Most people understand that a college degree gives graduates huge advantages in the job market. What is less well understood is the fact that this beneficial effect of further education is amplified during times of economic distress. In recent years, the general unemployment rate has hovered around nine or ten per cent, but the unemployment rate for those who hold a college degree has been half that. The ability to find a well-paying job when opportunities are becoming scarce is invaluable, but this is only one of many ways in which a college degree can help you to kick-start your career.
A World of Opportunities
Employers hire based on the knowledge and skills that a prospective worker can bring to a firm. Pursuing a college degree provides students with a well-rounded educational base that enables them to tackle diverse challenges for the remainder of their lives. It may seem that a course in medieval German literature has very little to do with the real world, but apart from every other consideration, university-level coursework helps students to acquire two vital things that most employers desire: critical (Read More....)
Computer, Vocational Training Can Offset Negative Effect of Resume Gaps
The authors of the article, Emily Johnson and Joanna Lahey, focused on how various factors influenced the behavior of potential employers. Factors considered included the applicant’s age, job experience, training and off-the-job activities such as volunteering, hobbies and sporting activities. The authors also explored the effect of long gaps in an applicant’s employment history. Specifically, the study focused on how these factors impacted an employer's willingness to grant interviews.
As part of the study, the researchers submitted different resumes to over 3500 employers from a variety of different fields, then looked at what the resumes that resulted in interview requests had in common. The jobs chosen for the study were all entry-level positions (Read More....)