Intro
Learning, its synonymous with schooling; however, what happens after a student graduates? Should people no longer focus on learning? Does graduation mean an end to one’s learning journey?
The answer to these questions is NO!
A student’s University journey is considered the height of their education, but not the end! Regardless of the field of study of the individual, their educational journey should continue. For the student, a continuous educational journey is fantastic. Continuous learning provides opportunities for students who are blocked if they choose not to follow this learning path.
Talent
Many University graduates have a “dream job” they wish to achieve. Unfortunately, having a degree does not guarantee a graduate’s plan to achieve this goal. Often, these “dream jobs” are high-level positions requiring high talent levels to be hired and successful in these positions. Talent by design will always be difficult to achieve. If everyone achieves something considered talented, it is no longer considered a talent, as it’s no longer exceptional.
Changing Job Market
Many talents have diffused enough to be no longer considered talents. This diffusion is from post secondary level job requirements changes in the past 10 to 20 years. From increased computer use to newly conceived concepts alter job descriptions across fields of study. These new job qualities are valuable to organizations; thus, these organizations also value individuals who hold these qualifications. Regardless, if an employee wishes to learn about new concepts in their field, these innovations will occur.
Workers see general improvements in day-to-day operations if they continue their educational journey.
For example, engineering simulations are far more complex than in years past, thus allowing dangerous projects to become safer by thoroughly and accurately testing failure points. Accurate simulations allow engineering work to become less stressful as potential failure points are accounted for and solved before a real disaster could occur. For Liberal Arts students, changes in social theories in recent decades vastly improve the effectiveness and accuracy in resolving needed changes in their respected fields. For example, if a therapist did not continue to learn about changes in their field and continued to use outdated concepts, their services would be far less valuable and even harmful than another therapist who continued to study new concepts in their field. Lastly, improvements in cross-functional teamwork improve the effectiveness of the workplace. From simple conference software to more advanced ERP management programs, improve the effectiveness of efficient cross-functional teams. Many new job innovations improve the efficiency of the position, thus lowering stress levels on employees.
Conclusion
Imagine if we decided to stop learning. Life would become monotonous. Its human nature to continue to learn and explore new concepts. Taking away the educational journey while in your career eliminates it being a career altogether. The definition of a career is “a field for or pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement (1). Continuous learning leads to progressive achievement. Without continuous learning, a person’s career becomes only a job.
