Federal government is looking for skills, not necessarily degrees

Posted on June 11, 2020 - By Dr. Di

There has been a longstanding debate about what college is for: to educate students

with a wide range of courses grounded in the arts and humanities or to prepare

graduates for work. At least for right now, the winner has been declared. With

Pandemic-related unemployment numbers at high levels, the federal government is now

looking for job candidates with observable skills rather than the right degree. And it’s

likely that approach will spread to other companies.

So, what does this mean for you? It doesn’t mean forget about getting a degree. Trust

me: A degree in the long-run will always be valuable, especially when considering

lifetime earnings; plus, there are many fields that demand you have a degree. But, for

today’s world, getting a short-term certificate, an associate’s degree, or practical

experience may be just the ticket to help you get to work quickly and avoid heavy

student debt by having an eventual employer pick up college costs.

So, as you pick courses and programs, opt for co-op, practicum, and internships

whenever possible. That is, rack up some work experience for a pay-off now, with a

degree to come later. Consider developing skills that are essential or can be done from

home when necessary, like so many working people are doing today.