Go to school, get good grades.

Go to a good college, get a degree.

Secure a good job to take your career forward.

This has been the traditional path set in front of us by our older generations but how much relevance does it have in the 21st century?

 “There’s no need even to have a college degree at all or even high school. If somebody graduated from a great university, that may be an indication that they will be capable of great things, but it’s not necessarily the case.”

Elon Musk (founder of Tesla Motors and SpaceX) said this in an interview in 2014.

If we go by Musk’s philosophy, success in the job market isn’t determined by just the degree anymore. Instead, it is determined by a wide number of experiences, industry skills, and essential soft skills.

 A Degree is the foundation of A Career

While the young generation is trying to get a job in a highly competitive 21st-century market - the jobs are already limited. As a result, there is always competition between the ones who have the same degree and the only thing that makes a candidate stand apart are the skills.

 So, while a college degree is considered mandatory to apply for a job role, it is not the only thing that matters anymore. In fact, according to a study done by Jaison Abel and Richard Dietz of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, over 62 percent of college graduates are in jobs that require a degree in any field and only 27 percent are actually in a job position that directly relates to their major.

Experience and Skills matter to the Recruiters

While the degree determines expertise in a certain subject, the experience is what determines the true skills. As a result, 21st-century recruiters focus more on internships and the previous job experience of the candidates. This gives a better understanding of the candidate’s practical skills. That is the reason why many candidates with an average college score do way better in their careers than their school toppers. 

After all, experience helps you learn more about the working environment. Most importantly, it equips you with the soft skills required to succeed in your job. While hard skills are job-specific skills that can be gained through education, certifications, or training programs, soft skills develop over years. They are interpersonal skills that include listening, empathy, and communication skills among others.

The current employment scenario demands employers to consistently look for candidates who have the skills that can translate into innovation and out-of-the-box thinking. Since the job roles are constantly changing with the growing implementation of technology, the need to focus on the real abilities and talent of the candidate will take precedence over the importance of a degree.