Post graduate education and books – are we throwing away knowledge?

In many professional fields like Accountancy, Human Resources, management etc it is common for professionals to take qualifications. These qualifications may be essential to become registered with professional associations, institutions or just because they are expected in the job market place.

Many of us spend thousands on these courses over several years. They are a significant investment in both time and money. We often buy valuable resources such as books and other tools to help us throughout the course. But do we then neglect these resources?

When do we stop learning?

Much like passing your driving test, gaining a professional qualification or certification is not the end of the learning, but the beginning.

So why, oh why do people sell their text books when they complete the education? It is not like school or initial university where the books are for the purpose of passing an exam. Books used on professional courses have applications in the work place too.

I am active on a range of social media networks, and more often than not the questions asked by people relatively new to the profession are answered in the very text books they are selling or have sold. Are people are becoming less self-sufficient in gaining knowledge or is it that people shut the door to learning when the course is done?

Levels of learning

In the UK it is unfortunate that our post grad qualifications are now categorised by “levels”, rather than stages. (see our article on lowest academic levels) This often means that a person at a level 5 (degree), is reluctant to take a level 3 program, even though the CONTENT is different. Just because you are an excellent baker, does not mean you are an excellent chief. You need to go back to basics when switching disciplines. Why is it in the fields of things like HR and management that people assume their level is where they are for everything?.. Anyway I digress.

Books have value too

I have, and am constantly building my learning library. I currently have some 900+ management, leadership and HR based books. Somewhere, in one of them is the answer to a question I seek in my professional area.

What am I missing?

Why is it that people sell the very books that helped them? Do they believe that they now “know” it all and will no longer need to refer to them? Do they believe they will be “fed” the answer by others when they need it so no longer need research skills?

What do you think?