Comments on: Forget About Getting a Degree – Get an Experience http://blog.monicaobrien.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/ Small Biz. Big Buzz. by Monica O'Brien Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:41:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Guest http://blog.monicaobrien.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-2283 Guest Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:53:46 +0000 http://www.twentyset.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/#comment-2283 Great article about all the great options, Monica, thank you! It's refreshing to read someone who says follow your own path, any of them can be great.<br><br>-- Christine Duvivier<br><a href="http://www.PositiveLeaders.com" rel="nofollow">www.PositiveLeaders.com</a> Great article about all the great options, Monica, thank you! It's refreshing to read someone who says follow your own path, any of them can be great.

– Christine Duvivier
http://www.PositiveLeaders.com

]]> By: Christine Duvivier http://blog.monicaobrien.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-1720 Christine Duvivier Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:53:46 +0000 http://www.twentyset.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/#comment-1720 Great article about all the great options, Monica, thank you! It's refreshing to read someone who says follow your own path, any of them can be great.<br><br>-- Christine Duvivier<br><a href="http://www.PositiveLeaders.com" rel="nofollow">www.PositiveLeaders.com</a> Great article about all the great options, Monica, thank you! It's refreshing to read someone who says follow your own path, any of them can be great.

– Christine Duvivier
http://www.PositiveLeaders.com

]]> By: Christine Duvivier http://blog.monicaobrien.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-1514 Christine Duvivier Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:53:46 +0000 http://www.twentyset.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/#comment-1514 Great article about all the great options, Monica, thank you! It's refreshing to read someone who says follow your own path, any of them can be great.<br><br>-- Christine Duvivier<br><a href="http://www.PositiveLeaders.com" rel="nofollow">www.PositiveLeaders.com</a> Great article about all the great options, Monica, thank you! It's refreshing to read someone who says follow your own path, any of them can be great.

– Christine Duvivier
http://www.PositiveLeaders.com

]]> By: Why Working For a Startup Isn’t So Risky -- Young Go Getter http://blog.monicaobrien.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-107 Why Working For a Startup Isn’t So Risky -- Young Go Getter Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:36:00 +0000 http://www.twentyset.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/#comment-107 [...] much every entrepreneur I know tells me I need to do a startup first. I’ll admit I thought this was dumb the first time I heard it; but 15-people-giving-me-the-exact-same-advice later? It would be foolish of me to think I know [...] [...] much every entrepreneur I know tells me I need to do a startup first. I’ll admit I thought this was dumb the first time I heard it; but 15-people-giving-me-the-exact-same-advice later? It would be foolish of me to think I know [...]

]]> By: Girl Meets Business | What was your first thought this morning? http://blog.monicaobrien.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Girl Meets Business | What was your first thought this morning? Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:22:15 +0000 http://www.twentyset.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/#comment-106 [...] else can I quench my thirst for learning? Grad school? (I’m considering it.) More reading? (I have co-worker who snorts every time I start a [...] [...] else can I quench my thirst for learning? Grad school? (I’m considering it.) More reading? (I have co-worker who snorts every time I start a [...]

]]> By: New Research: Bloggers Have Better Social Skills : Brazen Careerist http://blog.monicaobrien.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-105 New Research: Bloggers Have Better Social Skills : Brazen Careerist Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:06:55 +0000 http://www.twentyset.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/#comment-105 [...] often referred to as “soft skills” are not taught in MBA programs, nor are they taught in most undergraduate schools but, they are sought after by almost every employer out [...] [...] often referred to as “soft skills” are not taught in MBA programs, nor are they taught in most undergraduate schools but, they are sought after by almost every employer out [...]

]]> By: Newly Corporate » Blog Archive » 3 Unconventional Ways to Improve Your Soft Skills http://blog.monicaobrien.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Newly Corporate » Blog Archive » 3 Unconventional Ways to Improve Your Soft Skills Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:58:10 +0000 http://www.twentyset.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/#comment-104 [...] to as “soft skills” are not taught in MBA programs, nor are they taught in most undergraduate schools but, they are sought after by almost every employer out [...] [...] to as “soft skills” are not taught in MBA programs, nor are they taught in most undergraduate schools but, they are sought after by almost every employer out [...]

