Introduction
The benefits of having a college education are numerous; they range from cultural to financial. Education is regarded as an investment because education activities are expected to have effect upon future performance of those being taught, hence indirectly affect them in terms of their role in productivity and the economy. Therefore, education is a present investment, incurred for the sake of future satisfaction and joys. Personal education is linked to overall economic growth. If future economic development is vague, it can be difficult to persuade parents to allow children to pursue further education (Government reform on Higher Education, 213).
Time management, working in groups and working under pressure, are invaluable assets that can be used in the future. These are transferable skills that could be very helpful in practice during one's career. These skills are crucial, no matter the career one has chosen, this is what makes the difference between getting a pay-rise or not, getting a job or not or getting a promotion. These skills are transferable from one job to another, and they are used and developed in all areas of life. Working in groups is important in future team building, which is also important as many jobs people may be required to work as a team. Employers consider these skills as important as technical skills or job- specific skills.
According to a study by Nonis et.al, management of time by college students, led to less stress and improved management of time over time. The results showed improved academic performance and improved problem-solving- the ability on college students. The study shows that an interpersonal difficulty with the faculty, financial strain, time constraints and academic workload causes a lot of stress for college students. Through this process, the students come up with coping skills, and they can know how to handle time and stress more wisely over time.
The skills developed in colleges are vital in the future career of a person. It is because jobs have become scarce, and there is an increasing realization on the importance and value of a college degree. More often, a person without a degree or a proof of having gone through college can be automatically thrown out of the employer’s search. Therefore, the skills developed in the college level are key to determining one's career and also determining whether one will get a job. The skills learned in college, are directly linked to the career one is going to have. An excellent example is a medical student will become a doctor if they choose to practice medicine. Not everyone from the pool of job seekers can become a doctor; therefore, one will find a job depending on the skills acquired in college. Once the job is acquired, such skills will be directly applied to the job given. The doctor will use the skills he acquired in college to treat patients.
In the same point, college degree ensures career opportunities and choices become brighter because certain jobs have higher employment rates than others. According to world report and U.S news, during the recession, some of the jobs with the best security included accountancy, Nursing, the federal judge, air traffic controller and doctor; these re jobs that require a degree. Also, some of these jobs the employees are required and cannot be removed as a matter of convenience. They are assets to the companies hence only valid grounds could be used to remove them from their positions.
When hiring, employers will always consider persons with college degrees first, followed by those who never went to college. As a graduate, when one goes to seek a job, the employers will make a decision largely based on the college education. If the education is impressive in the resume, the employers will see you as competent and hardworking hence likely to pick you. Evidently people with two or more college degrees will also be considered more, as compared to someone who has one. Therefore, when you have a college degree, the employees will always consider you first. College degree means more skills in different aspects, and a specific aspect the employer is looking for, before employing. Therefore, more often, the employer will first consider a person with a degree (Phillip, 110).
There has been a growing importance for technical skills and higher education in the job market. The job market today shows that people hold positions that they are overqualified; hence education requirements for jobs are going higher overboard. Consequently, more employers need more specific skills in the different technical areas. A college degree has become the minimum requirement hence, the need for further education to secure a job. Therefore, having more education, can secure one a job depending on the skills. The college degree is like a high school diploma, hence the need to advance to ensure one sets apart from the rest to secure a position. Therefore, the more education one has, the more a person becomes qualified for employment. However, sometimes the experience one has, especially in particular skills will make them more qualified for employment.
Also, a college degree will broaden the learning and career opportunities. Earnings depend on the work ethics, selection of a college major, education and competency of a person. Traditionally, people with college degrees earn more as compared to people with no degrees. Individuals with degrees are most likely to be employed, hence expand their career opportunities as compared to non-degree holders. Accordingly, some career holders get more pay as compared to other careers. People with no degrees are more likely to get non-skilled jobs such as cleaning, which pays less. Degree holders are likely to get better jobs like managers, directors and accountants who have better salaries.
Accordingly, graduate employees receive greater benefits as compared to non- graduates. The above is seen in areas like insurance cover and health care benefits given to the employees. Across the board, it is seen that the college graduates find jobs with better benefits as compared to non- graduates. It also applies to commuting costs, childcare benefits, and retirement benefits. Such benefits are usually as satisfactory as the pay one takes home.
On the other hand, higher education investment, does not guarantee all the good opportunities that come along. Some people with degrees are going unemployed in the job market. Sometimes, people study for one thing and then pursue a different career path. An excellent example is musicians who went to the university to study things like medicine or law, and never made use of the acquired skills, and instead decide to sing as a career. Sometimes, people pursue a certain field but choose their careers on other completely different fields. Therefore, in such situations one cannot assert that education was an investment as there was no direct financial gain linked to the education. However, one may gain other transferable skills. Therefore, it could be said that education is a risky investment, where one is not guaranteed about their career or high-income (Chapman, 219).
Works cited
Bowen, Howard R. Investment in Learning: The Individual and Social Value of American
Higher Education. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997. Print.
Brown, Phillip, Anthony Hesketh, and SARA WILIAMS. "Employability in a knowledge-driven
economy." Journal of education and work 16.2 (2003): 107-126.
Chapman, Bruce, Timothy Higgins, and Joseph E. Stiglitz. Income Contingent Loans: Theory,
Practice and Prospects. , 2014. Internet resource.
Government Reform of Higher Education: Twelfth Report of Session 2010-12. London:
Stationery Office, 2011. Print.
Nonis, Sarath A., et al. "influence of perceived control over time on college students'stress and
Stress-related outcomes." Research in Higher Education 39.5 (1998): 587-605.
