The Career Arts: Making the Most of College, Credentials, and Connections

The Career Arts provides a persuasive case for building career success through broad education, targeted skills, and social capital. It guides students, parents, counselors, and educators on how to cultivate a mix of broad and targeted skills, take advantage of employer-funded education benefits, and prepare for the world as it is. It also emphasizes the importance of building social capital, particularly for disadvantaged students.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2024
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Young individuals embarking on their post-high school journey face an exciting yet challenging future, as they are likely to hold multiple jobs throughout their lifetime. Consequently, they require a diverse set of essential skills to thrive in this dynamic employment landscape. The Career Arts offers a valuable perspective on the often-misunderstood relationship between college education and practical job skills. In his book, Ben Wildavsky cuts through the noise and anxiety surrounding this topic, providing practical and insightful guidance for individuals seeking to advance in the workforce.

Drawing on evidence-based research, illuminating case studies, and in-depth interviews, Wildavsky shares the most crucial lessons of what he calls the career arts. These lessons encompass cultivating a blend of broad and targeted skills, leveraging employer-funded education benefits, and preparing for the world as it exists, rather than as one might wish it to be. He explains why college remains the gold standard of credentials and presents the most promising high-quality supplements and alternatives to college that can help learners combine general and job-specific skills. Moreover, he emphasizes the importance of building social capital, particularly for disadvantaged students, as a key factor in achieving success.

The Career Arts is an invaluable guidebook for students, parents, counselors, and educators. It challenges the notion that college education and job preparation are mutually exclusive and identifies the blend of education and networking required to support real-world career aspirations. By offering practical insights and strategies, Wildavsky empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their education and career paths, enabling them to thrive in the ever-changing job market.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691239798