Beyond College & Coaching: Key Skills for a Real Career
Anatomy of the Trap: How Did We Get Here?
In order to get out of a trap, it helps to understand how it ensnares you. There are certain psychological principles that the education mill industry relies upon, namely:
A. The Power of Fear
Coaching institutes and low-end private colleges thrive on the social anxiety of parents. Parents are made to believe that if their child doesn't clear an entrance exam or pursue an engineering/medical degree, they will be failures in life. This sets up a situation where millions of anxious parents are willing to empty their life savings into a coaching institute or degree college in order to prevent this from happening. They don't invest in the child's future; they invest in their own self-worth.
B. The Power of Illusion
When you spend 10 hours a day sitting in a coaching class, it can be easy to believe that you are learning something worthwhile. You are doing your "homework" and "revision," but mindless repetition is not actual learning. Five lakh students fighting for 500 seats is a 99% failure rate regardless of effort. This can be incredibly demoralizing when you realize it.
C. The Disconnect Between Degrees and Jobs
The curriculum in most colleges was decided years ago and is rarely updated, leaving students to learn irrelevant subjects. Updating a syllabus is a slow and arduous process. Meanwhile, businesses and entrepreneurs are using new tools and technologies every year. A degree barely teaches you any marketable skills. It shows that you sat in a lecture hall, not that you can perform a job.
From Qualifications to Proof of Work
In years gone by, a qualification-based society meant that your papers and marks mattered more than your abilities. These days, employers are looking for proof of work - something you can show them that demonstrates your skills. Here is where we can break free of the trap. Instead of waiting on a college or coaching institute to certify that you are ready for a job, you can prove to yourself and others that you have the ability to perform.
Say you want to work in tech: instead of writing Java or Python on your resume, create a few tools, host them online, and link your GitHub profile.
Say you want to work in design: instead of writing "Photoshop Certified Expert", redesign a terrible mobile app, and display your work on a portfolio website.
Say you want to work in sales or marketing: help the local shopkeeper create an online storefront or social media presence. Build up an audience for yourself by sharing interesting content in whichever niche you are planning to work in.
Once you have something that you can show to an employer, your college degree or coaching institute certificate suddenly stops mattering as much.
The 3-Hour Parallel Rule: Don't Simply Quit - Pivot!
When young people realize that they have been trapped, a common reaction is to want to quit everything at once and start over. This is usually a bad idea - quitting suddenly can cause family tensions and financial issues
Instead, follow the 3-hour parallel rule:
Continue working in the manner that the trap demands, but only put in the absolute bare minimum effort. Do whatever it takes to not fail, but nothing more than that. (Go to college just enough to maintain your enrollment, for example.)
Then, in parallel, set aside 3 hours a day for your own curriculum. This means learning a high-demand skill, working on your portfolio, or reading books about your area of interest. You can download free courses from the internet or watch videos on YouTube. Everything you need to acquire practical skills is available for free or at a small cost.
After 6-12 months of this quiet, steady work, you should have enough skills and an income from proof of work to consider making a major life decision.
The 3 Important Skills the Education System Never Taught You
No matter what career path you choose, education never prepares you for the following 3 skills and usually never teaches them at all
A. Communication and Articulation
Having ideas in your head is one thing, but being able to share them with others and explain them well is another skill entirely. Learn how to write simple, straightforward emails and messages. Learn how to speak confidently without using complicated words.
Having good communication skills will take you much further than any college degree.
B. Distribution and Cold Outreach
No matter how good your work is, if nobody knows about it, it might as well not exist. Learn how to contact people on LinkedIn or via email, and show them what you do. Apply to businesses and ask them if you can help them solve a particular problem.
It is much easier to get a job if you have a specific skill, rather than a generic degree.
C. Financial Literacy and Understanding of Markets
Understanding how money works, how to reinvest it, how to price your work - these are practical skills that come in handy if you are going to work for yourself.
How to Talk to Your Parents Without Getting Into an Argument
When it comes to the trap, the biggest challenge is parents. They may believe in the trap, but they are also likely to be your harshest critics when you decide to break free. This is because they only want what's best for you - and they think they know what that is. They cannot understand why you want to be an entrepreneur when you could be at IIT or IIM
Avoid getting into arguments with them about this. A good way to start the conversation is saying something like, "The world has changed since your generation was young, and this is the best way I know to succeed". If you want to really convince them, show them some proof of work. Proof that you can earn money, complete projects, get good reviews, and land internships or jobs in your desired field will help them see that you are serious about your decision.
You can even propose a compromise: "Give me 6 months to learn this skill set while I complete my degree. If I can't make it work, I'll enroll in a coaching institute after my drop year".
The Road Ahead
Breaking free from the trap is frightening and uncertain. When everybody else around you is rushing to apply to coaching institutes and take mock tests, it can be very isolating to decide that you want something different for yourself. Remember that you are not alone, and there are many others making the same decision. More importantly, remember that breaking free from the trap does not mean you have to despise education. It means you take back control of your own future and decide your own life path, rather than following the crowd.
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