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“How important are academics to future careers? Many people I know are working in jobs that don’t require academics or are working in jobs completely unrelated to what they studied.”
—Laura L., fourth-year student, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, British Columbia
The short answer to your question is that learning is very important to future careers. The reason I say “learning” instead of academics (or a college degree) is that there are few good jobs—and future careers—that won’t require you to demonstrate knowledge or skills. College degrees can do that, but so can certifications and documented experience. But most industries do require some sort of credentials to apply, and the standard is often a college degree, even if it is not a degree in the field in which you would be working.
For example, I have an English literature degree. I have worked as a writer, motivational speaker, trainer, project manager, and teacher. None of these jobs have much to do with a degree in which I read short stories, novels, and plays. However, I learned some things more important that helped me with all my careers: critical thinking and problem solving, written and oral communication, and understanding humans’ emotions and motivations. I am willing to bet that you are learning so much more than just the content in your courses that will serve you well in future careers.
Other reasons to complete a college degree have to do with long-term benefits. We know from tracking students who have graduated with a degree that they are:
- More likely to have long-term career stability. This means they are less likely to find themselves underemployed or unemployed for very long.
- More likely to have greater flexibility as to the kind of work they do.
- Have long-term earnings that are almost $1 million more than people who have only a high school diploma.
- More likely to make good health choices, which can positively impact future career opportunities.
There are many more reasons that completing a degree, even if you end up in a career that is very different than what you studied, can provide you with long-term benefits.
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