This is a guest post.
To achieve your various career and lifestyle goals, whether that’s to be a CEO by the time you’re 40, to earn six figures per year or to retire early, it’s important to continually look for ways to advance. Many people have big goals for themselves but aren’t proactive enough to make these dreams a reality.
One strategy followed by many successful women is to engage in further education. Through regular enhancements to their skills, workers can move higher and higher within their company or industry. An on-campus or online MBA program, for example, can be a great choice if you want to either run a company or manage your own venture during your career.
Other great options include master’s degrees in marketing, computer science, economics, communications, accounting and engineering, to name just a few. No matter your area of study, read on for some key ways in which obtaining a degree should help you to advance.
More Job Opportunities:
Once you have a relevant qualification for your industry and/or role, you’ll find that many more job opportunities present themselves. Having the necessary piece of paper to mention on your resume will help you stand out from other candidates, particularly in a crowded marketplace or for the types of positions where most people aren’t actually qualified. Plus, if you want to get a leadership-based job, having a qualification is usually a must.
When examining candidates for roles, employers usually see those who have a degree as being not just more qualified for the role at hand but also generally better at things like time management, organization, communication and more. They will believe you’re better equipped to handle the job and hit the ground running from the very first day.
Once you’re properly qualified, you should find that your job security increases. If a business has to make cutbacks because of an industry slump or a specific organizational issue, typically it’s unqualified people who “get the chop” first. Hiring managers or other decision-makers usually feel that people with relevant qualifications bring more value to the organization and their roles and are a better choice to keep onboard as a result.
Learn New Skills:
As you complete a degree, you will grow and develop in many ways. You’ll learn both professional and personal skills that you can take to a job. These practical abilities will help you advance your career.
For example, apart from learning hard skills during your degree, you will also hone more general, yet just as important, skills needed to succeed in any industry. You’ll have to learn how to communicate effectively with people from many walks of life, both orally and in writing, and you’re likely to have plenty of chances to practice your presentation skills.
You’ll pick up new computer programs, and will have to be able to manage your time well, organize yourself and solve problems. Most students also get better at skills like negotiating, leading teams, thinking critically, being focused, using creativity, being persistent and having a cross-cultural understanding.
Meet Helpful People:
You’ve no doubt heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” No matter the profession you’re in, this is true, and you’ll find that over the years, you’ll be able to advance your career more quickly if you are a good networker.
Of course, it’s important to have a good work ethic, not to mention the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to do a job, but building helpful relationships is also vital. Many jobs are filled before they’re even advertised because of recommendations and referrals. Plus, getting to know the right people will allow you to learn more quickly, and if you want to go into business for yourself, having a network also helps you to generate more business.
When you study for a degree at a university, you’ll have the chance to meet a wide variety of people who are like-minded, talented and committed to learning. You’ll get to know people who you would otherwise have never met. Your social networks will grow rapidly, and you will likely make friends you’ll keep for the rest of your life.
This is useful because you never know how these contacts may come in handy. Over the years, your university buddies could end up becoming suppliers, investors, lenders, business partners, employees, bosses, customers and more. Having savvy people to turn to for career advice and support is invaluable and can make a big difference to your career results.
