Re: Self vs. formal education
What are your thoughts on the relative merits of self education
vs. formal education in a resume? The context is that I already
have a BS and MS in aerospace engineering. I want my resume to
show that I can, indeed, write. Now, my portfolio should
demonstrate that, but my resume has to get me to the point where
people will want to see the portfolio.
Doesn't your resume mention the writing that you've done? Even if it's just a bullet point beneath another job title?
Or maybe you should consider doing a writing-only version of your resume? To give you an example, my writing/management resume reduces the seven years I spent as a university instructor to a single line (and I'm thinking of doing a resume just for management jobs).
As to the merits of self and formal education, that depends on the type of person you are and your goals. For some people, taking formal classes is a way of forcing themselves to complete a course of study that they don't have the discipline to undertake on their own. Other people can learn the same things by themselves.
Similarly, how important is having a certificate, degree or diploma to you? Some people believe that such things provide an edge in the job market. Others (like me) think that such things are over-rated, not least of all because many of the existing programs are not exactly rigorous.
Another consideration: taking classes might also be a good way to network. Depending on where you are in your career, that might be as useful as the formal qualification to you.
From your e-mail, it sounds as though you're learning what you need to know by yourself, and might be bored in the classes. If these are your dominant feelings, you've answered the question for yourself. You may wonder whether the courses would help you keep employed, but, in general, you don't sound very eager to start a course of study right now.
--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com
"Art is a moral passion married to entertainment. Moral passion without entertainment is propaganda, and entertainment without moral passion is television."
-Rita Mae Brown
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References:
Self vs. formal education: From: Meg Halter
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