2021 AgCareers.com Career Guide (US)

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27 AGCAREERS.COM AG & FOOD CAREER GUIDE
Why You Should
Consider Professional
Development as an
Alternative
Make money sooner
Going straight into a full-time role
instead of going back to school gives
you the opportunity to start making
money sooner than you would going
down the master’s degree path.
Customize and diversify based
on interests
If you are interested in many different
topics, you can enhance those skill
sets by completing professional
development in each area rather than
focusing on one in a master’s program.
Cheaper
Workshops, conferences, certifications,
etc. will add up but will be significantly
cheaper than a master’s degree.
Not as much of a time
commitment
Typically, these professional
development methods will not be years
long like a traditional master’s degree
program. It is easy to find professional
development that fits your timeline.
Continuously build on your
knowledge
By keeping up with a certificate,
attending conferences every year or
even completing a webinar series, you
will be able to build upon your current
knowledge and further your expertise
in a specific subject beyond the couple
years spent in a master’s program.
Experience is enough
As you navigate through your
professional career and start applying
for other jobs, you will find that in some
cases, experience is enough, and many
roles do not require a master’s degree.
You don’t like school
Bottom line, school is not for everyone!
Do not sign yourself up for additional
time in college if you know that it is not
something you enjoy. AG
Still unsure of which
path is for you?
Make a pro/con list specific to your
situation and write down your goals. If
you are still unsure, there is nothing
wrong with entering the workforce for a
couple of years, gaining experience, and
then going back to school. The beauty
of education is that you can always go
back for more and everyone’s path is
different!