There was a point in time when getting a degree was highly regarded, as very few people were able to achieve it, and for the most part, it secures a person a good career. This is why most parents' dearest wish is for their child to finish college, and they will do anything within their means to make it a reality. However, at least in my country, just getting a degree is no longer enough to guarantee a job. Many companies today have unreasonable standards when it comes to employment, despite the low salaries they pay. Because of this, it's not uncommon for fresh graduates to be working in a mall store or a fast food restaurant for their first job.
It's been many years ago since I graduated from college, but I still remember many things about the time that I spent there. All the struggles that I faced just to be able to submit my projects before the deadline, and all the sleepless nights that I had to bear just to complete our thesis. There are times when I feel almost giving up, but I always remember the hardships that my mom had to go through just to be able to pay my tuition, which is why I keep on persevering, until eventually I was able to graduate and get my degree. The moment I climbed the stage was a joyous moment when I felt like all the hardships that I had to go through to get a degree had finally paid off, or so, that was what I thought, but reality is harsh.
A few months after I graduated, I began searching for a job both online and in person. I had good grades and had my internship at a well-known company, so I am confident that I will get a job right away. However, months had passed, and I'm still jobless. In some of my applications, I was able to pass the final interview, but did not end up getting the job, because they favoured the applicant with longer years of experience. Why, you ask? Because they no longer need to train them. Furthermore, once a company adopts new technology, it would prefer to have an applicant with a certification for that technology, because that will save them time and resources.
Eventually, I ran out of funds and became desperate, so I took a blue-collar job for my first job, which is very far from the degree that I took. It only lasted for 6 months before I switched to a white-collar job, which, while it did not require me for any experience or certification, I had someone who worked in that company vouch for me, so without my connection, I may not be able to get the job with just my degree. Same case with my recent job, where I also had someone vouch for me. I can only imagine that the situation right now remains the same as I look for an IT job online where companies look for candidates with more skills and experience rather than just a degree. It's very hard to find a job that caters to a fresh graduate.
So, when it comes to the question of whether getting a degree in the Philippines is still worth it? I will say that the answer is still yes, especially if the person wants to pursue a licensed profession like being a doctor or attorney. It's just aside from a degree, people now need to put more resources just so that they can secure a good career, like seeking new knowledge that is not being taught in school to improve their portfolio, and to try to build relationships in their chosen field. I know that by doing this, people are just letting companies go with their unreasonable standards, but what other options do we have? Companies will try to cut costs whenever they can, so unless their insatiable greed stops, they will always choose the best option to save their bottom line.
Thank you for reading my post, and see you in the next one!
