economy

When it Comes to Education, Focus on What Works

The four-year undergraduate degree has seen its power erode in recent years, especially with the economic downturn that began in 2008. What does this mean, exactly? Well, as people who have struggled to find good jobs lately know, this is an issue of major significance. An undergraduate degree can be extremely expensive, but if it is no longer guaranteed to propel a student into a rewarding career, it might not be worth the time and money. Instead, people who pursue more practical and less time-consuming degrees may find themselves getting ahead much more easily. If you’re interested in taking a more direct route to success, you may want to consider attending a trade school. Trade schools can help you become highly employable in a number of outstanding areas such as business, culinary arts, education, information technology, the automotive industry, and much more. You can also use CSI Now computer school certifications as a way to increase your credentials and promotional opportunities in the area that you currently work in.

The Importance of Being Practical

As many recent graduates of four-year universities, even top-ranking ones, can tell you, a university education doesn’t necessarily amount to much in today’s economy. Oftentimes, students at four-year universities find themselves with a deficiency in the practical experience that they require for getting a good job. When the economy is at a low point, employers are much less likely to train on the job, even in entry-level positions. Although students completing bachelor’s degrees at a university may have taken plenty of advanced coursework, they might not be able to relate these skills directly to a particular job description. On the other hand, students who complete shorter degree programs and certification courses will be able to demonstrate that they have the skills necessary to succeed at a job.

Quality Education Doesn’t Just Mean University Education

University courses are conventionally regarded as being more challenging and prestigious than courses at a trade school or community college. However, this view is changing quickly. Many university courses these days are overcrowded and not particularly helpful to students. Furthermore, students often are given little or no practice relating their coursework to real-life problems in the working world. The result is that they tend to have difficulty carrying over their academic knowledge to their experiences in the working world.

Conversely, education at trade schools is often of excellent quality and highly effective. Students get plenty of hands-on experience that prepares them for good jobs, and classes are small enough that instructors are able to meet the needs of each individual student. This practical and cost-effective educational system is a great way to get started on the career of your choice.