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A degree is an advantage but not essential for a job

Diplomas and short courses could be the route to finding employment

There is little doubt that some form of tertiary education is necessary to increase your chances of employment, but is it necessary to have a degree?

Ross Mengel, the managing director of DMA People, says some exceptions exist, but most employers require some form of tertiary education.
Research by the University of Cape Town's School of Economics and Development in 2005 showed that a matric was really just a stepping stone to further education, rather than an end in itself. According to the study, matriculants had a slightly higher chance of finding work than those with only a Grade 11 education.
When scouring the job ads, very few required only a matric, added Mengel.

But it does not mean you have to get a degree. Among the country's most scarce skills are artisans who are required to complete apprenticeships rather than obtain degrees.

According to a recent article in Business Day, the Department of Higher Education and Training is prepared to promote the training of artisans by increasing the tax incentive for companies to take on artisan apprentices.

The department has set itself a target of producing 25000 artisans a year, although only 5600 are being produced at present.
Many of South Africa's service delivery problems are related to a lack of technical skills needed for infrastructure maintenance and repairs. So becoming an artisan should make you a shoo-in for finding work.

In other areas of the economy, diplomas and short courses could be the route to finding employment. Once employed, you are able to show your boss what you are capable of, despite not having a degree.
However, warned Jonathan Cook, executive director at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, not having a degree could limit your job mobility because, without the back-up of a degree, you might feel you have to prove yourself at a new company all over again.

Cook said this might be a reason to get a degree later in your life, although it is much more difficult to study while working full time. If you are happy where you are, there is little reason to take on the added responsibility and cost of studying, unless your plan is to "grow your mind".

Another reason to study later in life is if you decide to go into a completely new field - from engineering to marketing, for example.
"People will often go for a degree to change direction in their careers. But this is a tough one because of the opportunity costs," said Cook. He suggests the MBA route and while most programmes require a degree, there are those that will assess candidates' experience and skills.

Formal study might be difficult, but you do not need to stop learning - ever.

Source: Sunday Time (Workplace) dated: 14 February 2010

Website: http://www.timeslive.co.za/business/careers/article304359.ece