Certification vs. Bachelor's Degree vs. Masters Degree vs. Ph.D. Do you need this much education to land the job of your dreams?

SGT Culbreath:

I am currently working on my Ph.D. in Advance Studies in Behavior, and I have three Masters. In my field being a Chaplain and an advocate I would say absolutely.

I encourage all that have the opportunity to utilize the GI Bill and further your education. I am the first one in my family to go to college.

V/R

CH (CPT) Davis
30 years and still serving!

SGT Jamell Culbreath No you don't need formal education to land the job of your dreams. You do need the work ethic and the ability to define the path or find an employer that values you and your current skills.

I have degrees I don't need for my IT job. I loved my MBA and JD coursework but in the end they are unnecessary. I thought I would go into Intellectual Property law, it did not work out that way.

I still could pursue that path but so far I don't see a way I can do it without effectively starting over. Life is about choices, you make some and keep executing your path.

I recommend targeting a type of job and employers (more than one) pursue the degree to the employer/job. The most direct path at minimum with a Bachelor's. If the employer wants you to have the Master's or PHD they will pay for it.

This is my perspective from the 80's & 90's. It was imprinted in our brains that after high school we must go to college and get a degree. And then life will take care of itself and a job will follow.

Today, as I transition from the Army and prepare for civilian life, I see how degrees and certifications makes sense when it is part of a plan. Sometimes it is an opportunity presented that reduces the time and or cost of the degree/certification. As we put these degrees and/or certification on our plan ask "why" several times. Sometimes we don't have a good reason, or we have an awesome one.

If the job requires a degree or certification we know the path, we have to earn it. That is half the battle so the resume can reflect the credentials required. The other half of the battle is to have the soft skills, personality, and be a good corporate fit.

Putting all this aside, sometimes its great to go to school simply because we want to learn something and improve ourselves.