INTRODUCTION:
A job seeker asked, “Can a college graduate certificate/credentials expire?”
RESPONSE:
Once you earn your college degree, it will not technically expire. There are ways; however, regardless of your field of expertise, that your education can be rendered useless. Those ways are: 1) Owing your school money; 2) Not paying student loans; 3) Waiting too long to pursue a career in your field; 4) Never working in your field; 5) Not continuing your education.
RESPONSES DETAILED:
1. Owing Your School Money:
The first way that your degree can technically expire is by leaving unpaid fees on your student account. Some former students are unable to get their transcripts because they still owe their school money. This can often be easily resolved. If you have the money, pay the balance in full. If you don’t have all of the money, ask for a payment arrangement. This could include an initial “good-faith” payment up front. When the balance is paid, ask the school for a dated payoff letter, stamped by the school registrar. This will become useful if you need to clear up any related credit issues.
2. Not Paying Student Loans:
This second point is somewhat similar to number one, above. Some former students cannot get their education verified because they have not been paying their student loans. People’s reason for not paying their student loans in personal; however, I encourage everyone to contact their loan servicer and make acceptable arrangements with them as well. Check out the many available sources of assistance that can bring your loan status out of the ‘red’ and out of default. You don’t want to miss your big break because your new employer can’t verify your education.
As you can imagine, both of these scenarios would make you feel as if your degree has expired.
3. Waiting Too Long to Work in Your Field:
Now, this one and the next one are somewhat related. Your education will become obsolete the longer it takes for you to work in your field of study or one that is closely related. I know that some people lose interest their field of study. Some find it difficult to land their first job in the field. You might want to consider entry-level opportunities that might not pay well at first, but could provide you with a solid foundation for future success and career advancement in your field. So, if it is your desire to work in your field of study, please do not give up. It took me two and a half years after undergrad to land my first human resources job. Be encouraged. Soon, you will get your break.
Registration Links:
Session 1
https://event.webinarjam.com/register/5/z32m1t4
Session 2
https://event.webinarjam.com/register/6/gv4l6f7
Session 3
https://event.webinarjam.com/register/7/yvxpqfv
Session 4
4. Never Working In Your Field:
I’ve see some people who, in the fifties, at a time when many are considering retirement, resurrect interest in their field of study. Now, they want to work in that field that got a degree in a career ago. That can be challenging to achieve, but not impossible. I don’t believe in impossibility when you have the right level of determination. So, please never give up.
5. Not continuing your education:
Remember that education is not always formal. You can gain just as much from informal sources of education as formal ones. Always endeavor to remain up to date on trends and updates in your field of interest. Udemy, Coursera, Alison Courses, LinkedIn Learning, professional organizations related to your field, and Teachable, are all great sources of informal learning. So, take advantage of them so that you stay current and marketable.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, take advantage of all resources and connections within your reach to help you achieve your goal.
I hope that you’ve found this information useful. If so, do me a big favor. Scroll down, subscribe, share, comment, or ask me your very own job search or career-related question. Who knows, it might just become the focus of one of my future posts.
Until next time…
Career Search Success to you. Go Get Your New Job!
