by B. K. Walker

Created on: February 16, 2010   Last Updated: February 18, 2010

In today’s competitive market, a formal education is not only an asset but also most often a necessity for advancement in most every form of employment today.  In order to ensure that a company is kept current and up-to-date in an ever changing environment and remain competitive in the market, its leading employees must be educated in those endeavors.

Although experience is most certainly a very important factor in ensuring competitiveness within the market place for companies, it cannot be the only device its executives rely on.  The experienced employee has many tools to draw upon in dealing with the day to day decision making as well as their own gut instincts when it comes to on the spot emergency situations.  But when long term planning comes in to play, the changing environment can leave these very experienced individuals compromised by lack of valuable new information and knowledge of technology changes, as well as regulatory requirements.

This is not an issue of age, but it is an issue of education.  Today, more and more individuals with “age” are returning to school to better educate themselves receiving not only their Associate’s Degrees, but also going on to receive their Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees.  All to better prepare themselves for the ever changing market we find ourselves in.  This also provides them with a much more competitive edge in the job market.

As this economy continues to fight its way back to stabilization, education will become a more and more vital form of competitiveness in the job market.  Job experience alone will not be able to keep up with the change in computer technology, design technology, web technology, business design, etc.  The needs of the consumer and society grow despite the downfall of the economy.

An experienced employee with an extended education will be a valuable asset for any company now and in the future.  For an employee to be left behind based solely on the lack of formal education would be such a travesty.  There are a number of extension classes that can be taken as on-line classes or long distance learning classes that not only provide course credit but also provide certification that employers recognize as formal education.

Formal education is also a sign to any employer that its employees value themselves enough to stay current of today’s products and tools of their trade.  The idea that the employee is willing to look “outside the box” to better secure their position, as well as secure the competitiveness of the company will be viewed by the employer as a valuable commodity.

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