What is the real value of the degrees/certificates? 

In this picture we have 2 Football/Soccer coaches from Portugal ⚽️ 🇵🇹 Rúben Amorim from Sporting Clube de Portugal (currently in the 1st place on the 1st division) and Rui Borges from Associação Académica de Coimbra – O.A.F. (currently in the 3rd place on the 2nd division). 

So, what do they have in common?

Both of them don’t have the degree/certification that allows them to coach in their respective division. Of course this is all in paper, in reality they call the shots and have full responsibility on the team. Mainly, they just cannot do flash interviews and have to sit on the bench during the games.

That leads me to an old question: What is the real value of degrees/certificates?

• Is a certification in English Level B2 worth more than dating someone for 4 years that’s English native?
• Is a certification in Excel worth more than having watched 50 hours of tutorials in YouTube?
• Is a certification in Leadership worth more than having to organize your best friend bachelor party?

In my opinion, there’s no right or wrong answer to these questions. A degree/certification still plays a fundamental role, being vital to collect knowledge and “sell yourself” to the job market. But in 2021 the world is a different place, learning is everywhere, with different shapes and forms, therefore we should have a more open mind, not being stuck with the old paradigms.