Thinking about getting a degree? Before spending the time and money on State U, let alone Private U, consider You U: A self-designed mix of workshops, tapes, mentoring, tutoring, and reading articles in print and on the Internet. You learn what you want, from whom you want and when you want. Worried that employers will laugh at a You U education? One of my clients, Phillip, included this in his job applications:
"I believe I'm worth a look, because I don't have an MBA. Having heard that most people use little of what they learn in graduate school, I decided to go outside the box and craft a more useful education. (He inserted what he did at You U.) But now comes the moment of truth. I believe I prioritized substance over form; will you interview me?"
That approach often works, and it did for Phillip. He got hired by one of the Baby Bells.
What You Could Do Today
If you're thinking about going back to school to enhance your career, make a list of the things you'd really like to learn. Show the list to a respected person in your field and ask how you might learn them without heading back to the classroom. That little consultation could help you develop an efficient plan for learning what you really need to know.
The purpose of this article is to both provide information and facilitate general dialogue about various employment-related topics. No legal advice is being given and no attorney-client relationship created. Please see the disclaimer for further limitations and conditions.
