When I was in school, I was always told “If you get a college degree you’ll on average make 500k more over the life time of your career regardless of what you get your degree in!”

Then as I finishing school, it was all about “If you get into tech you’ll make big bucks and always have jobs!”

Both of those have turned out not great for a lot of people.

Then whenever women say they’re struggling with money online, they get pointed to OF… which pays nothing to 99% of creators. Also very presumptive to suggest that, but we don’t even need to get into that.

So is there a field/career strategy that you feel like is currently being over pushed?

(My examples are USA, Nevada/Utah is where I grew up, if maybe it’s different in other parts of USA even.)

  • mesamune@lemmy.world
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    12 hours ago

    Networking (AKA meeting people) is a good way to get jobs.

    While skill and experience matter, networking is often the catalyst that connects you with the right opportunities. In a way, it’s like investing in your social capital—often as valuable as any degree or certification.

    College actually helps with both skill and networking at the same time.

    • TommySoda@lemmy.world
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      11 hours ago

      If it weren’t for networking I would have never gone from being a line cook that barely graduated highschool to a CAD tech for a land surveying company. Had literally zero experience and was definitely not what I thought I’d be doing in five years when I was working the closing shift at restaurants every night until 2:00 AM.

      • mesamune@lemmy.world
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        11 hours ago

        I literally got my current job by meeting an old co-worker at a book store and letting him know I was looking after our previous company got shut down. I did happen to have the right skills, but my local area was flooded with software developers in an area that really didnt need that many. But I got the job.

    • doggle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      10 hours ago

      In my experience, this highly depends on the college. Mine really didn’t do shit for me as far as networking goes. And what connections i did make didn’t end up helping anyway. Maybe it starts mattering more once you’ve got some experience?

    • Sentient Loom@sh.itjust.works
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      11 hours ago

      This is essential. Speaking from experience as a guy with bad mental problems who can’t do relationships. Work on that, kids!