A College Education Still Matters

The value of a college education is a major topic of discussion in today's modern market. Managers and business owners who have obtained degrees can speak to the advantages the education has given them in their careers, but the savvy entrepreneurs who get the most media attention are often bootstrappers who avoided the traditional college education route and tackled the market directly. College education is still an important barometer of success, however, and one that hiring managers are likely to continue to place importance on, especially in a soft economy when more and more jobseekers have a basic degree.

Large companies, including the Gates Foundation, have come out in support of skill-based hiring over the traditional university degree requirement. Companies with older human resources departments may still seek a traditional college education as a primary requirement for applicants, but entry-level standards change along with the job market and workforce. Even though human resources may trend toward skills over degrees, a university degree provides managers with confidence in two key factors.

Graduates with a relevant degree have demonstrated a firm grasp of the essentials of that field. Whether they graduate with a business sciences degree or a baccalaureate in history, a college degree provides proof that the student grasped the relevant fundamentals that give them a solid base from which to grow. Managers like to know from the outset that an applicant understands the key issues that drive their markets, whether they're working for a multinational corporation or a small nonprofit organization. Business owners want to hire those with a proven interest in their goods or services.

The second confirmation that a degree provides is that a student was willing to stay the course. A degree confirms that a student completed their studies, and this level of follow-through is exactly what successful managers want to see from their teams. Persistence is a key component of any business venture, whether you're the owner or the mailroom organizer, and completion of a standard college education with a two- or four-year degree provides confirmation of personal persistence. Even if the graduate did little more than was absolutely necessary to graduate, they still went at least that far.

Rising college costs have driven many would-be students into the workforce ahead of their time, and market conditions have resulted in college graduates being out of work alongside those who have never attempted to gain a college education. This does not devalue a degree as a barometer of success for applicants and workers. Hiring and promotions are still likely to involve consideration of post-secondary education. The basic knowledge and lessons of persistence that come with earning a degree through the traditional college education system are still valuable assets to managers and those who hire them.

(Photo courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / freedigitalphotos.net)