I believe there is nothing more important than a well planned education.
The difference between a well planned education and a token degree is huge - and believe it or not it can reflect on your job prospects.
Whenever I look at a resume I appreciate those who can show commitment to something. One effective way to prove your ability to commit is the honor of earning a degree. Of course there are other ways, but the most obvious to me is a formal education. ...but is it possible that sometimes an education that is not well thought out could wind up being a waste of precious time?
What is a Well Planned Education?
When I graduated from high school I had already started VoodooPC. This is not something I'd recommend to anyone - through a series of luck, being in the right place at the right time, and some very hard work we managed to build an incredible brand. It's not often, if ever, that you cross an employee, let alone an executive at HP who doesn't have a degree.
Well, I'm probably the only one - in a company of over 300,000 people the odds are slim that it will continue to occur. What's my point? A formal education is good, a well planned education is indispensable. A high school diploma is a lottery ticket unless you are exceptionally lucky.
One of my best friends, Dr. Deepak Kaura, went to University for over 12 years. While I was working and living the high life, he was slogging away on a medical degree struggling to make ends meet. He wasn't just working on any degree, he was planning to be a radiologist. Radiology has been good to him, he helped build one of the most successful chain of clinics in Calgary - and he expanded into Dubai. He sold his clinics in Calgary for many millions of dollars and now he's one of the rare combinations of people - an entrepreneurial medical professional. He recently started an up and coming Web 2.0 Medical Tool which has yet to be announced. Let's just say his education was well planned and well executed.
A well planned education does NOT require twelve years of university or college.
It could simply involve a vocational degree at a trade school! If you are passionate about cooking, for example, go out and get an education in culinary arts. If you like medicine but you aren't sure where to start, go do a two year program as a radiology technologist. If you like playing video games find a school that's dedicated to game development and take some courses there.
Bottom line: Don't get fooled by the lure of a generic degree. It's meaningless unless it leads to something that you are passionate about.
Mark my words, you will regret not planning your education ahead of time - so if you're already on the wrong path stop and think. You have plenty of time to re-plan.
What is a token degree?
Unfortunately Token Degree's are extremely common. It usually starts when a person feels he or she NEEDS a degree to get a job. They go to College and never really figure out what's interesting to them, so they simply get a Bachelors degree in anything. The end result is huge debt and limited job prospects.
Typically once a person earns their Token Degree, they immediately go out looking for jobs -- and if they're lucky they get one. Whatever the case is, without proper planning or a clear direction most Token Degree holders end up in a job that they're not happy with. A job, not a career that they love - not something that when they wake up in the morning they can't wait to get to the office and start hussling.
Of course there are exceptions, but likely far and few between.
What do employers look for when reading a resume?
Although a formal education is very important, I consider the following when interviewing someone;
1) I look at how long a candidate has spent time at various jobs, and wonder about those who move from job to job.
2) I look for hobbies because I believe it's important to have something to take your mind off of work once in awhile. Conversely I also appreciate when a candidates hobbies coincide with his or her work.
3) I do searches online, research anything I can about a potential candidate. Whether it be a Facebook profile, a Myspace picture (careful what you do online), a Google search, a Linked-In profile, or an entry in Wikipedia --- there are many ways to research a persons background. Blogging is so important these days, you'd be surprised who reads your thoughts.
4) I look for personalization on the resume. I hate it when people blanket send a resume without a personalized cover page. A cover page that shows why it is that you're interested in working for our company in the specific position you're applying for.
There is much more I can write on this subject.. Stay tuned for more - and in the meantime check out this related article.
What do you think? Do you agree? Feel free to share your experiences, good bad or indifferent.
