A millennial with a doctoral degree and over $250k in student-loan debt says she’s been looking for a job for 4 years. She wishes she prioritized work experience over education. | Business Insideer
Imagine putting in years of hard work, earning three prestigious degrees, and still struggling to land a job in your chosen field. That’s the story of A. Rasberry, a millennial with a doctorate in business administration who’s battling $250,000 in student loans and a challenging job market. Despite having a PhD from Saint Leo University in Florida, she has been unable to secure a position in her field for the past four years. Instead, she’s working in healthcare to make ends meet while continuing her search for business roles.
Rasberry’s journey highlights a reality many students might not expect: education doesn’t always guarantee a job, especially when employers value experience over degrees. She learned this the hard way, realizing too late that gaining real-world work experience during her studies might have put her in a better position. While her degrees opened doors for potential opportunities, she found herself “overqualified” for entry-level roles and “underqualified” for leadership positions.
This uphill battle has forced Rasberry to pivot into healthcare, where she’s working as much as 80 hours a week as a direct care liaison. Despite the heavy workload, the pay hasn’t been what she expected. Her advice? Do your homework before investing in higher education. Look into job placement programs, internship opportunities, and the career prospects of recent grads before diving headfirst into a degree.
Recently, Rasberry was promoted to a care plan consultant role, allowing her to work remotely and earn about $70,000 a year. While it’s a step in the right direction, she’s not giving up on her dream of landing a higher-paying business position that aligns with her education. For now, though, she’s juggling healthcare work and applying for business roles, hoping to find her breakthrough………[read more]
Rising Dough
What impact do you think the rising demand for experience over education will have on future students’ career paths and approaches to education?
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