My Opinion on University Degrees in a Digital World
Currently, I don’t hold any degrees, and sometimes I blame myself for it. But should I really? I’ve come to realize that hands-on experience has been a more valuable teacher than any courses I have taken, not just in marketing but also in various other skills I never thought I would acquire. In this article, I will share my personal view on the current state of university degrees and their relevance in the Digital world, drawing from my own experiences and observations.
My Journey: From Biology to Marketing
Marketing was definitely not my first choice, nor the second. The course I chose at the University was Biology, but I’ve never got to finish it, which is a topic for another conversation. My second option after Biology was Computer Science, so how come I am now a Marketing Manager?
In 2018 I started my first online job at Appen, and this opened my eyes to the fact that earning money online was a possibility, a little while before the pandemic hit and this became the world trend. After that, I took multiple jobs at Upwork, from translating, to transcribing, to writing and many more.
Writing, however, was the skill that made me realize other possibilities. While writing, many contractors would have an ‘SEO’ request, which, at the time, I had no idea what that meant. So, I began my research and started working as an SEO writer. This led me to meet incredible people in the most different markets and learn more about how SEO and businesses work.
As a result, I created two websites (1, 2) which gave me hands-on experience with SEO & Marketing. I later sold these websites for around $4,000. It’s a shame that both websites are now dead due to poor management, but at one point, Gamespecial generated $40 a day.
With hands-on experience and some successes achieved, it was just a matter of time before I found my first job in Marketing. From there, things took off.
How contractors view degree holders in today’s world?
As a contractor myself, I can say from experience that holding a degree no longer matters that much, unless you’re talking about other areas such as health care, but this is not the topic of this article. When it comes to Digital jobs that primarily require computer skills, it’s clear that a degree makes little to no difference, which is a sad reality.
Today, contractors are looking mostly for hands-on experience. If you have it, great! Put that in your portfolio, showcase your skills somehow, and this will be worth your time. But what if you have a degree with no experience? In my view, this will only say one thing: this person has an interest in the field and the discipline to complete a challenging degree program. However, it doesn’t say much more than that.
How to acquire experience if nobody hires you?
Being hired is not the only way to acquire experience. As I mentioned in my own background section, I created two different websites which generated revenue. I wasn’t hired to do that and nobody told me what to do, I chose to do that myself.
This article that you are reading right now is again a way to showcase my expertise, my writing experience, and my knowledge in the field. This is exactly what you can do.
If you want to be hired to work in a reputable company in a niche where you believe you have extensive knowledge, put your skills into practice! Create something and showcase it to your potential contractors. It doesn’t need to be successful or a masterpiece; as long as you create something from scratch or turn your experience into something you can showcase to your potential contractors, you are moving in the right direction. This can definitely be used as a portfolio.
Does age make a difference when choosing to go for a degree?
This is a very personal opinion, and while I believe anyone can go for a degree, there are a few things you should consider. Do you want to have that degree for personal realization or because you want earn more income?
If you want it for personal realization, age doesn’t matter and will never matter. Go for it, chase your dreams and be happy and proud of yourself!
However, if your goal is to earn additional income, get hired, or any income-related points, there are many factors you should take into consideration, such as:
- Are you currently working on a full-time job? Taking this degree will directly how much you earn, or do you just expect it will?
- How long is this degree?
- Aren’t there short courses which will provide invaluable insight and knowledge in a much shorter time?
- Is it really for additional income, or is it family demands?
These are just a few of the multiple factors when going for a degree. Remember, this is a minimum of 3 years of your life, or even 4. Making such a long-term decision requires a thought process: take a few weeks thinking about it, sleep on it, and try to understand your goals as much as possible.
The Value of University Networking
This is something online courses simply can’t do for you. They might have online communities, telegram channels, forums, but nothing will replace meeting people in real life and sharing ideas together, having lunch together and talking about your life goals and experiences.
If this is what you want, go for it. The university is one of the best places for building a powerful network that can last for life, and I know many employers who have hired their colleagues from the University because of trust and the network they’ve built in the past.
Is this totally necessary, however? Not really. If this was the case remote jobs would never be posted since everyone would hire their colleagues, also, being in the same university as Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t make you Mark Zuckerberg. Some people will simply be more disciplined and dedicated than others, and your university network will know exactly who you are.
What about online university degrees?
Online university degrees come with the same set of questions but one big disadvantage: No physical networking. I have never taken an online degree, but from what I see on Reddit, and from observing comments of others who have taken it, it’s that the lack of networking is a big downside of online degrees, which in turn, was the biggest advantage of physical university degrees. So again, analyze your own case and consider if it is worth it for you or not.
Conclusion
Whether you should take a university degree or not is mostly a matter of personal preferences and opinion. Make sure you understand exactly what your goals are, and if they range from personal realization or networking, taking a university degree will definitely move you towards your goal.
However, if your decision towards taking a university degree comes from family pressure, hopes to gain additional income, or gaining knowledge in a field you’re not an expert, think twice. Is this really what you need? Couldn’t short courses be a better answer for your goals?
I hope you have enjoyed this article, and I hope to have helped you make your decision with my personal view. If you have any questions, feel free to connect via Linkedin, and we can discuss the matter further.