The Debt/Equity Choice

Posted by Tom Locke on October 8th, 2009 filed in Business, Education, Life

 

Re: Our Managers and Business Leaders of Tomorrow

 
Given that by the year 2015 there will be substantial demand for jobs in B.C., 60% of which, will require trade and technical skills, I think it would be remiss if  the following was not presented to parents, regarding training and technical careers.  

When talking to parents  (the workforce and decision makers of today), we should focus on career opportunities not getting jobs.   Next we should  point out  that  there are  two  paths one can take  to  obtaining a career.   In presenting these approaches, I make reference to the Debt / Equity choice a young person has in planning their career.

The Debt choice is spending/borrowing a considerable sum of money to go to university, joining a company, getting into a company sponsored management training program and ultimately, getting involved in management and/or ownership of a company.

The Equity choice is a “learn while you earn” approach where you are paid to develop needed trade and technical skills.   Subsequently, your on the job training will lead to the opportunity of getting into a company sponsored management training program and ultimately, getting involved in management and/or ownership of a company.

If presented properly, each approach should appear to be of the same status.   The key to that is that both approaches can lead to the same end result.

That established it allows you to pose the question to the audience of “Which way should your child go? ”   At that stage, the audience should also realize the financial implications not only on the child but on them as well.   The Equity approach relieves a lot of the burden in the home, especially for families with two or more children.

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