“Why getting a degree alone is not going to work for you.”

There is this notion that when you get your college degree it supposed to be this magic bullet that will get you a job. This is a big mistake because there a key aspect of college that people don’t understand. College does not count as job training nor does it count as work experience. Let me say that again, college does not count as job training nor does it count as work experience. The reason why I reiterate this statement is because too often people think that the two are linked (college degree and getting a job). What gets you a job is work experience, not a college degree. Your degree sets as a form of ecstatic for your career.

Well, think of it this way. Think about it like baking a cake. The cake is your career, but the degree is the frosting. All the ingredients that go into making the cake has nothing to do with the degree. The ingredients, all the way to the baking of the cake, has to do with what you bring to your life. Once you get the degree, the next day, you’re not this awe-inspiring person. No, you graduate Sunday, and whatever job you have you go back to on Monday. But the hunt may still go on for something better.

The problem grads run in to is that they say they need training. But the training is suppose to come from you. The qualifications for a career should be attained by you. Why because there is a difference between a good paying job and high paying career. Jobs give you training, but they are generally low pay and long hours. A career is most often higher pay, may or may not be long hours depending on the employment. But even if it is long, it is a choice. Which is what this thing called life is all about, choices.

We all have these dreams that are big, but don’t quite know how to attain them. Well, you have to start off small. You want to be a leading surgeon, you’re going to start in a small residency roll like everyone else. But the difference between a leading surgeon and everyone else is initiative. Everyone else will do what is required of them to do their job. The leading surgeon is going up and beyond. Whether it is becoming a contributor to medical journal or giving lectures on medical findings. And that is what they don’t teach you in school. It is your job to take on your career.

Yes, you may get connections, hell even a mentor or two. But even your mentor will only meet with you once or twice every six months or so. Why because they are busy making their living. You have to throw yourself into society. But the best thing about life, there is no right way to go about it. No one has a manual for how to take on your career because a degree alone is not enough. Making connections to people is not enough. You need degree, connections, love for what you do, and the know how for what you do.

In the end the biggest most important aspect of leaving college with your degree is the know. Putting yourself in the know can help a lot. No matter what your economic situation. If you are willing to put yourself in the know, you can elevate yourself; even out of poverty. Those who don’t will generally stay in their position both mentally and financially. Be willing to learn, but also be willing to work. But in time, also learn to embrace failure because it will happen. But the best people are those who are resilient and are able to bounce back from failure.