Daily Career Connection

eLearners.com Study Reveals Millions Have Been Snubbed
For Not Having a College Degree

Hoboken, NJ, August 5, 2008 – With workers’ fears about job security and upward mobility at record highs, education may prove to be the saving grace.   A new study by eLearners.com, a web resource of EducationDynamics, and Kelton Research found that nearly one in five (19%) Americans—that equals about 40 million adults—know someone at their current or past workplace who has been passed over for a job because they didn’t have the right degree.  One in ten (10%) respondents say they themselves have been denied a job at some point for not having a degree.  

Even once someone has landed a job, not having a degree can hold them back from moving up the corporate ranks. Nearly one in five (18%) Americans – another 40 million – report that a coworker of theirs was denied a promotion because they didn’t have a certain degree. And, more than one in ten (13%) divulge that a colleague of theirs was denied a raise because their education level left something to be desired.

“The statistics from this study confirm what has widely been known, not only is a degree critical to getting a job, but it is also key to advancing in one’s career,” said Terrence Thomas, EVP Marketing Operations at EducationDynamics.  “And given the current economic climate, a degree might be needed just to keep your job.”
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Being accessible makes you more valuable to the people you lead and the organization. Staff must feel comfortable approaching you when they need to. The benefits to you are that you keep your finger on the pulse of the organization and are better equipped to avert problems and take advantages of opportunities as they occur. Also by using your accessibility as a teaching tool in the form of probing questions you are creating a training session that conditions your subordinates to think through their concerns, questions or problems. Your work time as a leader is just as valuable your subordinate’s. Don’t waste it by being the answer man or woman.

There are always exceptions to the rule. You will be giving direction in emergency situations or when facing time deadlines.

People know the right answers and as leaders we have the obligation to create an environment that supports thinking out loud and the confidence to express views, questions, comments and concerns without fear or judgment. You are a confidence builder, not a creator of self doubt. Become a force multiplier. Teach your staff to think by effectively using questions rather that statements or direction.
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It can be difficult when you put everything that you have into your job and you feel like you are continually passed up for promotions. When you watch everyone around you climbing the ladder to the top and you’re standing at the bottom looking up, it can be daunting, but it doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. Many of us are never successful at work because we develop a poor attitude about the job and our ability to be a success there. When you stop believing in yourself, you stop having the potential to be a success. If you want to succeed you need to believe in yourself! You can gain self-confidence and success by utilizing your very own success affirmations.

Success affirmations are simply statements that describe how you want to think, feel and live. The stronger you believe in these statements the more power they have to help you change your life. If you want to be a success at work, you simply need to develop your own or take advantage of the vast libraries of free positive affirmations online and apply them to your life. Many people start each day by reciting the success affirmations that speak to them and this helps them to believe in themselves. When you use success affirmations you’ll stop being the victim or pitying yourself and you’ll start seeing that you are capable of climbing that ladder to professional success.
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When you start a new job, it’s likely that you’ll be asked to set up a direct deposit option for your paycheck. Any time you start a new job, it’s a good idea to re-evaluate your approach to spending and saving money. If you’re going to be earning a higher salary at your new place of employment, it’s a good idea to consider setting aside some of the additional income in your savings accounts. When you fill out your direct deposit paperwork, you’ll likely be able to split money between more than one account. Put the money that you need to pay bills and for living expenses in checking, and designate a pre-set amount or percentage to go to your savings account. This is the easiest way to save. If money gets sent directly to your savings account, before you ever see it, you’re much less likely to miss it.