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The career arts : making the most of college, credentials, and connections
2024
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Drawing on research, interviews, and case studies, Wildavsky (visiting scholar, Univ. of Virginia Sch. of Education and Human Development; The Great Brain Race) discusses the value of a college degree, nondegree paths, and the role social capital plays in career and monetary success. Wildavsky suggests several concepts that have been discussed before, such as instead of dividing education into college and vocational tracts, that the coupling of a liberal-arts background with targeted vocational/technical training offers the greatest chance of success. According to Wildavsky, schools should do more to advise students about financially viable careers, offer internships to bolster skill sets, present opportunities to develop career and social connections, and create national standards for non-credentialed programs. He also recommends that schools develop short-term training programs that students can count as credits for full degrees. Readers will learn eight essential skills for career success, such as completing college or looking for educational options that give them a mix of broad and targeted skills, taking advantage of employer educational benefits, and most importantly, preparing for the world as it is. VERDICT Not all ideas are new in this book, but its positive tone and clear writing will appeal to students, parents, and educators.--Lydia Olszak
Summary

A persuasive case for building career success through broad education, targeted skills, and social capital

Young people coming out of high school today can expect to hold many jobs over the course of their lives, which is why they need a range of essential skills. The Career Arts provides a corrective to the widespread and misleading notion that there is a direct trade-off between going to college and acquiring practical job skills. Ben Wildavsky cuts through the noise and anxiety surrounding this issue to offer sensible, clear-eyed guidance for anyone who is making decisions about education and career preparation with a view to getting ahead in the workforce.

Drawing on evidence-based research, illuminating case studies, and in-depth interviews, Wildavsky shares the most vital lessons of what he calls the career arts, which include cultivating a mix of broad and targeted skills, taking advantage of employer-funded education benefits, and preparing for the world as it is, not as you wish it could be. He explains why college remains the gold standard of credentials, and presents the most promising high-quality supplements and alternatives to college that can help learners combine general and job-specific skills. He shows how building social capital is also critical to success, particularly for disadvantaged students.

An invaluable guidebook for students, parents, counselors, and educators, The Career Arts reveals why college education and job preparation are not either-or propositions and identifies the blend of education and networking needed to support real-world career aspirations.

Table of Contents
Acknowledgmentsix
1Answering the Big Questions about College and Career1
2Degree Value28
3Alternative Credentials57
4Social Capital83
5Conclusion: The Eight Career Arts106
Notes133
Index151
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