Entry-level jobs often pay low wages. Since it can take many years to earn a coveted promotion with a satisfactory salary, people are discovering the benefits of higher education and taking advantage of new opportunities. Job seekers usually find it easier to obtain gainful employment after they have earned a degree in their chosen field. Many professionals even continue to develop their skills by pursuing higher levels of education. As a result, not only are they able to garner the respect of their peers, they also enjoy a certain amount of financial security that often results from earning advanced degrees.
Hard work is always going to be of utmost importance for maintaining a job or obtaining a new one, regardless of a person's educational background. Even entry-level workers can eventually find themselves earning decent salaries in management positions. Depending on the industry for which a person works, various opportunities may exist for capable and dependable employees. Without the benefits of higher education, however, there is usually a limit. At some point, people without degrees may become stagnant in their positions, especially when they feel they have reached the highest level of advancement based on their current educational backgrounds and scholastic accomplishments.
Even when a person is enjoying success and longevity with his current employer, the future may feel uncertain. If, for example, the company suddenly goes out of business, or if an individual loses his job for any reason, he may need to start all over again. Finding new employment that pays a comparable salary is a difficult feat for most people, especially when they do not have advanced degrees.
The job market is very competitive. Even with many years of work experience listed on an impressive resume, many human resources managers will not interview applicants if they do not meet their educational criteria. For this reason, it is common for adults in their 30s and 40s to return to college. In turn, they may qualify for better paying jobs, or advance in their current vocations.
For example, many professionals often take advantage of the benefits of higher education. Certified nursing assistants (CNAs), for example, may further their careers by enrolling in nursing school, ultimately becoming registered nurses (RNs). Likewise, elementary school teachers with bachelor's degrees may continue their education to earn master's degrees, which enables them to teach at universities. Even writers and artists sometimes return to school to improve their skills. In fact, just about every professional occupation can be propelled into a new and exciting opportunity when the benefits of higher education are realized.
