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By Alma Causey
To gain physical strength, it is necessary to eat right, train often, and regularly hit the gym. But what can you do to grow in your career and achieve your professional goals? The answer lies in education.
Your current position is a reflection of the level of your education and skillset. But no one wants to spend the rest of their career in the same position. Everyone intends to advance their career and professional goals, regardless of where they are at the moment.
With the rapid social and demographic changes as well as the increasing demands for new skills, many people are heading to the classroom to get and sharpen the skills necessary for growth. It is because whether you are just starting your career or using your experience to get a promotion, you will need continuous education to achieve professional goals.
Here are six reasons why further education is your best chance at turning your professional goals into realities.
1. It increases your financial intelligence
A significant portion of the time getting your degree is spent on managing your finances. Simple things like student loans and earnings from part-time jobs help you develop the necessary budgeting, consuming, and saving skills required for a successful life.
A survey by the TIAA Institute shows that most Americans lack the knowledge to make everyday financial decisions. But high school or college gives you a practical lesson of the underlying financial concepts, including earning, saving, consuming, borrowing, insuring, and related economic understanding.
Once you know more about money, you will be more ready to navigate the tricky work of personal finance and use the knowledge to achieve professional goals.
2. It makes you competitive in the job market
Due to the fierce competition in the market, finding your favorite is no more guaranteed.
Millions of people are still searching for jobs, but there are not enough career opportunities to put them in positions they are seeking. Unemployed workers are competing with a growing number of skilled workers who are seeking the same job.
Companies are looking for employees who have received higher education. In some cases, many companies are even willing to pay the tuition fee because they see an educated employee more valuable to the organization.
Furthermore, educated employees are less likely to struggle with unemployment in the long-term, because with their level of education and work experience, they can find better opportunities even if they face a layoff.
This provides them much-needed job security, so they can focus on growing their career and turn their dreams into realities.
3. Financial freedom
Money is an essential factor to consider when making decisions in personal and professional life.
Earning a college degree or a diploma helps you multiply your earning potential and achieve financial freedom necessary for a successful life. Once your bread and butter are sorted out, you have the time to focus on your goals and make efforts to achieve them.
As the survey from the American Institute for Economic Research showed that college grads between the age of 25-32 earn $17,000 more compared to those who didn’t receive a college education. Additionally, 72 percent of millennials believe their degree has already paid off.
But if you are a millennial, you still have much time to increase your earning potential. Get a professional degree under your belt and take your goals a step closer to reality.
4. You get to learn new skills
Higher education equips you with new skills and improves your ability in areas like writing, communication and presentation, teamwork, and problem-solving. During your time at college, you have the opportunity to read books and listen to lectures from experts in the field. This encourages you to think and explore new ideas and be creative, which further provides you an edge in the competitive job market.
The college experience also expands your knowledge by grasping new theories and concepts and increasing your understanding of the world. By combining the skills and knowledge with hands-on experience, you will be able to move towards achieving your goals.
Skills like creativity, questioning, and problem-solving will have a profound impact on your life, especially if they are taught right from the beginning. This is why many Los Gatos private schools are teaching these skills to prepare young minds for the future marketplace.
5. It helps you grow a network
Higher education gives you a chance to network with professionals who might have been in a similar situation as yours during the growth of their careers.
You will find faculty members and fellow students with hands-on industry experience who will help you become more marketable in the competitive environment.
As you meet and interact with people coming from diverse backgrounds, you will gain valuable insight that you can utilize to advance your professional career.
6. A career advantage
A higher salary is a pretty obvious benefit of higher education, but there are other advantages. Educated employees are seen as high-yield workers and are usually offered higher positions at the start of their careers. This translates into a higher salary right at the beginning. They also enjoy growing respect and credibility that comes with education.
Educated employees are also more likely to be offered new opportunities to grow their professional careers compared to less-educated peers in the team.
As you find yourself fully equipped with the knowledge required for a position, you develop a can-do attitude and a significant boost in confidence. Having in-depth knowledge of your subject matter will help you believe in yourself and inspire others to believe in you.
Final Thoughts
Higher education not only offers a lucrative career but also guarantees a purposeful life. If you want to improve your standard of living and achieve your professional goals, nothing can help you more than education.