You have a degree in public health, then why don’t you work at a public health system?

A case about higher education.

This is a million dollar question for me.

I've been an English teacher since last year, and I enjoy this job immensely. Being asked about my career choice was not surprising; I knew it was coming. There are many people out there working in jobs different from their degree, and it has become normal nowadays. But still, people ask me, “Why don’t you work in the public health system? It must be more enjoyable there than here.” I smile at these comments; I can’t respond with the purpose I have in my heart. I mean, you don’t owe anyone an explanation.

The simplest reason I want to be a teacher for now is that I love being involved in a child’s development. Health and education are a perfect combination for better national development, so why do I have to choose between the two when I can experience both?

I may not have tons of experience in public health or education, but I can see that these two fields are vital and can't function independently. It's not an altruistic motivation or just a political answer. I truly have this motivation in my heart. This is pure curiosity, which fuels my passion and enables me to walk this path every single day. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I know God has plans for my life.

It’s pretty common today to see bachelor's degree holders working in industries that do not match their major. Many career advisers provide numerous ideas on how to switch careers, and the bootcamp business is ubiquitous on the internet, with testimonials easily found in social media advertisements. These boot camps promise that switching careers is not hard; you just need 6-12 months of training and a guarantee of a full-time job. A truly beautiful marketing promise.

I am not against the boot camp business or switching careers to follow one's heart. What I want to argue is, “If it is easy to work in a job that does not match your major, then why should we go to college?”

Photo by Nam Hoang on Unsplash

As Deddy Corbuzier said in a Malaka Project video, “College is a privilege, not a primary need.” Last month, the Directorate General of Higher Education, Ibu Tjitjik Sri Tjahjandarie, said that higher education is a tertiary need, not a primary one. I slightly agree with this statement. However, the overlapping issues for Gen Z right now are the high unemployment rate among them (almost 10 million) and the rapid technological changes, which we, as humans, can’t keep up with.

Here lies the importance of higher education for the young generation; it shouldn’t be a tertiary need. The purpose of higher education is crucial for personal growth. It’s not fair to only see it from a career perspective. Please don’t be the kind of person who says, “College isn’t worth it if you can’t get a good job afterward,” to someone with a bachelor’s degree struggling to find a good job

The traditional focus of higher education is to prepare the next generation of scholars and create new knowledge. However, in modern life, higher education tends to expand its purpose while not forgetting the core ideas of educating and creating new knowledge. Now, it includes preparing students for careers and contributing to society through various means. Graduates should aim to contribute ideally to the commonwealth society. This adds urgency to teach practical skills. Modern education might be good for the transformation of technology but, to some extent, it loses the traditional approach to learning, such as deep reading and deep thinking.

The shift in higher education’s purpose is influenced by many factors, such as traditional focus, modern expansion, student expectations, institutional ambitions, challenges, and opportunities. We’ve discussed the traditional focus and modern expansion; now let’s look at other key points.

Student expectations of higher education focus more on achieving economic and social goals, such as securing a good job and enhancing career prospects. This view is understandable because finding a job is challenging. When choosing a major, students should be taught to map out the career prospects of that major. (Then why do so many people still consider switching careers early in their work lives?)

The opportunities and challenges are substantial, but higher education institutions manage to tackle them in many ways, right? Institutional ambition lies in these opportunities and challenges. But ironically, the knowledge taught in college is often not updated with current changes. There’s a mismatch between the college curriculum and societal demands. I think this plays a huge role in career switching.

Well, enough about the purpose and changes in higher education. I still believe that higher education is optional, but if you can get it, it will level up areas of your life like critical thinking and problem-solving.

Now, let’s discuss the reasons behind the career-switching phenomenon.

There’s a lot to say, right? Let’s look at these reasons:

1. Industry Evolution

Many industries have evolved significantly over the years, and the job market has become more dynamic. This means that traditional boundaries between industries have become less rigid, allowing professionals to transition into new fields with relevant skills.

2. Transferable Skills

Bachelor’s degrees often focus on developing general skills such as communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. These skills are highly transferable across industries, making it easier for professionals to adapt to new fields.

3. Career Flexibility

The job market has become more flexible, and professionals are no longer limited to a single industry or company. This flexibility allows individuals to explore different career paths and industries based on their interests, skills, and values.

4. Lifelong Learning

The pace of technological advancements and industry changes requires continuous learning and upskilling. Professionals are now more likely to switch industries to stay relevant and adapt to new trends and innovations.

5. Personal Fulfillment

Many individuals change industries to pursue personal fulfillment, align their work with their values, or find a better work-life balance. This shift is driven by a desire for a more meaningful and satisfying career.

I got these five reasons from different sources, and some of them are used by certain media to manipulate people or create anxiety about their future. However, in reality, none of the employers mention these reasons; it’s mostly because there are no choices left. It’s too hard to get a job, industries tend to freeze hiring, humans are being replaced by technology, college knowledge is often irrelevant to today’s reality, and the list goes on. Although society normalizes this social issue, we need to rethink the importance and purpose of choosing the right major that matches our passion. I wonder how fast our society would grow if all graduates worked in jobs matching their majors. It must be rewarding, and society would move into better shape. In Indonesia, almost 80% of people with bachelor’s degrees do not work in fields related to their majors. Imagine if 80% of people worked in jobs matching their majors.

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The challenge is always there, but we should focus on the opportunity.

Appreciate you reading.

Melva Bintang