There is a status associated with educated experts. This is most prominent in the professions as it is the only indication of expertise prior to experiencing the professionals ability first hand. You need to know that your doctor, engineer, lawyer or accountant is competent before engaging them in return for a fee. In many situations it is illegal within a state to practice without a formal qualification which is usually backed up by membership of a professional association.
This gives the customer or client confidence that the professional knows what they are doing and careers are built on certified qualifications. On the other hand, some fields of endeavour are less focused on qualifications and reputation is more the result of referrals, advertising and persistent promotion. Entrepreneurs in the business community often fit into this category. They might have obtained a tertiary degree but they hardly acknowledge it as it does not promote their business.
The highest paid business owners have prided themselves on not having qualifications and boast about their poor attainment at school and their working class background. To have come from nothing is actually a badge of honour having obtained their education on the job rather than at an institution of learning.
However the latest crop of highly successful individuals are a combination of the two. Technology entrepreneurs are often university graduates who have studied money making subjects . These include business studies, computer technology , science and coding. They will often have engineering degrees and will let it be known they have qualifications to support their credentials of expertise. The financial sector are particularly interested in those that have mathematics qualifications as Maths is an extremely transferrable skill.
Finally I believe that the arts are coming into their own as it is this area that creativity is becoming a valuable commodity. Technology can generate endless content with items like AI but it is the original thinker and creator that will inherit the planet of the future.
Peter Bull. ( Author of the Get In Touch Series )