]]> By: Monica O'Brien http://blog.monicaobrien.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Monica O'Brien Wed, 06 Feb 2008 03:21:32 +0000 http://www.twentyset.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/#comment-103 Holly, Your first few sentences sums up what I was trying to say nicely. I'm so glad somebody understands me! Good luck with your switch to part-time jobs; it sounds like you are following your gut - I'm a huge fan of that. I think you know your reasons for switching to part-time jobs so it'll be okay. Tiffany, Yes, I completely agree. What are you getting your masters in? Getting a graduate degree was one of my goals too, and I'm glad I have the opportunity to reach that goal at a young age. Holly,

Your first few sentences sums up what I was trying to say nicely. I’m so glad somebody understands me! Good luck with your switch to part-time jobs; it sounds like you are following your gut – I’m a huge fan of that. I think you know your reasons for switching to part-time jobs so it’ll be okay.

Tiffany,

Yes, I completely agree. What are you getting your masters in? Getting a graduate degree was one of my goals too, and I’m glad I have the opportunity to reach that goal at a young age.

]]> By: Tiffany Monhollon http://blog.monicaobrien.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Tiffany Monhollon Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:15:46 +0000 http://www.twentyset.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/#comment-102 Monica, Good perspective. There are a lot of people asking themselves these questions lately. In fact, when I wrote about the grad school debate at my first blog, it was one of my most consistently Googled series I ever wrote. In the end, I'm with you that it really depends on who you are and what your goals are whether or not you should get an advanced degree; after all, in some fields, it required. I'm in grad school because it was a personal goal of mine and am under no delusions that it will make or break my career either way, in and of itself. It's what you do in and with the experience that matters. And it's all a part of a bigger equation. Simply sitting through classes and completing assignments and projects is no dream-maker. But I know far too many grad students who singed up on the misplaced notion that getting that master’s degree is somehow going to mysteriously fix a resume lacking experience or land them a six-figure starting salary no matter what. Monica,
Good perspective. There are a lot of people asking themselves these questions lately. In fact, when I wrote about the grad school debate at my first blog, it was one of my most consistently Googled series I ever wrote.

In the end, I’m with you that it really depends on who you are and what your goals are whether or not you should get an advanced degree; after all, in some fields, it required. I’m in grad school because it was a personal goal of mine and am under no delusions that it will make or break my career either way, in and of itself. It’s what you do in and with the experience that matters. And it’s all a part of a bigger equation. Simply sitting through classes and completing assignments and projects is no dream-maker. But I know far too many grad students who singed up on the misplaced notion that getting that master’s degree is somehow going to mysteriously fix a resume lacking experience or land them a six-figure starting salary no matter what.

]]> By: holly http://blog.monicaobrien.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-101 holly Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:25:30 +0000 http://www.twentyset.com/forget-about-getting-a-degree-get-an-experience/#comment-101 great post. what i get from it is you should take inventory of where you are, where you want to be, and what you're missing in between. go from there. don't worry about what everyone says you should be doing. sometimes what needs to be done in between where we are and where we want to be seems counterintuitive. i, for example, am planning to leave my comfortable, albeit low-paying, corporate job for patch-work part-time jobs. why would i do this? because it will give me experience in the industry i want to open a start-up in. i never thought part-time jobs high-schoolers fight over would be the right career path for me at 26, but it is. it's all about where you are, where you want to be, and defining the path to get you there based on that, not on what other people think you ought to be doing. great post. what i get from it is you should take inventory of where you are, where you want to be, and what you’re missing in between. go from there. don’t worry about what everyone says you should be doing.

sometimes what needs to be done in between where we are and where we want to be seems counterintuitive. i, for example, am planning to leave my comfortable, albeit low-paying, corporate job for patch-work part-time jobs. why would i do this? because it will give me experience in the industry i want to open a start-up in.

i never thought part-time jobs high-schoolers fight over would be the right career path for me at 26, but it is.

it’s all about where you are, where you want to be, and defining the path to get you there based on that, not on what other people think you ought to be doing.

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