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Let's not sugar coat it: graduating high school isn't what it used to be. It used to signal a transition to adulthood, moving out of the house, and getting a job. Yes, some people went to college, but even for those going to school, the same features accompanied high school graduation.
However, today it's a different story. Students graduate high school, don't have jobs, and go to college "in hopes" of landing that first job. Most students transition from a free education to a paid education. Many still live at home. And many still rely on their parents for support.
What happened?
Where Public Education Failed
One of the biggest failures impacting students is the politicization of our public school system. From a lack of consistent standards, to teacher tenure, to money and influence in schools, our students are graduating without the skill set needed to succeed in today's economy.
Recently we covered the top skills that employers are looking for, and our public education system isn't doing much to help in these areas. Businesses across the country are struggling to even hire high school students and high school graduates because they don't possess these soft skills, such as communication and problem solving. And it's costing companies money: increased time and effort spent recruiting candidates even to fill entry level jobs.
But it goes beyond that.
When College Becomes Mandatory
There is also this mentality that college is a requirement. Every high school graduate should go to college. Even in elementary and middle schools, there are "college bound" programs that promote higher education for all.
Let's not dismiss the value that a college education can bring, but a college education is NOT for everyone. What's even worse is that students are heading to college to "find themselves", wasting time and money trying to figure out what they want to do in life. College is an expensive way to find yourself.
Instead, high school graduates need to ask themselves if college really is the best decision. They need to understand the purpose behind going to school. They need to have a reason to go.
College isn't mandatory even though many students are pushed that direction.
Where Companies Took Advantage
But here's why it seems mandatory: since the Great Recession companies across the United States have been able to take advantage of the excess talent in the labor market and push overall wages down, while boosting the experience required for these roles.
At many large companies, a college degree used to equal an entry level salaried position after graduation. Today, a college degree typically earns an hourly position that reports to the salaried position - one level lower than pre-2008.
Why? Simply because they are able to. There a lot of graduates with degrees but no experience. The graduates that do earn the salaried positions are the ones that hustled in college, had side jobs, and developed the soft skills needed to succeed. Who would you rather hire: the college student making $100,000 per year side hustling, or the straight A student who can't communicate with you.
Just look at some of these jobs from online postings that require college degrees: secretary, cashier supervisor, receptionist, sales clerk. These job postings don't just want a high school diploma, they want you to have a college degree. A college degree to be a sales clerk or receptionist?
This isn't changing. Companies will continue to take advantage of paying the best people as little as possible. Yes, overall wages will likely start to rise again, but it willo correspond with a rise in overall employee skill as well.
What The Future Holds
The sad thing is that a high school diploma is simply the price of admission to the real world, but it doesn't do anything for your career. College opens more doors, but even then, it just gets you what a high school diploma did 20 years ago.
The key is that you have to differentiate yourself from other college graduates, and "more education" or fancier degrees don't do it. What employers want to see is experience, skill, and value.
Companies will trade experience for degrees 9 times out of 10. So as you start your journey to college, ask yourself: what skills am I developing, not what degree am I getting.
