Guest Post What your College Degree Means to an Employer

Guest Post What your College Degree Means to an Employer A guest post by Aniya Wells There’s no denying the fact that college graduates face a tough job market today. That will discourage a lot of new graduates, but there’s a silver lining to their predicament. The college degree that they worked so hard to earn is probably the most important piece of paper in their job search more important than any resume or cleverly written cover letter. Not enough college graduates understand that they’re part of a lucky demographic that gets first consideration when employers consider new hires. Despite what some critics claim, a college education is still the standard qualification for most entry level professional positions. Nevertheless, the job hunt can be exhausting and demoralizing for even the most highly decorated college grads. A hard-earned degree might seem like a waste of time (and money) after so many job inquiries go unanswered. I’d like remind those disenchanted grads that their degree does have value. This is what many employers really think when they see a degreed job applicant worthy of the position. You’re a hard worker. No matter what you major was, I’m sure that the road to your degree was no easy one. An English degree can be just as difficult to earn as a degree in Engineering, and that fact isn’t lost on most hiring professionals. They respect job candidates who put the time in to earn a degree, no matter what discipline it’s in. You invested years of arduous study, research, and personal growthâ€" and that’s what you should make very clear on your resume and during interviews. Think of it this way: other applicants have to come up with years of related job experience in order to compete with the degreed candidate. A degree is an emblem of hard work, and that’s something that you shouldn’t take lightly. If you worked your way through college, be sure to talk about that with the recruiter; it’s a sign that you know what it takes to succeed. You have the dedication to see things through to the end. Think of your college degree as a four-year (or three, or five, or however many it took) long project, a project to which you dedicated yourself completely. Not every person can delay gratification and make that kind of commitment to a project, be it a college degree or a business plan. That kind of dedication is highly attractive to employers who look for consistency and tenacity in their hires. If you stayed focused long enough to complete your degree, an employer thinks, perhaps you have what it takes to compete. A college degree is proof that you won’t duck out whenthings get tough; you’re strong enough to stick around until the end. You’re a worthwhile investment. Above all, employers see young, degreed job applicants as an investment in the future of their company. Someone fresh out of college with a mind full of ideas and optimism could be a powerful asset to any company. Some companies hire new graduates because their lack of job experience makes it easier to train them for company-specific policies and procedures (no bad habits to un-learn.) Others might want workers who can think like their young customers. Do you agree with me? Are college degrees still as valuable in this daunting era of new employment? Or are they relics of the past? I’d love some feedback! A freelance blogger and writer for over ten years, Aniya Wells now regularly contributes to the Onlinedegreeprograms.com blog. She is passionate about giving potential students advice as they embark on an online or traditional degree program. Aniya is very excited about the latest advances in technology that have made a comprehensive education more accessible to everyone. Please direct questions or comments to aniyawells@gmail.com.