A College Degree Is Hardly A Guarantee
November 28, 2011
Author 
In 
The New York Times recently ran a story titled The Dwindling Power of a College Degree. This is news to me as someone not quite 30, but at one point, according to The Times, a college degree apparently provided a virtual lock on a well-paying job:
One of the greatest changes is that a college degree is no longer the guarantor of a middle-class existence. Until the early 1970s, less than 11 percent of the adult population graduated from college, and most of them could get a decent job. Today nearly a third have college degrees, and a higher percentage of them graduated from nonelite schools. A bachelor’s degree on its own no longer conveys intelligence and capability.
So according to this, a bachelor’s degree on it’s own previously conveyed intelligence and capability? Simply because someone completed an established educational process demonstrates nothing of their ability to adapt to a changing world and apply skills in an unstructured setting.
As we’ve noted before, your resume, especially aspects within it like educational pedigree are a quaint notion. Things have changed from tell me to show me, and the web provides context to make this easily possible for professionals across industries. In fact, as someone who has helped multiple agencies and friends with start-ups hire (successful) talent I’ve never considered education to mean anything other than be a checkbox section of a resume. Sure it’s needed, but it isn’t really a qualifying factor.
One other piece from the article struck me as a digital marketing professional:
A successful plumber who has mastered all the new water-flow sensor technology and pipe-fitting innovations (and is probably in a union) can make more than $100,000 a year, while other plumbers, who just know the basics, could make less than $20,000.
This is a perfect analogy of a communications professional who has ignored the web. Like the plumber, it is their job to stay at the edge and understand new systems, tools and trends.
Further, the technologies and tools that underpin communications are in flux. And there is no training or certification to stay at the edge (at least in a timely manner). By the time any university or school adapts a program to teach a practice area those skills are generally distributed.
When we live in a world you can easily experiment and run any type of digital marketing program, why go to school for it? Why not just go for it and execute / learn by doing? Your team can stay far ahead of competitors if you embrace this philosophy. While others are always playing catch-up and waiting for a structured package to learn something new, you’ve already “been there, done that” and know how and when to use it.
I think we are continually trending to a world where independent learning wins out over institutional education. Beyond institutions always being behind, (and rallying against technology) for the right person acquisition of skills can happen more efficiently on their own through hands-on application. This also speaks to someone’s initiative.
When creativity and results trump ability to recite facts and follow rules, let’s not lament the lessening importance of a college degree. Let’s celebrate and encourage those willing to take independent initiative beyond it.
image credit: Shutterstock
Emily replied | Nov 28, 2011 (1 comment)
The title of this post caught my attention given that I am a current college student. The sentence that reads “things have changed from tell me to show me” rang loud. The world is about what you can do and who you know.
Madison Wagner replied | Nov 30, 2011 (3 comments)
This caught my eye for the same reason. Every time I get stressed or frustrated with school work, it’s easy for me to believe I am wasting my time in school. At times, I think that a degree is worthless because I’ve always been told it’s who you know and not what you know. This field of marketing and public relations changes so fast due to technology that I’m not sure if universities can keep up. I think it would be a lot more beneficial for me to do more internships than to take the required general education classes. I understand learning a degree is more about finishing something and learning about yourself but I think experience in the field of study you want to go into is more important.
Hilary replied | Nov 28, 2011 (3 comments)
I have to agree with this article. When I first became interested in Internet Marketing, I considered getting a Masters. However by the time I finish a 2 year education, the playing field of Internet Marketing would have changed completely. I doubt the school would have time to change the courses in order to reflect it. I found it much better for me to simply learn on my own from experiences and blogs (such as this one).
On the other hand, I think that my BA in Psychology does give me the upper hand on other applicants who don’t have a degree, and truthfully when I was studying for my BA I had no idea what I wanted and it was a good foundation for life in general. But, I also didn’t take out loans to study, which is a whole different story.
Samantha McCollough replied | Nov 28, 2011 (15 comments)
I think it is a firm combination of both that can generate success. The most coveted aspects that a degree shows about a person is not so much their major, but the fact that they are able to learn, dedicated to following through and are able to focus and complete a not very easy task. It is also, as you mentioned, often a requirement to be considered for a position. Overall, I think that a B.S. is really necessary in today’s world, but continuing your education and consistently growing through self education is also important-no matter what.
Josh Braaten replied | Nov 28, 2011 (31 comments)
I’m not completely sold on your argument, Adam. While I love learning by doing myself, I agree with Samantha’s comment that a firm combination of both generates the best results.
We’re quick to cast out last year’s textbook because the “game has changed.” Tactics may change, but principles are much more likely to stand the test of time.
I do see your point though. A degree is certainly not a ticket to a job.
Arik Hanson replied | Nov 28, 2011 (9 comments)
As usual, love a lot of your points Adam. But, I think you’re missing the biggest benefit to going to college and getting that post-secondary education. The process of “growing up” and maturing. I’ve said for years that school for me was MUCH more about the experience and life lessons and less about the grades and classes. Sure, the classes had value and I learned a bunch from my professors and classmates, but the real learning came well outside the classroom. It came in learning how to live on my own. Learning how to manage my time. How to get multiple jobs to support myself. And learning how to build relationships. Those are skills I use almost every day–not just in my job, but more importantly in life. So, yeah, I think college still have a huge amount of value. But, I hear what you’re saying. In some circles you could take that up a level and say an MBA is now a commodity. How many MBAs are looking for jobs? That’s no longer a differentiator either.
