We Asked Industry Professionals: What is Perceived as Having the Most Career Success Impact?
It was not their education.
I remember vividly during my college years the anxiety to graduate and get a degree so that I could get a job. It never occurred to me that while my education was going to play a critical role in my career development, it was not the most important one. Unfortunately, most colleges and universities in the U.S. do not prioritize career development during the course of a traditional four-year program, leaving students with a major gap in the transition to the workforce.
The last decade, (and especially the last 5 months of the current pandemic) have shown us the major gaps that exist in our current higher education system. Time Magazine’s article “The Economic Model of Higher Education Was Already Broken. Here’s Why the Pandemic May Destroy It for Good” describes in detail how one of the major flaws in our education system is justifying its cost. I have to admit, like many college students today I was not considering costs as long as they were paid through loans I did not understand.
Colleges and universities are having to adjust rapidly to the “New Normal” which will be consisting of high accessibility, low cost, high-value education, and a proven track record of alumni success. Universities are also having to compete with online alternatives (which are doing extremely well during the pandemic) as they can dynamically adapt their curriculum to more relevant and up-to-date training that gets people jobs. Online educators are quickly adapting boot camp models, skills training, and certifications from third-party providers that can enhance much needed theoretical, yet critical foundations.
So, what truly adds the most value to career success, even in the midst of a pandemic? While every person has a different career journey there are some key components that have dictated for many years on how we are all assessed, measured, and selected for jobs in our careers. Whether you are a high school kid trying to get a job in a fast-food restaurant or you are a senior exec trying to get a high roller position to manage the southeast region you need a resume.
A resume has 4 key components as traditionally structured with experience, education, skills, and recommendations. The same structure has been used for decades, and even in the digital world professional profiles are non-other than online versions of a resume.
We Asked Industry Professionals: What is Perceived as Having the Most Career Success Impact?
We conducted a survey of over 130 professionals in multiple disciplines to discover what they value the most for their career success. While the results vary slightly by discipline, the overall trend is very consistently ranked as follows:
- Experience
- Skills
- Network, connections, and recommendations
- Education (Traditional college)
To view the results of the survey interactively you can view our Tableau dashboard, or contribute to the survey.
