As the foundation of people's livelihood, employment is related to social stability and personal development. With the advent of 2024, China is facing the challenge of a new round of employment of college graduates, the scale of college graduates in 2024 is expected to reach 11.79 million, an increase of 210,000 year-on-year, as the number of college graduates hit a new high again, the total employment pressure still exists, the situation of the job market is complex and changeable, affected by demographic structure, economic development, industry changes and other factors, showing a series of structural contradictions and challenges. However, the economic recovery is improving, and the positive factors of stable employment will gradually emerge, and school-enterprise cooperation and campus recruitment activities are ways to increase the employment rate, but more importantly, to improve the quality of student training. Only by better matching the needs of economic and social development can we achieve high-quality employment and provide talent support for national development. In this era of challenges and opportunities, people can't help but wonder: which is more important, academic qualifications or skills? How will job seekers deal with the depreciation of their qualifications in 2024?
First, the reality of the depreciation of academic qualifications
Once upon a time, academic qualifications were an important tool for people to chase their dreams, but over time, its value seems to be decreasing. Nowadays, academic qualifications are still a barrier to entry in the job search process, but they are no longer the decisive factor. The surge in the number of university students has led to fierce competition for academic qualifications, and the depreciation of academic qualifications has also become the focus of attention. In the past, secondary vocational students were able to obtain superior employment opportunities through hard work, but nowadays, college students do not even dare to call themselves college students, and the pursuit of students from other prestigious schools in society makes other students feel pressured. At the same time, the employment dilemma faced by college students after graduation is becoming increasingly severe, many companies are laying off employees, and the job market is becoming more and more competitive.
In such cases, many families are willing to spend everything they have to provide for their children's education in the hope that they will have better employment opportunities. However, the reality is harsh. Many college students face employment challenges after graduation, and some even have lower wages than blue-collar occupations. Against this backdrop, we have to re-examine the relationship between academic qualifications and skills.
Second, the rise of vocational skills
With the rapid development of science and technology, emerging industries and new technologies have emerged, and the demand for talents is constantly changing. For example, jobs in traditional industries are gradually decreasing, while employment demand in emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, the Internet, and new energy is growing. This mismatch between supply and demand has led to employment difficulties for some graduates, and it has also brought challenges to corporate recruitment.
At the same time, the importance of skills is becoming more and more prominent. In an era of technological updates and iterations, having practical skills is more competitive than having a diploma. Skills are a powerful tool to adapt to changes in the workplace, and they are also the key to realizing personal value. Skills can often add a unique edge to the job seeker's needs during the job search process, making them stand out.
3. Challenges and opportunities coexist
Today's job market is full of challenges, but at the same time, there are endless opportunities. With the rise of new industries and technological innovations, the workplace is constantly evolving. While the employment situation is tough, it is a time of opportunity for those with solid skill backgrounds.
Fourth, teach students according to their aptitude and give full play to their personal potential
When faced with the choice of academic qualifications and skills, Changsha Yuelu Vocational School teaches students according to their aptitude and gives full play to their personal potential. Changsha Yuelu Vocational School believes that every child has their own shining point, everyone has different interests and specialties, and not everyone is suitable for realizing their own value through traditional academic education. Therefore, we should focus on developing our personal skills and exploring the career path that suits us.
5. New ideas for career planning
In the current employment environment, it is recommended that young people should not be overly superstitious about academic qualifications, but should pay more attention to the development of skills. In the job search process, skills are a direct competitive force and capital with development potential. Therefore, we should continue to learn and improve our skills to cope with the changes in the workplace. As parents, we should give our children more choices and support, so that they can find their own development path, if the child is not suitable for the traditional academic route, then there is no need to force it, learning a skill may also be a bright way out. Here are some specific suggestions:
1. Diversified skill training.
The school curriculum may not be able to meet all career needs, so we should encourage children to participate in more extracurricular activities and skills training. For example, you can participate in social practice activities, volunteer services, or learn computer skills. In this way, it can not only cultivate children's practical ability, but also improve their comprehensive quality.
Case: In addition to learning professional knowledge during his university years, Zhang Ming also participated in the school's student union work and served as the head of the department. Through these experiences, he not only learned teamwork, communication and coordination skills, but also improved his leadership skills, laying a solid foundation for future career development.
2. Internship and practical experience.
Applying what you have learned is one of the most effective ways to improve your skills. We can encourage children to participate in internships or find part-time jobs during the winter and summer vacations to experience social life and working environment first-hand and gain practical experience. This not only exercises children's hands-on ability and practical skills, but also helps them build career awareness and interpersonal networks.
Example: Xu Xiaohong entered a well-known company for an internship through an on-campus internship during her college years. During her internship, she learned work skills, took the initiative to communicate, was recognized by her leaders and colleagues, and later received a formal offer from the company.
3. Develop career options.
In addition to traditional academic jobs, we should also encourage children to explore a wider range of career options. New careers, technical jobs, etc., are also areas full of challenges and opportunities, which can provide more space for children to develop and career paths.
Case: Although Zhang Tianle is only a sophomore student, he has successfully found an internship in a media company with his hobbies and hobbies, and has participated in professional editing training.
4. Continuous learning and self-improvement.
The world of competition is becoming increasingly fierce, and continuous learning and self-improvement are essential to stand out from the crowd. We should encourage children to maintain their enthusiasm for learning, constantly enrich their knowledge reserves, and constantly improve their professional skills and professional quality. You can improve your competitiveness by participating in industry training, self-study, reading professional books, etc.
Case: After graduation, Li Ting was not satisfied with her existing academic qualifications and skills, but used her spare time to sign up for practical training in artificial intelligence and machine learning, and she was successfully promoted to the technical manager of the industry's large-scale model application project by virtue of her technical strength and innovation ability.
5. Take the initiative to establish personal relationships.
In the workplace, networking is an important resource that can provide many opportunities and support for an individual's career development. Children should be encouraged to take the initiative to expand their network, network with professionals in the same industry, participate in industry networking events and social gatherings, expand their network, and prepare for future careers.
Active learning, practice, self-improvement and network building are important ways to achieve career planning, which can lay a solid foundation for personal career development, enhance competitiveness, and realize one's career dreams.
Case: During his college years, Wang Tao took the initiative to participate in campus activities by participating in various club activities and volunteer services, and met many classmates and teachers, and established a good network of contacts. After graduating, he successfully found his dream job through these connections, and received guidance and help from his seniors, and received great support in his career development.
In conclusion, academic qualifications and skills are important, but in today's job market, skills may be more practical and important. So let's ditch the traditional mindset and open our minds to create more choices and opportunities for our children to shine in the workplace of the future.