FutureExpat replied | Nov 28, 2011 (1 comment)
I graduated from a prestigious private college in 1975, and even back then a degree was no “guarantee” of a “well paying job.” Since I was female, my BA just “guaranteed” me a spot behind a typewriter – not much different than if I hadn’t had the degree.
Jhon Victor replied | Nov 29, 2011 (1 comment)
I’m actually studying Communication Studies, and inside the university we always have the discussion about it the classes should be focused about theory or practice. But one can no survive without the other. Is important to have the knowledge in the practice, but to have a good communication practices is important to know how the communication process works. This is where a degree is important. Someone can have a good experience doing digital products and know how to work with the different formats, but with a theoretical basis in communication or in other majors like psychology, the message will have better quality and better results.
Is important also, as the last comments say, to look for our own knowledge. Look the ways to learn by ourselves and get better in the practice of communication using all those new media. But is also important that the universities and colleges to review and change the topics and classes according to the actual progress of the major in the professional life, bringing to the students the possibility to have the practice before finish the degree.
The perfect combination is having a good knowledge in practice, but with a good basis in the academy area.
Damian replied | Nov 29, 2011 (1 comment)
Damian from Intuit Canada here. I agree with FutureExpat about the fact that a job is not “guaranteed.” Not in 1975 and not now. I personally watch so many of my friends take classes and change the direction of their education based on what jobs they think they can land in the future. One of my friends switched from Anthropology (which she was very interested in) to Business Accounting because she thinks she’s more likely to find a job. What happened to doing what you love and finding a career that makes you happy? No amount of money is worth hating what you do every day. I think an education should include studying what you’re interested in while maturing and learning how make adult decisions. Not just following a potential paycheck.
Rachel replied | Nov 30, 2011 (2 comments)
A college education definitely isn’t what it used to be. The expectations have shifted and the entire construct has changed as we as a society have changed. That’s not to say that it isn’t valuable, education is always a valuable commodity, but the emphasis on the specific educational track may be a bit misplaced. The real value of the college experience is in learning critical thinking skills and how to assess a topic, as well as knowing how to develop a thoughtful and deliberate position on it, understanding how to ask questions (and what the right questions are) and figuring where you fit into a larger picture. These life skills are transferable to any professional role in any industry and being adept at them seems to be a better marker for success.
Sami replied | Nov 30, 2011 (9 comments)
I started college right at the end of the tech boom when people still believed that everyone who went to college came out with a job. Internships were mildly encouraged, but certainly not pushed, especially not until maybe the summer between junior and senior year. Then the economy collapsed and all of those job openings for inexperienced recent grads disappeared. I’m back in grad school now and amazed at the amount of real world experience undergrads are encouraged to pursue. I think this is going to become the norm as companies lack the resources to train fresh bodies and cater to their inexperience. So much of PR is learned in the field. There’s a confidence that comes with practice that can’t be taught in the classroom.
Dan S. replied | Nov 30, 2011 (1 comment)
This comment: I’ve never considered education to mean anything other than be a checkbox section of a resume. Sure it’s needed, but it isn’t really a qualifying factor.
Until this changes, college degrees will continue to lose their prestige. Before college I used to work for a company that required a degree for vertical movement, no matter how much more qualified you were than the kid that just graduated.
Victoria Ipri replied | Dec 1, 2011 (1 comment)
Excellent comments from all. We certainly live in a changing world, where young minds can learn, adapt and succeed, sometimes very quickly, without a college degree.
But as noted, many companies still require a degree before even considering a candidate for an interview.
If earning a degree has lost some of its shine, what else can you do to get yourself out there and find that dream job? LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform. In fact, 10.2 million have found jobs via LinkedIN (http://linkd.in/rXmpQF) But, unlike Facebook, many young people still shy away. They don’t know how to present themselves, what to say, how to job seek within the platform. I’ve just developed a LinkedIn group aimed specifically at college grads, seniors and juniors to address these issues and more. I’d like to invite everyone here to join us.
Simply visit http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=4197483 if you already have a LinkedIn profile, or create a profile in minutes and then join us. Hope to see you there!
Shaquayla Mims replied | Dec 1, 2011 (12 comments)
“Things have changed from tell me to show me.” is definitely what I am taking from this article! Also, the idea that once I graduate undergrad, my college degree will basically mean nothing is disheartening to say the least. However, I have noticed that agencies are more so looking at the prior experience a candidate has had versus their GPA when they graduated. Internships are on the rise and seem to have become the most popular segue way into securing a job post graduation.
Umer replied | Dec 4, 2011 (1 comment)
College degree’s are overrated, yes if you don’t believe in yourself and want a “Rather” safe path then I guess its okay. But if you really want to achieve something in life I am sure you don’t need a college degree and the label of being “Educated”. There are millions and millions of people who don’t have a degree but are on top of the world.
Brittany K. replied | Dec 5, 2011 (1 comment)
I agree that a college degree is not the most important thing on your resume, but as a college student, I am finding that I am learning and refining the foundational skills that I am going to use in my future career. Things I have learned in my PR classes have definitely come in handy at my internships. My internships and experience are what are going to get me a job, but I do not think that discounts the education I have received. Also, at least at my school, the curriculum is always changing to adapt to the quickly changing field. I have a class this semester dedicated to the use of social media in public relations- we not only learn how to use the newest tools, but are also reminded that we need to take the initiative to learn new tools for the field as they are created.