The more time that you have put into developing your skills and your knowledge base, the more valuable you are as an employee. Of course, the best way to make sure that you’re getting paid as it befits your education and experience level is to look for jobs in careers that are relevant to both.
It can open up further career options
One of the ways that a higher degree can help you earn a higher salary is through the sheer fact that some jobs do demand that you have that education. For instance, there are a lot of positions that will require a master’s degree or higher, especially if they are in highly competitive roles. C-suite level jobs in many careers, those in the more senior levels, may also expect you to bring an education that goes into the post-graduate level. Take a look at some of the job openings for positions that you might want to see yourself in come five or ten years from now. Do many of them require further education? If so, then it’s time to start looking at attaining it.
Education doesn’t always mean college
An important thing to keep in mind is that your education and development don’t have to strictly mean going back to college, be it in person or online. Depending on the type of job that you’re in, seeking out vocational training can be just as effective. In fact, many vocational training courses can be even more fruitful for your career, as there may be courses dedicated to teaching specifically the kind of skills that are necessary for making your next step in your career. Many workplaces and employers are motivated in training their team so that they can be more valuable members of said team, so it may be worth taking the time to talk to them about your development.
Soft skills matter, too
Formal education, however, does go further than just giving you a new piece of paper as well as the knowledge-based expected from your subject of choice. It can also greatly improve your soft skills, which employers will focus on just as much as the hard skills when it comes to the process of hiring new team members. Soft skills can include improvements in areas like organization, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking, things that aren’t as easy to teach in the workplace. Formal education tends to build these up as you go, which can help you prepare for the next step toward advancing your career. Just be sure to talk about these soft skills in interviews and applications.
It offers great networking potential
There are a lot of reasons to socialize widely when you’re furthering your education, but perhaps the most important is the opportunity to grow your professional network. A good network can provide ideas, advice, and knowledge that can help you better navigate the world o work, but it can also open up opportunities down the line. Contacts that you make in the industry before you formally enter it can help you get a foot in the door, can help you earn referrals, and build a rapport with those in a position to help you climb the career ladder. You need to take the time to actively network, make sure that you apply for what internships are available, and stay connected via social media, especially through LinkedIn and your professional Twitter.
Education can play a huge role in advancing your career. Of course, the type of education that might benefit you best is going to depend largely on the type of work that you’re doing, so plan and research appropriately.
