When we talk about a career path in general, there are so many things that intertwine. Degree, skill, knowledge, and many more, and are all important. However, it is also important to know why and how to use each of these, and what are the advantages of each. It can all be a bit confusing, so here is a further explanation.
There is a thing called rpl that we can use to begin explaining the relation between all these terms. It stands for Recognition of Prior Learning, and it assesses how many skills and knowledge you have acquired outside of the traditional schooling institutions. It can be through individual work, prior experience on a certain job, volunteer work, or any other way that does not involve colleges, schools, courses, and other learning centers. This is a great way to acknowledge all the learners who didn’t maybe have a chance to continue with formal education but still learned a lot and gained insight into different topics. Another benefit of assessing rpl is that so many more skills are valued.
Soft skills, creativity, curiosity and ability for problem-solving, and many more can be learned through different activities outside the school system, and this way they are being appreciated enough. To gain these skills you don’t need to have formal education, only experience and the will to grow and learn even more. On the other hand, you can have knowledge but not have adequate skills to use that knowledge and this can cause problems. So, it is understandable why these two go hand in hand.
However, a degree and formal education are something that sets you apart from the rest. It can give you an advantage over someone who doesn’t have a degree but it is never a reflection of one’s expertise. A degree has to be supported with everything mentioned above to be useful and valuable. Now, that you know this, you can evaluate yourself, and see what you are missing.
There are many great opportunities to learn out there. If a degree is what you want, make sure you are open to the traditional learning system. This is what will give you knowledge and information. Try many different things until you find something you like and where you can gain expertise and improve any skill you want. You can do this even through hobbies, reading, doing art, talking with someone, or by learning new things at your current job. You can get rpl assessment and see where you stand, and what is even better is that you can turn all those skills into recognized qualifications if you want to.
Of course, the best situation is to have all of the above. However, it is good to know that even if you have one, you can still evolve so much, and fill in the gaps at any moment. So, if you ever feel discouraged, come back to this text, and get motivated to turn everything you know into a certificate and qualification you can then use in many different ways.
