Nowadays, it is generally argued whether a university diploma is needed or not to succeed. Even though having a university education has become common and many people still believe that this is the only way to find a niche in today’s competitive job market, I believe that now people should have skills rather than qualifications.
Having a degree had been considered a prestige and the odds of getting a well-paid job had relatively been higher for university graduates, before 2000. This is still true for some people since they define success as security. Today, the unemployment rate is rising at an unprecedented pace and people are afraid of easily losing their jobs, as finding another will not be straightforward. Additionally, graduating from university makes people seem smarter, as knowledge will be reflected in their diploma and this makes the employment process move faster. For these reasons, I think, it is still believed by some that getting qualifications is a key to career advancement.
The degree is not utmost important factor for professional success for majority of occupation as it used to be. It takes four years to eventually practice the job if the formal way of education is chosen. However, after this period the profession might not be in previous demand, while taking a course to learn the craft and starting working could be a better way of settling in a job. Since employers prefer experienced candidates, the people with some practice, even without the degree, are likely to have higher chances for employment. Although there are still some jobs which require a degree, such as doctors and lawyer, and it is impossible to gain experience without university credentials, this is not true for all. Take financial analytics, as an example, as nowadays this job does not require the degree, with the ability being more favorable. Thus, I believe the importance of high education for success is fading for many jobs.
In conclusion, both sides of the argument offer valid points regarding success with or without higher education. However, having weighed both perspectives, it is clear that qualifications are not as important as it was in the past.