Today, I want to talk about being in the club. Are you in the club? What is the club you ask? The club consists of those who have taken the challenge of completing their Degree in whatever field they have chosen- and have obtained at least a Bachelor's of Arts Degree- yes the Science Degree is ok too- so calm down.

Now let's discuss what this means.  All future post will address this issue until I decide the issue is closed. Some SWAPA readers should probably pass because even though you may be in the club, you probably have been excluded because you know- you know!

While in the past, a college degree may have been optional, these days it seems to have become the minimum requirement for getting a good job and succeeding in the workforce.

Jeff Blass,* a 40-year-old mid-level manager at a major food company, believes his lack of degree has stalled his advancement opportunities. "It didn't keep me from moving out of the mailroom," he says. "However, it seems to be holding me back now."

Nicole McMillen, executive director for Pre-Paid Legal Services, left college to get married and start a family and just recently entered the workforce. Ostensibly, McMillen would have had several strikes against her: no degree, no experience and a late start to boot! Yet on the contrary, McMillen says she had no trouble finding work -- or getting promoted. "I suppose it depends on the type of position you're looking for," says McMillen, who represents her firm to large corporations and other employers. "For me, it's all been about performance and results."

There is some good news though I'll let you be the judge of that.