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It is not unheard of for people to go through four to six years of schooling, then wind up working in a field that has nothing to do with their degree. Sometimes this happens because of poor counseling beforehand, others pick up a major because they think that it’s the next “big” field, and others simply change their minds. It should go without saying that college is a major expense and should be planned for accordingly.

Scenarios like the ones mentioned are entirely avoidable. It takes is a good long introspective look on the behalf of the student, and conversations with people working in a chosen field to discover if the choice of schooling is the right one. Spending time researching, asking questions, and doing some thinking helps with the final decision. Some may need a year off before starting higher education, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

For the forseeable future, graduates are going to have a harder time finding jobs out of college. Baby boomers are working into their retirement years, companies are hiring less and getting more productivity out of existing employees, and there are fewer jobs available in general. These facts make focusing education on a chosen path much more important than ever before.

Having a focused education shows a future employer that you are dedicated to the career path and that you intend to stick around for a while. You will benefit by being a better fit in the field, as well as being prepared for what is to come.